
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 100m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/29468182
Updated August 2023 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR529 436), walk towards Wells and take first road on L (SP Burcott). Cross the bridge over the river and disused railway line(1) and 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 through gate. Follow path to far L corner passing close to far wooden pole. Continue to large hedge gap then go ahead keeping hedge on L. Three quarters of the way along the field, cross stile on L and aim to R of the farm enclosure ahead then bear R keeping fence on L to stile on L at top of field (if the field is cropped, it may be easier to follow the boundary anti-clockwise keeping hedge on R to this stile) Cross the 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 and bear L descending to gate and follow track 120m. Where it bears L go ahead 50m to reach stile by metal gate to road. Go L for 350m to junction [1.1Km]
3 (GR545 542) Go L 250m then R, ascending gently at first, 500m to a 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 aim for 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 200m 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 and go ahead 700m then L to main road. Cross over (Unsuitable for HGV) and follow ascending gently at first 250m 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 go straight ahead, cross 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 and bear L descending to gate and follow track 120m. Where it bears L go ahead 50m to reach stile by metal gate to road. Go L for 350m to junction [1.1Km]
3 (GR545 542) Go L 250m then R, ascending gently at first, 500m to a 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 aim for 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 200m 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 and go ahead 700m then L to main road. Cross over (Unsuitable for HGV) and follow ascending gently at first 250m 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 go straight ahead, cross 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.