Wookey Church
WALK 3
COXLEY
Pleasant villages and a watermill in rural Somerset
Country lanes and field paths with many stiles to cross
Distance 10.6 Km/ 6.6 miles
Total ascent/descent 99m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/29468182
Updated February 2025 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR529 436), walk towards Wells and take first road on L (SP Burcott). After 200m cross the bridge over the river and disused railway line(1) and 100m beyond where the road bears R, go L along The Drang. After 70m take path on R opposite lamp post (SP Public Footpath) and at road, cross and go slightly L through gate. Follow path to far L corner passing close to far wooden pole. Go through large hedge gap then go ahead keeping hedge on L. Three quarters of the way (100m) along the field, cross stile on L, then follow the boundary anti-clockwise keeping hedge on R to stile. Cross track and stile ahead [1.1Km]
2 (GR523 444) Go R with fence on R. After 100m cross stile on R and bear L along fence. At start of hedge bear R to contour round hill to locate stile on L. Cross and bear R along top of field with view to the Mendip TV transmitter tower(2). Cross two fields then bear L descending to gate and follow track 120m. When it bears L go ahead through Bristol gate 60m to reach stile by metal gate to road. Go L 350m to junction [1.1Km]
3 (GR545 542) Go L 250m then R 500m ascending gently at first to junction at entrance to Wookey. Cross road, go L for 50m, descend steps on R and follow path with River Axe(3) on L. Follow through wooded area and at open field follow L boundary 200m to metal gate and road. Go L 150m to view Burcott Inn and Mill(4) then retrace your steps round L bend and take the second L by graveyard to pass Wookey church(5). After 150m go L at junction pass through village and after 150m go ahead into Knowle Lane. After 200m fork L into Monksford and after 180m just beyond “Ford” sign, go L over stile [2.2Km]
4 (GR513 458) Aim for middle of opposite hedge passing under two power cables to double stile. Go ahead across narrow field to a second double stile and then continue ahead to metal gate and road. Cross ford over River Axe, go ahead 700m then L to main road. Cross over (Unsuitable for HGV) and follow 250m ascending gently at first, then bear R ascending more steeply and meandering to reach Tor View Cottage [1.9Km]
5 (GR502 448) Follow 300m to Brookwell Cottage and go R. Descend for 600m go sharp L by One Elm Farm, then after 100m at sharp R go ahead through metal gate. Keep hedge L and where it ends continue ahead, over stile and at cattle trough bear slightly R to stile to L of the smaller (L) of two white houses ahead. At road go R 20m to junction (if cropped, follow field boundary to emerge on road and go L 50m) [1.4Km]
6 (GR508 440) Go L (SP Polsham) - after 200m the mound of Fenny Castle(6) can be seen on R - and follow for 500m to cross bridge. After further 400m go L along drive to Melsbury Farm. After 350m cross bridge, go over stile on R then 100m to cross footbridge ahead. Immediately over bridge go L and follow with River Sheppey on L for 1.2Km taking great care at field boundaries to keep by the side of the river. At steps on R. ascend to road and go R for 200m to reach the A39. The bus stop for Wells is to the R and that for Glastonbury and Yeovil is across the road 100m ahead by the Memorial Hall [2.9Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 5.9 Km/ 3.6 miles
Follow to the end of point 1 and cross track to second stile. Go straight across field past cattle trough to bushes 50m to R of metal gate to reach sleeper bridge. Cross and go R keeping stream on R crossing three stiles to reach road at junction. Go straight ahead for 600m to junction by Pine Tree Farm. Go L for 600m to junction at point 6. Follow route to end.
For car travellers:
Park in front of Coxley Memorial Hall on the A39.
Refreshments:
Ring o’ Bells, Wookey
Burcott Inn, Wookey
1 The railway line was a branch of the Somerset & Dorset railway from Wells to Glastonbury, which opened in 1859 and closed in 1951.
2 Mendip transmitter (erected in 1967) transmits TV and radio signals and is almost 1000ft tall on a hill 1000ft high and is the tallest structure in SW England
3 River Axe rises at Wookey Hole and flows to the Bristol Channel near Weston-super-Mare.
4 Burcott Mill is the last remaining of eleven watermills powered by the River Axe and now run as a B&B
5 St Matthew’s church dates from the twelfth century and is Grade I listed. It was assigned to the sub dean of Wells Cathedral in 1209
6 Fenny Castle is an earthwork “motte and bailey” castle, probably from11th/13th centuries most likely private rather than military.
2 (GR523 444) Go R with fence on R. After 100m cross stile on R and bear L along fence. At start of hedge bear R to contour round hill to locate stile on L. Cross and bear R along top of field with view to the Mendip TV transmitter tower(2). Cross two fields then bear L descending to gate and follow track 120m. When it bears L go ahead through Bristol gate 60m to reach stile by metal gate to road. Go L 350m to junction [1.1Km]
3 (GR545 542) Go L 250m then R 500m ascending gently at first to junction at entrance to Wookey. Cross road, go L for 50m, descend steps on R and follow path with River Axe(3) on L. Follow through wooded area and at open field follow L boundary 200m to metal gate and road. Go L 150m to view Burcott Inn and Mill(4) then retrace your steps round L bend and take the second L by graveyard to pass Wookey church(5). After 150m go L at junction pass through village and after 150m go ahead into Knowle Lane. After 200m fork L into Monksford and after 180m just beyond “Ford” sign, go L over stile [2.2Km]
4 (GR513 458) Aim for middle of opposite hedge passing under two power cables to double stile. Go ahead across narrow field to a second double stile and then continue ahead to metal gate and road. Cross ford over River Axe, go ahead 700m then L to main road. Cross over (Unsuitable for HGV) and follow 250m ascending gently at first, then bear R ascending more steeply and meandering to reach Tor View Cottage [1.9Km]
5 (GR502 448) Follow 300m to Brookwell Cottage and go R. Descend for 600m go sharp L by One Elm Farm, then after 100m at sharp R go ahead through metal gate. Keep hedge L and where it ends continue ahead, over stile and at cattle trough bear slightly R to stile to L of the smaller (L) of two white houses ahead. At road go R 20m to junction (if cropped, follow field boundary to emerge on road and go L 50m) [1.4Km]
6 (GR508 440) Go L (SP Polsham) - after 200m the mound of Fenny Castle(6) can be seen on R - and follow for 500m to cross bridge. After further 400m go L along drive to Melsbury Farm. After 350m cross bridge, go over stile on R then 100m to cross footbridge ahead. Immediately over bridge go L and follow with River Sheppey on L for 1.2Km taking great care at field boundaries to keep by the side of the river. At steps on R. ascend to road and go R for 200m to reach the A39. The bus stop for Wells is to the R and that for Glastonbury and Yeovil is across the road 100m ahead by the Memorial Hall [2.9Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 5.9 Km/ 3.6 miles
Follow to the end of point 1 and cross track to second stile. Go straight across field past cattle trough to bushes 50m to R of metal gate to reach sleeper bridge. Cross and go R keeping stream on R crossing three stiles to reach road at junction. Go straight ahead for 600m to junction by Pine Tree Farm. Go L for 600m to junction at point 6. Follow route to end.
For car travellers:
Park in front of Coxley Memorial Hall on the A39.
Refreshments:
Ring o’ Bells, Wookey
Burcott Inn, Wookey
1 The railway line was a branch of the Somerset & Dorset railway from Wells to Glastonbury, which opened in 1859 and closed in 1951.
2 Mendip transmitter (erected in 1967) transmits TV and radio signals and is almost 1000ft tall on a hill 1000ft high and is the tallest structure in SW England
3 River Axe rises at Wookey Hole and flows to the Bristol Channel near Weston-super-Mare.
4 Burcott Mill is the last remaining of eleven watermills powered by the River Axe and now run as a B&B
5 St Matthew’s church dates from the twelfth century and is Grade I listed. It was assigned to the sub dean of Wells Cathedral in 1209
6 Fenny Castle is an earthwork “motte and bailey” castle, probably from11th/13th centuries most likely private rather than military.
