Mendip Ring +

West Hay, Bleadney, Panborough, 9 miles

This walk starts at the Westhay Moor Nature Reserve Grid Ref. ST 456437 and takes us up to Bagley with fine views of the Mendip Hills and of Glastonbury Tor and the Moors, and across onto Panborough Moor, before returning to Westhay via Bleadney.

1.
From the car park turn right up Dagg's Lane Drove then take the first turning on left to go pass the bird hide, go through the Nature Reserve and on reaching London Drove, turn right up the drove to reach North Chine Drove, turn right along the lane, then take the first footpath on the left, head towards the hedge halfway up the field, keeping this on your left cross over the small stone bridge and proceed to the top of the field and on reaching the hedge at top turn left and follow the path to reach two gates at the far end of this field, pass through the right hand gate and proceed up the lane turning left at the top then almost immediately turn right up a narrow path (this looks like an entrance to a house but it is a footpath) follow this path to the top, ignoring the path on your right halfway up , at the top turn right through Bagley Farm to reach Snake Lane. From this lane you have fantastic views of the Mendips on your left and of the moors and Glastonbury Tor on your right. Follow the lane until you reach the B3139. Cross the road a little to your left turning right into Northload Drove.

2.
Follow the drove to take the second path on the right which is the entrance to Northload Farm pass through the gate straight in front of you, keeping the hedge on your left cross the field to reach a gate go through this over the bridge then bear right and follow the ryhne on your left to reach a gate at the far end of this field, pass through this gate into a track. Proceed along this to cross a stile on you left then cross the field aiming for a derelict barn to reach the Lower River Axe. Cross the old bridge then turn right and follow the track out to reach tarmac drove. On reaching the drove turn left, then first right over a bridge, cross this field, over another bridge and on to reach the B3139 again. Cross into the lane opposite and at the top turn left, at the last house on the right go up the steps and into the field. Follow the path across the hill then dropping down to your right cross the stile in the hedge at the bottom into the next field, now aim for the farm gate taking you out to the lane.

3.
Turn right and follow the concrete track through Barn Farm, ignore the Private Road sign as this is a footpath as well. On reaching Yeap's Drove turn right and follow the drove over the crossroads, then take the first lane on your right up to the B3139 again. Turn left and take the permissive path through the old orchard on your left, cross the field to a double stile in the far corner next to a tin hut. Once over these head slightly right to a stile in the hedge ahead go over this following the path along the trees on your left to cross a stile into an enclosed path. Cross the stile at the end of this and head straight across the field to cross a bridge on to the next hedge over a stile then on to cross a bridge and over a stile to reach Dagg's Lane again, turn left follow this over North Chine Drove into Dagg's Drove and follow the drove back to Westhay Moor Nature Reserve car park.