Chilcompton, Gurney Slade Bottom and Upper Benter (6.4 miles)

Grade - 2, Height gain - 687 ft

Abbreviations are H = half, R = right, L = left, FP= footpath

1. Grid Reference (GR). ST658510 Stratton on the Fosse Village Hall car park
Walk along road R from Village Hall take 2nd R (approx. 300m) into Abbey Road, at Mogghill House take f/p on R and follow s/a until you reach the main road through Chilcompton (B3139). Cross over to a stone stile opposite follow this f/p downhill to the next road. TR and follow road under bridge and at end TL into Bakers lane, after about 50 yards take R at f/p sign, follow f/p downhill between houses into a field winding L then R cross a wooden bridge. TL along rough lane with the stream on your left for approx 450m, L again at another bridge beside an open wooden barn then follow this path uphill over a stile to reach the B3139 again. TR at B3139 and after approx. 200m take f/p L opposite Parsonage lane. Cross field diagonally to R and over a double stile (beside a telegraph pole), cross next field diagonally to left and over a double stile (beside a tree) into next field, go L along hedge and through a gate onto Coalpit Lane.

2. GR ST634507
Go straight across Coalpit Lane and down a rough, stony track opposite. At the bottom go L through iron gate, walk s/a along the bottom of the small valley. The path leads through woods keeping 2 ponds then the stream on your R. Follow the low path up and down until you reach a metal gate by houses, through gate take stile to R down onto road. TR along road, round a sharp R bend and short steep uphill section, then it levels out. Continue past Waterworks Cottage and take next lane L uphill with some terraced houses on your R. At top of this steep lane TL over a high stile (before farm buildings), s/a to next stile into field cross diagonally to stile in far R corner with another stile almost immediately on R. Over this into next field and follow boundary to L over another stile, keep along boundary then slightly L to stile, passing to left and in front of cottage onto the road.

3. GR ST637492
TL and continue downhill passing a road on the right and another on the left till you reach Rose farm at the bottom on R. Take L (no f/p sign visible) opposite Rose farm through a metal gate in front of Mill cottage. Continue to end of buildings and TR beside ruin at end of cottage up rough path to stile, then take another stile on L, follow rough path up through wood to a stile ahead into field. THL cross this field to reach the main path running through it. TL (keeping the stone ruins on your R) through a gateway ahead of you, follow f/p to top R corner taking farm track to stile onto road. Cross onto f/p opposite follow uphill to reach the end of Stockhill Road.

4. GR ST639500
The road immediately to your left is Coalpit Lane that you crossed earlier; continue s/a on Stockhill Road. After approx 400m take f/p on R beside house No.111. Cross field diagonally left to K gate, in next field keep the hedge to your left and continue s/a onto road. Go straight across and over stile opposite, then s/a across a series of stiles to reach a larger field. At this larger field, cross diagonally to R and over last stile onto a track. TR on track with Downside Abbey grounds to L. Continue s/a onto tarmac drive to reach a road (Green Lane). TL and follow Green Lane round the bend to reach A367, then TL back through Stratton on the Fosse to reach the Village Hall.