NOTE Some stretches of drove may be muddy after heavy rain or very dry and rutted in dry weather (think twisted ankles!)
A (GR 488285) Leave car park into West Street, turn L and immediately L through kissing gate and along path by railway. After 150m cross road by bridge and continue along path 150m to reach road opposite cemetery. Cross and go L and immediately R on path beside cemetery for 250m to reach Cedar Grove. Go L for 20m then bear R into Beech Grove for 350m and turn R (SP Viaduct Fishery) to descend steeply to the Cary valley. Follow this road for 1.9Km as it winds along valley past the sewage works to reach a T-junction just beyond Etsome Dairy Farm [2.8Km]
B (GR482306) Go R for 250m, crossing the Cary bridge and beyond Etsome House, take the track on the R and then almost immediately L following an enclosed path for 600m. Cross sleeper bridge by metal gate and go slightly L across field to reach and cross footbridge by tree. Continue with hedge on R to a stream crossing and stile. From here, aim to R of barn ahead, cross stile and pass to R of barn to reach stile by metal gate to road. Go L and after 300m reach junction [1.7Km]
C (GR480321) Bear R and go through the village of Dundon for 400m to reach junction at No Through Rd sign. (but go ahead 100m to see the church). After 50m, turn R into School Lane, pass old school and at end of tarmac, continue on flagstoned path (which may be slippery when wet). Go through two kissing gates and continue along flagstones through several more gates and a farmyard to emerge on road and go R for 350m to junction with B3151. Go L for 30m and R by memorial into Compton Street. After 150m bear L, ascending gradually. After 500m at No Through Road sign bear R (SP Street) for 75m then L and start to ascend more steeply for 400m round sharp L bend. 50m beyond ascend steps on R to stile (SP Hood Monument) and climb grassy track to another stile then steep stepped track 100m to monument. Go L at monument and down gravel track 200m to kissing gate and road. Go R for 20m and L (SP Public Footpath) along well-defined path (SP Polden Way) ascending gradually 250m to a kissing gate then 200m to another kissing gate. Continue along the ridge ridge with a post and wire fence on R and excellent views to the L to Exmoor, ahead to Brent Knoll and the Brecon Beacons and R to the Mendips. Descend gently to reach a kissing gate at road junction. Go across with care up a short path and immediately L along the narrow lane (no sign) and follow 500m as it winds gently down passing Ivythorn Manor. At gate, continue ahead 200m on tarmac track and when crossing track is reached, go ahead over stile. Keep hedge on L 250m and just before end of field, cross waymarked stile on L and sleeper bridge. Follow 200m now with hedge on R, to cross stile to L of metal gate. Continue with hedge on L 200m, cross stile on L to track by new farm building. Go R along track for 550m and just after farm buildings on R, turn R (no sign) [6.0Km]
D (GR480329) Follow Middle Drove past cricket ground on L for 2Km where track goes L then R. Continue ahead 250m ignore track on L, then 450m beyond reach T‑junction. Go L along Walton Drove (no sign) and follow for 1.5Km to junction then go L along the straight Somerton Drove (which once was tarmac!) for 1.7Km to reach a crossroads with two large trees and go straight across [6.0Km]
E (GR 469306) Follow 700m to junction, go R and continue, bearing L and after 350m track becomes tarmac. Follow bearing R, ignore track on L and cross River Cary to junction by Etsome Dairy Farm [1.6Km]
F (GR482306) Continue ahead, climbing at first but then enjoying good views to the L. After 1.5Km at junction, do not turn R into Northfield by the new school, but continue ahead for 300m and follow as road bears R. At the Fire Station go L along Behind Berry and after 200m go R along Queens Road. At the junction go L and after 100m between numbers 36 and 38, go R along tarmac track and through squeeze to emerge in the car park [2.6Km]
FOR A SLOG 20.8Km Total ascent 168m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/62049022
Follow entire route
FOR A STRIDE 15.6 Km Total ascent 80m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59738786
Follow to the end of paragraph B. Bear R and continue through the village of Dundon for 400m to reach junction at No Through Rd sign (but go ahead 100m to see the church). Bear R into Peak Lane and descend for 300m to crossroads. Go ahead 150m and turn L into track (no sign). Follow from paragraph D. [0.8Km]
FOR A STROLL 11.2 Km Total ascent 66m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59737880
Follow to the end of paragraph B. Go L along Hayes Lane and follow for 1.5Km to reach Lower Hayes Farm, turning L immediately after the first barn, then R just before the field into Little Moor Drove (no sign). Follow this muddy track across the moor with its rich black soil and after 1Km, reach crossroads by large tree. Go L and follow from paragraph E [2.5Km]
FOR A SAUNTER 5.4 Km Total ascent 48m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59736546
Follow to the end of paragraph A. Turn L and follow from paragraph F
B (GR482306) Go R for 250m, crossing the Cary bridge and beyond Etsome House, take the track on the R and then almost immediately L following an enclosed path for 600m. Cross sleeper bridge by metal gate and go slightly L across field to reach and cross footbridge by tree. Continue with hedge on R to a stream crossing and stile. From here, aim to R of barn ahead, cross stile and pass to R of barn to reach stile by metal gate to road. Go L and after 300m reach junction [1.7Km]
C (GR480321) Bear R and go through the village of Dundon for 400m to reach junction at No Through Rd sign. (but go ahead 100m to see the church). After 50m, turn R into School Lane, pass old school and at end of tarmac, continue on flagstoned path (which may be slippery when wet). Go through two kissing gates and continue along flagstones through several more gates and a farmyard to emerge on road and go R for 350m to junction with B3151. Go L for 30m and R by memorial into Compton Street. After 150m bear L, ascending gradually. After 500m at No Through Road sign bear R (SP Street) for 75m then L and start to ascend more steeply for 400m round sharp L bend. 50m beyond ascend steps on R to stile (SP Hood Monument) and climb grassy track to another stile then steep stepped track 100m to monument. Go L at monument and down gravel track 200m to kissing gate and road. Go R for 20m and L (SP Public Footpath) along well-defined path (SP Polden Way) ascending gradually 250m to a kissing gate then 200m to another kissing gate. Continue along the ridge ridge with a post and wire fence on R and excellent views to the L to Exmoor, ahead to Brent Knoll and the Brecon Beacons and R to the Mendips. Descend gently to reach a kissing gate at road junction. Go across with care up a short path and immediately L along the narrow lane (no sign) and follow 500m as it winds gently down passing Ivythorn Manor. At gate, continue ahead 200m on tarmac track and when crossing track is reached, go ahead over stile. Keep hedge on L 250m and just before end of field, cross waymarked stile on L and sleeper bridge. Follow 200m now with hedge on R, to cross stile to L of metal gate. Continue with hedge on L 200m, cross stile on L to track by new farm building. Go R along track for 550m and just after farm buildings on R, turn R (no sign) [6.0Km]
D (GR480329) Follow Middle Drove past cricket ground on L for 2Km where track goes L then R. Continue ahead 250m ignore track on L, then 450m beyond reach T‑junction. Go L along Walton Drove (no sign) and follow for 1.5Km to junction then go L along the straight Somerton Drove (which once was tarmac!) for 1.7Km to reach a crossroads with two large trees and go straight across [6.0Km]
E (GR 469306) Follow 700m to junction, go R and continue, bearing L and after 350m track becomes tarmac. Follow bearing R, ignore track on L and cross River Cary to junction by Etsome Dairy Farm [1.6Km]
F (GR482306) Continue ahead, climbing at first but then enjoying good views to the L. After 1.5Km at junction, do not turn R into Northfield by the new school, but continue ahead for 300m and follow as road bears R. At the Fire Station go L along Behind Berry and after 200m go R along Queens Road. At the junction go L and after 100m between numbers 36 and 38, go R along tarmac track and through squeeze to emerge in the car park [2.6Km]
FOR A SLOG 20.8Km Total ascent 168m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/62049022
Follow entire route
FOR A STRIDE 15.6 Km Total ascent 80m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59738786
Follow to the end of paragraph B. Bear R and continue through the village of Dundon for 400m to reach junction at No Through Rd sign (but go ahead 100m to see the church). Bear R into Peak Lane and descend for 300m to crossroads. Go ahead 150m and turn L into track (no sign). Follow from paragraph D. [0.8Km]
FOR A STROLL 11.2 Km Total ascent 66m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59737880
Follow to the end of paragraph B. Go L along Hayes Lane and follow for 1.5Km to reach Lower Hayes Farm, turning L immediately after the first barn, then R just before the field into Little Moor Drove (no sign). Follow this muddy track across the moor with its rich black soil and after 1Km, reach crossroads by large tree. Go L and follow from paragraph E [2.5Km]
FOR A SAUNTER 5.4 Km Total ascent 48m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59736546
Follow to the end of paragraph A. Turn L and follow from paragraph F
