
WALK 8
PITNEY
Rural South Somerset and Paradise
Mostly field paths
but with many stiles and gates to cross
Distance 9.7 Km/6.1 miles
Total ascent/descent 89 m
This route involves crossing a rifle range.
For schedules see www.gov.uk and
put “Langport Range” into search box
or check with Warden (01458 250255) or
MoD (01395 277891 or 07901 105271)
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/18592818
Updated Jan 2024 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR453 278), go down the minor road (SP Pitney). Ignore the first left turn but take the second (SP Farm Shop). Go through the village(1) ignoring side turns for 750m to pass the church(2) [1.3Km]
2 (GR444 286)Where the road begins to descend and bear L take grassy track ahead (SP Leazemoor Lane). After 300m at the end of enclosed path, cross stile by metal gate and continue with hedge on L. Follow field edge and at end of field, locate stile on L to emerge on road [0.9Km]
3 (GR438 291) Go R for 30m then L at Bristol Gate following clear path to far R corner of field to locate a bridge and stile. Cross and go straight ahead on path to reach hedge then continue ahead with hedge on L to gate. Continue still with fence on L to reach a stone stile at road. Cross, go R for 20m then L down very narrow path behind telegraph pole. At end of path, through gate and turn R following field boundary for 200m to locate gate and bridge on R. Cross and go L diagonally across field to Bristol Gate to reach road junction [1.0Km]
4 (GR429 295) Go straight across and ascend gently 500m to junction. Go ahead (No Through Road) on track with good views to L. After 500m cross metal gate on L and go down field 150m with hedge on L to large posts with no gate. Go diagonally R 250m to far corner to locate stile and bridge to cross stream [1.5Km]
5 (GR417 293) Turn L following the stream through a wooded area and cross stile into a long narrow field. After 300m keep L and pass to next field. Continue ahead with hedge on L to stile and at the end of the next field go through waymarked Bristol Gate. Go L to cross stream and turn immediately R keeping hedge and stream on R. Pass rifle range(3) on R and go through gate (if closed, there is a pedestrian gate 30m uphill on L). Aim slightly uphill to gate 50m to R of water trough, then 250m with hedge on R reach stile and road [1.5Km]
6 (GR428 287) Turn R and follow down a sharp descent to reach a stone barn on the L just before Paradise Cottage(4). Adjacent to the barn, go through wooden gate then turn R and follow a faint track keeping the hedge on the R across two fields 450m to reach a road. Turn L and ascend gently for 250m to a junction with a busier road. Go L and with care continue for 150m to another junction. Turn R (SP Pitney) and descend gently. After 1Km ignore the L turn by the playing field and continue ahead for 100m [2.1Km]
7 (GR444 285) Turn R before large brick house. Follow this road as it winds through the village for 1Km ignoring all side turnings until reaching a junction just beyond a bungalow. Turn R and ascend gently 400m up Hermitage Hill to reach the main Somerton to Langport road. The bus-stop for Langport and Taunton is directly across the road and that for Somerton is a few metres to the R in front of the Halfway House(5) [1.5Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 4.3 Km/2.7 miles
At point 3, turn L along the road for 800m to pass playing fields and reach a junction. Here, turn L for 150m to reach point 7
For car travellers:
Park with great care in the minor road leading down to Pitney or preferably (with permission) at the Halfway House.
Refreshments:
Halfway House
1 Several archaeological finds have been made at Pitney, including a Saxon cast bronze openwork brooch, now in the British Museum
2 The church is around 700 years old - 300 years younger than the yew tree which stands next to it!
3 The rifle range was established in 1890 and it is now an MoD range.
4 Paradise near Wearne was shown as having a water mill on the 1779 map of High Ham parish.
5 The Halfway House has won many awards including the CAMRA National Pub of the Year and the Daily Telegraph Pub of the Year
2 (GR444 286)Where the road begins to descend and bear L take grassy track ahead (SP Leazemoor Lane). After 300m at the end of enclosed path, cross stile by metal gate and continue with hedge on L. Follow field edge and at end of field, locate stile on L to emerge on road [0.9Km]
3 (GR438 291) Go R for 30m then L at Bristol Gate following clear path to far R corner of field to locate a bridge and stile. Cross and go straight ahead on path to reach hedge then continue ahead with hedge on L to gate. Continue still with fence on L to reach a stone stile at road. Cross, go R for 20m then L down very narrow path behind telegraph pole. At end of path, through gate and turn R following field boundary for 200m to locate gate and bridge on R. Cross and go L diagonally across field to Bristol Gate to reach road junction [1.0Km]
4 (GR429 295) Go straight across and ascend gently 500m to junction. Go ahead (No Through Road) on track with good views to L. After 500m cross metal gate on L and go down field 150m with hedge on L to large posts with no gate. Go diagonally R 250m to far corner to locate stile and bridge to cross stream [1.5Km]
5 (GR417 293) Turn L following the stream through a wooded area and cross stile into a long narrow field. After 300m keep L and pass to next field. Continue ahead with hedge on L to stile and at the end of the next field go through waymarked Bristol Gate. Go L to cross stream and turn immediately R keeping hedge and stream on R. Pass rifle range(3) on R and go through gate (if closed, there is a pedestrian gate 30m uphill on L). Aim slightly uphill to gate 50m to R of water trough, then 250m with hedge on R reach stile and road [1.5Km]
6 (GR428 287) Turn R and follow down a sharp descent to reach a stone barn on the L just before Paradise Cottage(4). Adjacent to the barn, go through wooden gate then turn R and follow a faint track keeping the hedge on the R across two fields 450m to reach a road. Turn L and ascend gently for 250m to a junction with a busier road. Go L and with care continue for 150m to another junction. Turn R (SP Pitney) and descend gently. After 1Km ignore the L turn by the playing field and continue ahead for 100m [2.1Km]
7 (GR444 285) Turn R before large brick house. Follow this road as it winds through the village for 1Km ignoring all side turnings until reaching a junction just beyond a bungalow. Turn R and ascend gently 400m up Hermitage Hill to reach the main Somerton to Langport road. The bus-stop for Langport and Taunton is directly across the road and that for Somerton is a few metres to the R in front of the Halfway House(5) [1.5Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 4.3 Km/2.7 miles
At point 3, turn L along the road for 800m to pass playing fields and reach a junction. Here, turn L for 150m to reach point 7
For car travellers:
Park with great care in the minor road leading down to Pitney or preferably (with permission) at the Halfway House.
Refreshments:
Halfway House
1 Several archaeological finds have been made at Pitney, including a Saxon cast bronze openwork brooch, now in the British Museum
2 The church is around 700 years old - 300 years younger than the yew tree which stands next to it!
3 The rifle range was established in 1890 and it is now an MoD range.
4 Paradise near Wearne was shown as having a water mill on the 1779 map of High Ham parish.
5 The Halfway House has won many awards including the CAMRA National Pub of the Year and the Daily Telegraph Pub of the Year