Jack the Treacle Eater
WALK 12
YEOVIL
(BUS STATION)
The Barwick Park follies and
Ninesprings Country Park
Pleasant rural walking along paths
with gates and stiles
Distance 11.7 Km/ 7.2 miles
Total ascent/descent 137m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/25424959
Updated June 2025 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR560 161), leave the bus station passing the pub and go ahead past the end of Middle Street, then continue ahead on the wide pavement past restaurants and cross into Yeo Leisure Park(1). Go ahead 50m then L after the restaurant on the L towards the car park office and after 50m just before overbridge cross road and go along path round end of car park bearing R. Go through gate on L through grassy area to another gate then ahead with hedge on L climbing 100m to a kissing gate. Through gate go R with fence on R climbing very steeply with good view of Yeovil(2). After 150m go through kissing gate then bear L to kissing gate next to wooden gate and exit Yeovil Country Park. Go ahead to L of building then bear slightly L to gate in line of trees then gate to track and go L, descending [1.0Km]
2 (GR565 150) After 400m, beyond houses, go R up steps, through kissing gate and go slightly L 200m to gate in far corner to reach road. Cross into track (SP Rexe’s Hollow) for 600m to Jack the Treacle Eater(3) with view to Barwick House(4). Continue 200m to Treacle Farm then R to reach stone gateway [1.5Km]
3 (GR562 140) Just beyond, note the view on R to The Rose Tower(3). Follow the road 250m to junction in village and go L and after 200m bear L to school. Go ahead (Southview) ascending and after 250m, bear R into Fairhouse Road. At junction continue ahead and at end of the houses opposite telecom mast, note The Needle (3) over to the R. Go ahead 150m to the A37. Cross to narrow path to R of metal gate, cross stile and go ahead past oak tree to double stile in corner. Cross, bear R 150m with hedge on R to stile at road. Go L 150m and where road bears L go R through gate [2.0Km]
4 (GR557 126) Follow waymark 60m to cross water in dip in field, then bear slightly L 150m to gate to L of two trees. Continue ahead 200m roughly parallel to hedge to gate to R of two trees, then 300m to metal gate beneath tree straight ahead. After gate, bear L to take narrow path 150m with wire fence on R. Cross stile and go across large field aiming firstly 120m to L of oak tree ahead, then slightly L 200m to another oak tree, then 70m to a third oak tree and just beyond to cross stile. Go R on path 120m to track (SP Coker Moor) to reach wider track by water treatment works and after a further 300m, opposite wooden bridge, take path (opposite direction to Cemetery) on R 200m to track junction. Go through metal gate, cross stream and bear slightly R aiming for Bristol gate in far R corner, Go through gate and continue with hedge on R to gate. Cross and go ahead now with hedge on L to reach road by Redlands. After 150m go sharp L 200m to junction, then R for 70m [2.8Km]
5 (GR545 137) Go R into grassy path (SP Dunnocks Lane) 300m to gate at crossroads then ahead with hedge on R (Monarch’s Way) 250m to road. Go ahead ignore junction on L after 50m and 100m beyond go L on track (SP Bridleway) 800m to road. Go R and after 60m R again into Little Tarrat Lane 150m to the A37. Cross with care into Two Tower Lane and through the first gate on the L. Keep hedge on R for 850m to crossing hedge and go L (but go R through gate and L along road to view the Fish Tower(3) [2.7Km]
6 (GR560 148) Keep hedge on R and after 150m where it ends bear slightly L to descend steeply, grassy at first then a narrow path 500m to reach stream. Continue with stream on L past lake and kids playground. Go ahead on track, past commercial buildings then in front of residences to reach road into Yeo Leisure Park(1). At road, go L to traffic lights then R and follow road 300m bearing L and past the pub to the bus station [1.7Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 5.1 Km/ 3.2 miles
At end of point 2, go R along drive (SP Two Tower Lane). Take R fork before Barwick House and after100m(110yds) go through kissing gate on R aiming for big tree in middle of field. Go through kissing gate and follow path to road and cross. This is point 6.
For car travellers:
Park (free on Sunday) in Stars Lane or Yeo Leisure Park.
Refreshments:
Bars, cafés and restaurants in Yeovil
1Yeo Leisure Park is built on the site of Yeovil Town station which was on the GWR line to Taunton, with links to Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction stations. It was closed in 1966
2 Yeovil was first mentioned in the 9th century and granted a charter in 1205. It became the centre of the glove-making industry in the 19th century. In 20th century it has become a centre of aircraft and defence industries.
3 The four follies in Barwick Park said to have been built to give labourers work during the 1820s depression. But paintings of Barwick House in the 1780s include only two of the follies. They were possibly commissioned to mark the park boundaries:- Jack the Treacle Eater (a stone arch topped by a round tower) to the east, the Fish Tower in the north, Messiter's Cone (the Rose Tower) in the west and the Needle to the south. All are listed Grade II
4 Barwick House (listed Grade II) was built around 1770 and remodelled for glove maker George Messiter in 1830.
2 (GR565 150) After 400m, beyond houses, go R up steps, through kissing gate and go slightly L 200m to gate in far corner to reach road. Cross into track (SP Rexe’s Hollow) for 600m to Jack the Treacle Eater(3) with view to Barwick House(4). Continue 200m to Treacle Farm then R to reach stone gateway [1.5Km]
3 (GR562 140) Just beyond, note the view on R to The Rose Tower(3). Follow the road 250m to junction in village and go L and after 200m bear L to school. Go ahead (Southview) ascending and after 250m, bear R into Fairhouse Road. At junction continue ahead and at end of the houses opposite telecom mast, note The Needle (3) over to the R. Go ahead 150m to the A37. Cross to narrow path to R of metal gate, cross stile and go ahead past oak tree to double stile in corner. Cross, bear R 150m with hedge on R to stile at road. Go L 150m and where road bears L go R through gate [2.0Km]
4 (GR557 126) Follow waymark 60m to cross water in dip in field, then bear slightly L 150m to gate to L of two trees. Continue ahead 200m roughly parallel to hedge to gate to R of two trees, then 300m to metal gate beneath tree straight ahead. After gate, bear L to take narrow path 150m with wire fence on R. Cross stile and go across large field aiming firstly 120m to L of oak tree ahead, then slightly L 200m to another oak tree, then 70m to a third oak tree and just beyond to cross stile. Go R on path 120m to track (SP Coker Moor) to reach wider track by water treatment works and after a further 300m, opposite wooden bridge, take path (opposite direction to Cemetery) on R 200m to track junction. Go through metal gate, cross stream and bear slightly R aiming for Bristol gate in far R corner, Go through gate and continue with hedge on R to gate. Cross and go ahead now with hedge on L to reach road by Redlands. After 150m go sharp L 200m to junction, then R for 70m [2.8Km]
5 (GR545 137) Go R into grassy path (SP Dunnocks Lane) 300m to gate at crossroads then ahead with hedge on R (Monarch’s Way) 250m to road. Go ahead ignore junction on L after 50m and 100m beyond go L on track (SP Bridleway) 800m to road. Go R and after 60m R again into Little Tarrat Lane 150m to the A37. Cross with care into Two Tower Lane and through the first gate on the L. Keep hedge on R for 850m to crossing hedge and go L (but go R through gate and L along road to view the Fish Tower(3) [2.7Km]
6 (GR560 148) Keep hedge on R and after 150m where it ends bear slightly L to descend steeply, grassy at first then a narrow path 500m to reach stream. Continue with stream on L past lake and kids playground. Go ahead on track, past commercial buildings then in front of residences to reach road into Yeo Leisure Park(1). At road, go L to traffic lights then R and follow road 300m bearing L and past the pub to the bus station [1.7Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 5.1 Km/ 3.2 miles
At end of point 2, go R along drive (SP Two Tower Lane). Take R fork before Barwick House and after100m(110yds) go through kissing gate on R aiming for big tree in middle of field. Go through kissing gate and follow path to road and cross. This is point 6.
For car travellers:
Park (free on Sunday) in Stars Lane or Yeo Leisure Park.
Refreshments:
Bars, cafés and restaurants in Yeovil
1Yeo Leisure Park is built on the site of Yeovil Town station which was on the GWR line to Taunton, with links to Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction stations. It was closed in 1966
2 Yeovil was first mentioned in the 9th century and granted a charter in 1205. It became the centre of the glove-making industry in the 19th century. In 20th century it has become a centre of aircraft and defence industries.
3 The four follies in Barwick Park said to have been built to give labourers work during the 1820s depression. But paintings of Barwick House in the 1780s include only two of the follies. They were possibly commissioned to mark the park boundaries:- Jack the Treacle Eater (a stone arch topped by a round tower) to the east, the Fish Tower in the north, Messiter's Cone (the Rose Tower) in the west and the Needle to the south. All are listed Grade II
4 Barwick House (listed Grade II) was built around 1770 and remodelled for glove maker George Messiter in 1830.
