STROLL 5
COPLEY WOOD & LITTLETON

Distance 11.9km/7.4m Ascent 222m
An undulating walk through beautiful woodlands with some far-reaching views
There is a sharp climb to Copley Wood. This walk will take about 3hrs but it’s worth the extra!
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5922093253/
Comments to [email protected] Updated February 2024

Leave car park and go L along West Street. After 300m at Market Square go L through the churchyard passing to the right of the church with its octagonal tower. The path ends in Cow Square, where there is a trough, which was restored in 1902. Continue ahead along New Street with its attractive old buildings, and after 200m, just beyond the Old School House, descend the track to L of Cockspurs. Where the track joins a tarmac road continue ahead to T-junction and turn L (SP Street). Proceed along the pavement going over the bridge across the river Cary, with a fine view of the railway viaduct, and where the road bends L fork R (towards Castle Cary). After 300m along this busy road bear L (SP Hurcot) and follow the lane as it goes alongside and then under the railway as it snakes around the side of the Cary valley. 30m beyond the bridge, go straight up the track to L of cottage (no sign) walk through the garden. This is the start of the Polden Way, which runs 10Km to Walton. Go through the Bristol gate and continue along left-hand boundary. Cross a tarmac lane and go ahead with gully and small stream on L before crossing the stream and following a faint path steeply uphill. At the top of the climb, look behind to admire the view (and regain your breath!) then locate a stile close to a silver birch tree. Over the stile go immediately R and follow the well-marked track 400m to cross a broken stile and then continue alongside a barbed wire fence 150m to reach a wider track. Turn L and descend gently for 750m looking carefully for a way-mark at a left fork to emerge into a clearing. Go straight ahead to cross the clearing, bear L then fork R on a narrower track to ascend for 200m to emerge into a field. Go R for a few metres then L keeping the large solar panel array on R and following track along the field boundary 650m beside the solar farm to a white gate at a road. Turn L and follow this busy road with great care for 300m to another white gate on L (SP Public footpath). Go through the pedestrian gate to follow a concrete track. At the end of the concrete, take the track keeping the hedge on the L 250m to the edge of the woods. Turn R and go 300m along the field edge and enter the track in the corner of the field into Great Breech Wood. After 300m, go straight on at a crossing track then after 70m, turn L at way-mark. Take a small track on L by a small display board to view a monument to Hungerford Colston who died as a result of a shooting accident. Continue along the main track, keeping a close watch for way-marks and at the broader track, go right. Ignore the broad track on the L, but take the smaller track on the L a few metres beyond (SP Public footpath) to descend steeply with wooden steps. When a broad track is reached, turn R and after 30m cross a stile on L to continue descent to reach waymarked gate and track to Redland Farm. At the busy B3151 turn R and after 350m L into Peak Lane. After 100m where lane bears right, go through gate on L along enclosed track to emerge into an orchard, keeping close to the L boundary. Cross stile and sleeper bridge, then head slightly L of large oak tree at far side of field, to cross a bridge and stile. Go straight up the hill in front and continue ahead along the ridge with excellent views to R and L. At the end of the ridge, descend bearing R to a stile by large evergreen trees to L of a modern house. Go straight ahead along enclosed path to reach a metal gate into the road and turn R then after 100m just beyond pond go L. Continue along track to L of buildings and through small gate into field. Through another gate and continue ahead close to the L boundary to cross another gate. At the Bristol gate with a view of the railway viaduct and a pedestrian gate on L cross and turn immediately R to descend to a line of shrubs to reach a footbridge over the river Cary. Once across the bridge continue straight ahead between fishing lakes to a car parking area and ascend a steep muddy footpath. At the top, ascend steps and cross the tarmac road by the beech tree and follow the footpath beside the cemetery to emerge at a main road. Turn L and immediately cross over to the gate and follow the path above the railway line cutting to emerge on West Street adjacent to the car park.