The long route “Slog” involves crossing an MoD range. For schedules see gov.uk put “Langport Range” into search box. Or check with Duty Officer (07870 377807) or MoD (07811 723106 or 01395 272972)
Part of section D (in bold) can be very muddy and wet except after prolonged dry spell.
A (GR487285) Leave car park and go R and after 100m fork R (SP Langport) for 300m to roundabout. Turn R, cross with care and go L before Fire Station along the narrow Behind Berry. After 150m go R into Highfield Way for 250m and through metal squeeze on the R into Northfield Way and follow as it bears L to junction. Go L and after 30m R (No Through Road). After 1Km at end of tarmac descend gently. After 100m, ignore R turn but descend more steeply 400m to reach road. Go L ascending gently for 250m to junction [2.7Km]
B (GR470296) Go R and follow 2Km descending gently at first to the hamlet of Park and duck pond [2.0Km]
C (GR452302) Continue ahead (SP Low Ham) for 1Km to junction by bungalow. Go R (SP Low Ham) for 200m to crossroads and continue ahead (no sign) for 1.5Km ascending gently at first, then more steeply passing Eastfield Nature Reserve and Stembridge Mill to reach crossroads by the playing field [2.7Km]
D (GR428307) Go R (no sign) and follow road for 450m bearing L by school to reach High Ham village green and church. Bear R, then ahead taking road (Unsuitable for HGVs) between a pair of cottages and churchyard. Follow 1.3Km to junction and continue ahead 120m to the top of a steep hill by Turn Hill (National Trust). If time permits, do go ahead 100m on broad grassy track for excellent view. This next section may be wet/muddy. Go L up wooden steps along permissive path (maybe muddy) for 600m to reach a broad track (SP Aller) through woods with barbed wire fence on L, Follow for 800m soon alongside MoD range with its warning signs to reach a sharp L bend. Continue for 300m then L (watch with care) along narrow waymarked path (SP Public Footpath) with barbed wire fence on L for 400m to reach flagpole by gate crossing into range. If red flag is flying, DO NOT CROSS into the range area. Follow track ahead with fence to R for 300m and at waymark go 90 degrees L on narrow path 150m to junction with broad track. Go R 15m then L on well-waymarked path to reach a waymarked barrier. Just beyond, bear R and after 50m where track bears R continue straight ahead on narrow path 150m to exit range. Cross sleeper bridge and aim slightly L to Bristol gate at far side of field (if cropped go L round field). Go through gate along grass track 100m then 80m on hard surface to reach junction. Go R and follow 650m to join road at junction. Continue ahead 350m to staggered crossroads just beyond “30” sign by cemetery. Turn R and then immediately L into Mill Road and after 200m reach crossroads by playing field and go R [6.3Km]
E (GR428307) Descend Long Street gently and after 900m, ignore L turn by Yew Tree Farm and after a further 350m, by road on the R, go L through a Bristol gate (SP Footpath). Bear R to cross field along clear path gate towards gate in the far R corner. Cross the sleeper bridge then go L round field along clear path to reach another gate then along a narrow enclosed path to reach a road. Go R 20m then L over stone stile (SP Footpath). Keep hedge and ditch on R, through gate and where hedge goes sharp R continue ahead 200m to locate a stile in a hedge gap. Cross and aim slightly R to Bristol gate at the far side of the field to emerge on a road. Go R for 20m then L (SP Pitney) across sleeper bridge. Go ahead 400m with hedge on L and follow bearing R to reach a stile, sleeper bridge and steps to road. Go R and follow for 500m to a crossroads just beyond Farm Shop and go ahead for 500m, ignoring a turning on R, to reach another crossroads [3.5Km]
F (GR450291) Follow tarmac lane (No through Road) 500m ascending gradually. When tarmac ends continue 500m along track, descending then ascending to regain tarmac. Follow for 1Km ignoring junction on L to reach junction by large black barn just before “HGVs keep left” sign and turn R [2.2Km]
G (GR471289) Follow this lane for 350m bearing L to junction. Go straight across through gate (SP Bridleway) and ahead 200m along grass track keeping hedge on R and housing on L. At the next gate, go ahead 250m along tarmac drive bearing R to emerge on Langport Road opposite the Sports Field. Turn L and follow 450m, passing Westholm Road on L and Gassons Lane on R and take the next R, West End by pedestrian crossing. After 200m at grass triangle, go L into Camden Road, then bear R at Camden Orchard. At the end by Tom Tits Lane, go L for 250m to emerge on West Street. Go R and car park is 100m on L [1.9Km]
FOR A SLOG 21.5Km Total ascent 211m mapmyrun.com/routes/view/62294904
Follow entire route. If red flag is flying, retrace steps through woods and permissive path to Turn Hill. Go R 120m then fork R and follow 1.1Km to junction. Go L 350m to staggered crossroads just beyond “30” sign by cemetery. Turn R and then L into Mill Road and after 200m reach crossroads by playing field and go R. This is point E and will be a similar distance to the described route.
FOR A STRIDE 15.0Km Total ascent 129m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59926558
Follow to the end of paragraph C. Turn L and follow from paragraph E.
FOR A STROLL 10.2Km Total ascent 118m (with extreme climb) www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59924752
Follow to the end of paragraph B. Continue ahead 300m and go L by small grass triangle (No Through Road). After 130m at junction go L (SP Stowey Rd) and follow as track bears R and ascends very steeply. At the top descend gently for 650m to a crossroads and turn L. Follow from paragraph F [1.4Km]
FOR A SAUNTER 5.6Km Total ascent 55m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59923634
Follow to the end of paragraph A. Turn L ascending gradually for 750m to reach a road junction. Go R (SP Westcombe) for 250m to another junction and go L. Follow from paragraph G [1Km]
Part of section D (in bold) can be very muddy and wet except after prolonged dry spell.
A (GR487285) Leave car park and go R and after 100m fork R (SP Langport) for 300m to roundabout. Turn R, cross with care and go L before Fire Station along the narrow Behind Berry. After 150m go R into Highfield Way for 250m and through metal squeeze on the R into Northfield Way and follow as it bears L to junction. Go L and after 30m R (No Through Road). After 1Km at end of tarmac descend gently. After 100m, ignore R turn but descend more steeply 400m to reach road. Go L ascending gently for 250m to junction [2.7Km]
B (GR470296) Go R and follow 2Km descending gently at first to the hamlet of Park and duck pond [2.0Km]
C (GR452302) Continue ahead (SP Low Ham) for 1Km to junction by bungalow. Go R (SP Low Ham) for 200m to crossroads and continue ahead (no sign) for 1.5Km ascending gently at first, then more steeply passing Eastfield Nature Reserve and Stembridge Mill to reach crossroads by the playing field [2.7Km]
D (GR428307) Go R (no sign) and follow road for 450m bearing L by school to reach High Ham village green and church. Bear R, then ahead taking road (Unsuitable for HGVs) between a pair of cottages and churchyard. Follow 1.3Km to junction and continue ahead 120m to the top of a steep hill by Turn Hill (National Trust). If time permits, do go ahead 100m on broad grassy track for excellent view. This next section may be wet/muddy. Go L up wooden steps along permissive path (maybe muddy) for 600m to reach a broad track (SP Aller) through woods with barbed wire fence on L, Follow for 800m soon alongside MoD range with its warning signs to reach a sharp L bend. Continue for 300m then L (watch with care) along narrow waymarked path (SP Public Footpath) with barbed wire fence on L for 400m to reach flagpole by gate crossing into range. If red flag is flying, DO NOT CROSS into the range area. Follow track ahead with fence to R for 300m and at waymark go 90 degrees L on narrow path 150m to junction with broad track. Go R 15m then L on well-waymarked path to reach a waymarked barrier. Just beyond, bear R and after 50m where track bears R continue straight ahead on narrow path 150m to exit range. Cross sleeper bridge and aim slightly L to Bristol gate at far side of field (if cropped go L round field). Go through gate along grass track 100m then 80m on hard surface to reach junction. Go R and follow 650m to join road at junction. Continue ahead 350m to staggered crossroads just beyond “30” sign by cemetery. Turn R and then immediately L into Mill Road and after 200m reach crossroads by playing field and go R [6.3Km]
E (GR428307) Descend Long Street gently and after 900m, ignore L turn by Yew Tree Farm and after a further 350m, by road on the R, go L through a Bristol gate (SP Footpath). Bear R to cross field along clear path gate towards gate in the far R corner. Cross the sleeper bridge then go L round field along clear path to reach another gate then along a narrow enclosed path to reach a road. Go R 20m then L over stone stile (SP Footpath). Keep hedge and ditch on R, through gate and where hedge goes sharp R continue ahead 200m to locate a stile in a hedge gap. Cross and aim slightly R to Bristol gate at the far side of the field to emerge on a road. Go R for 20m then L (SP Pitney) across sleeper bridge. Go ahead 400m with hedge on L and follow bearing R to reach a stile, sleeper bridge and steps to road. Go R and follow for 500m to a crossroads just beyond Farm Shop and go ahead for 500m, ignoring a turning on R, to reach another crossroads [3.5Km]
F (GR450291) Follow tarmac lane (No through Road) 500m ascending gradually. When tarmac ends continue 500m along track, descending then ascending to regain tarmac. Follow for 1Km ignoring junction on L to reach junction by large black barn just before “HGVs keep left” sign and turn R [2.2Km]
G (GR471289) Follow this lane for 350m bearing L to junction. Go straight across through gate (SP Bridleway) and ahead 200m along grass track keeping hedge on R and housing on L. At the next gate, go ahead 250m along tarmac drive bearing R to emerge on Langport Road opposite the Sports Field. Turn L and follow 450m, passing Westholm Road on L and Gassons Lane on R and take the next R, West End by pedestrian crossing. After 200m at grass triangle, go L into Camden Road, then bear R at Camden Orchard. At the end by Tom Tits Lane, go L for 250m to emerge on West Street. Go R and car park is 100m on L [1.9Km]
FOR A SLOG 21.5Km Total ascent 211m mapmyrun.com/routes/view/62294904
Follow entire route. If red flag is flying, retrace steps through woods and permissive path to Turn Hill. Go R 120m then fork R and follow 1.1Km to junction. Go L 350m to staggered crossroads just beyond “30” sign by cemetery. Turn R and then L into Mill Road and after 200m reach crossroads by playing field and go R. This is point E and will be a similar distance to the described route.
FOR A STRIDE 15.0Km Total ascent 129m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59926558
Follow to the end of paragraph C. Turn L and follow from paragraph E.
FOR A STROLL 10.2Km Total ascent 118m (with extreme climb) www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59924752
Follow to the end of paragraph B. Continue ahead 300m and go L by small grass triangle (No Through Road). After 130m at junction go L (SP Stowey Rd) and follow as track bears R and ascends very steeply. At the top descend gently for 650m to a crossroads and turn L. Follow from paragraph F [1.4Km]
FOR A SAUNTER 5.6Km Total ascent 55m www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/59923634
Follow to the end of paragraph A. Turn L ascending gradually for 750m to reach a road junction. Go R (SP Westcombe) for 250m to another junction and go L. Follow from paragraph G [1Km]
