
WALK 10
ILCHESTER (LIMINGTON TURN)
Small villages, the river Yeo and RNAS Yeovilton
An easy going level walk, but complex instructions and many stiles
Distance 12.1 Km/7.6 miles
Total ascent/descent 34m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/19262676
Revised August 2024 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR523 225) go 100m N towards village and at junction go R along Limington Road. After 1.4Km pass the imposing High Barn(1) on L and after 450m go sharp R and 70m beyond go L into churchyard. Where path bears L to church entrance, bear R across grass with wall on R and follow as it bears R to leave churchyard and after 35m go through gate on L (SP Monarch’s Way(2). Go slightly R across field keeping to L of three large trees to reach a stile and road [2.3Km]
2 (GR543 222) Go R a few metres and then L on to a path (SP Ashington). Follow horse fence 350m to far side of field to reach a double stile and cross the next field in the same direction. At next double stile 15m to R of trough, go ahead with hedge on R 100m to a further double stile and sleeper bridge. Bear 45 degrees R to cross a stile in hedge on R, then 45 degrees L over stile across electric fence and continue to far corner to a stile to a crossing track. Go ahead over a sleeper bridge and bear slightly R to a large hedge gap. Go ahead with hedge on R to another large gap then slightly R to another double stile. Bear slightly R to Bristol gate and road [1.7Km]
3 (GR557 215) Turn L for 100m and on R bend go L (SP Ashington) through gate and continue through kissing gate to another gate to re-emerge on the same road. Continue along road 200m through village and just beyond a long R bend beyond a house called St Vincent’s House, take bridleway on L. Follow overhead power line for 400m keeping hedge on L to cross bridge over River Yeo (3). Do not go straight ahead to the metal gate in far boundary, but bear slightly L to reach stile by the L power cable. Cross concrete bridge and continue 180m along enclosed path to reach a road. Go R and after 20m L along path (SP Chilton Cantelo) for 330m to cross tarmac drive to school(4) and after 250m reach church(5) and road in Chilton Cantelo. Turn R 100m to crossroads then L 250m to bridge over stream [2.3Km]
4 (GR571 224) Just beyond bridge take path on L (SP Yeovilton). Follow track for 100m then bear slightly R with trees on L 100m to go through gate on L at end of the field. Follow enclosed path 300m as it meanders to reach a metal gate into open field. Go ahead 250m, now with fence on R, to reach another gate by the River Yeo. Continue ahead, following the track close to the river for 1250m and at end bear R to reach a bridge over a stream and then a second bridge 50m ahead to reach the perimeter fence of RNAS Yeovilton(6) [2.1Km]
5 (GR555 227) Turn L and follow track 450m with fence on L to end of field. Go through waymarked gate, ignore gate on L but follow fence on L past runway lights and several gates to road. Go L and cross River Yeo by waterfall [1.1Km]
6 (GR544 227)Take path on R (SP Limington) for 450m aiming to waymarked gate in L corner. (It may be easier to go L and follow field boundary). Do not go through metal gate and bridge crossing stream, but go 30m R through wooden gate and continue with stream on L 150m to cross stone bridge. After 120m go through waymarked gate on L and after 70m cross stile on R and with hedge on R for 300m cross stile and sleeper bridge. Continue with hedge on L and after 250m when hedge goes sharp L, bear L across field 200m on clear path to a waymarked stile. Cross track and sleeper bridge and go ahead with hedge on R 300m then bear L to a stile in the middle of the far hedge. After 200m at gate, bear slightly L to reach a kissing gate. Turn over steps to reach a road and continue ahead past a row of cottages to a T-junction. Turn R 120m to reach main road, then L to reach bus-stop (that for Somerton and Taunton is across the road) [2.5Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 5.3 Km/3.4 miles
Follow to end of point 1, but then turn L for 500m to reach point 6 just before the bridge over the River Yeo.
For car travellers:
There is a free car park just in Limington Road.
Refreshments:
Pubs/café/restaurant in Ilchester
1 High Barn is a large 18th century Ham Stone house. It is listed Grade II
2 The Monarch’s Way is a path of 1000Km(625miles) following the route taken by King Charles II after defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651
3 The River Yeo is a 24Km (15 mile) long tributary of the R Parrett.
4 Chilton Cantelo House was built in the 18th Century and later became the home of an independent day and boarding school for 8-16 year olds.
5 The Norman church of St James has a 15th-century tower and parts of the church date from even earlier. It was restored in the 1860s.
6 RNAS Yeovilton is a large multi-role air station and is home to Navy and Army helicopters. It is manned by around 4000 personnel, both service and civilian
2 (GR543 222) Go R a few metres and then L on to a path (SP Ashington). Follow horse fence 350m to far side of field to reach a double stile and cross the next field in the same direction. At next double stile 15m to R of trough, go ahead with hedge on R 100m to a further double stile and sleeper bridge. Bear 45 degrees R to cross a stile in hedge on R, then 45 degrees L over stile across electric fence and continue to far corner to a stile to a crossing track. Go ahead over a sleeper bridge and bear slightly R to a large hedge gap. Go ahead with hedge on R to another large gap then slightly R to another double stile. Bear slightly R to Bristol gate and road [1.7Km]
3 (GR557 215) Turn L for 100m and on R bend go L (SP Ashington) through gate and continue through kissing gate to another gate to re-emerge on the same road. Continue along road 200m through village and just beyond a long R bend beyond a house called St Vincent’s House, take bridleway on L. Follow overhead power line for 400m keeping hedge on L to cross bridge over River Yeo (3). Do not go straight ahead to the metal gate in far boundary, but bear slightly L to reach stile by the L power cable. Cross concrete bridge and continue 180m along enclosed path to reach a road. Go R and after 20m L along path (SP Chilton Cantelo) for 330m to cross tarmac drive to school(4) and after 250m reach church(5) and road in Chilton Cantelo. Turn R 100m to crossroads then L 250m to bridge over stream [2.3Km]
4 (GR571 224) Just beyond bridge take path on L (SP Yeovilton). Follow track for 100m then bear slightly R with trees on L 100m to go through gate on L at end of the field. Follow enclosed path 300m as it meanders to reach a metal gate into open field. Go ahead 250m, now with fence on R, to reach another gate by the River Yeo. Continue ahead, following the track close to the river for 1250m and at end bear R to reach a bridge over a stream and then a second bridge 50m ahead to reach the perimeter fence of RNAS Yeovilton(6) [2.1Km]
5 (GR555 227) Turn L and follow track 450m with fence on L to end of field. Go through waymarked gate, ignore gate on L but follow fence on L past runway lights and several gates to road. Go L and cross River Yeo by waterfall [1.1Km]
6 (GR544 227)Take path on R (SP Limington) for 450m aiming to waymarked gate in L corner. (It may be easier to go L and follow field boundary). Do not go through metal gate and bridge crossing stream, but go 30m R through wooden gate and continue with stream on L 150m to cross stone bridge. After 120m go through waymarked gate on L and after 70m cross stile on R and with hedge on R for 300m cross stile and sleeper bridge. Continue with hedge on L and after 250m when hedge goes sharp L, bear L across field 200m on clear path to a waymarked stile. Cross track and sleeper bridge and go ahead with hedge on R 300m then bear L to a stile in the middle of the far hedge. After 200m at gate, bear slightly L to reach a kissing gate. Turn over steps to reach a road and continue ahead past a row of cottages to a T-junction. Turn R 120m to reach main road, then L to reach bus-stop (that for Somerton and Taunton is across the road) [2.5Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 5.3 Km/3.4 miles
Follow to end of point 1, but then turn L for 500m to reach point 6 just before the bridge over the River Yeo.
For car travellers:
There is a free car park just in Limington Road.
Refreshments:
Pubs/café/restaurant in Ilchester
1 High Barn is a large 18th century Ham Stone house. It is listed Grade II
2 The Monarch’s Way is a path of 1000Km(625miles) following the route taken by King Charles II after defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651
3 The River Yeo is a 24Km (15 mile) long tributary of the R Parrett.
4 Chilton Cantelo House was built in the 18th Century and later became the home of an independent day and boarding school for 8-16 year olds.
5 The Norman church of St James has a 15th-century tower and parts of the church date from even earlier. It was restored in the 1860s.
6 RNAS Yeovilton is a large multi-role air station and is home to Navy and Army helicopters. It is manned by around 4000 personnel, both service and civilian