Mendip Ring +

Circular. Butleigh, The Hood Monument and The Polden Way. 7.5 Miles

This walk starts at the Post Office in Butleigh and takes you up to the Hood Monument and on to Combe Hill where you get some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. You follow the Mendip Ring and the Polden Way across the top of the Combe Hill then pass through Combe Hollow and Great Breach Wood and onto New Hill Wood then continues to follow the Mendip Ring back to Butleigh. Parking is available along the road near the Post Office at Butleigh, please park with care and consideration. The Grid Ref. for the Post office is ST 521337.

1.
From the High Street with the Post Office on your left follow the road straight ahead to reach Sub Road, turn right then take the footpath on your left through the kissing gate opposite Butleigh Manor and follow the path across the field to cross a bridge, turn left pass through the farm gate ahead, turn right then at the top of the incline go through the gate and aim slightly left to a small gate in the fence ahead. Keep in the same direction pass through the orchard and over a bridge at the bottom of the field. Turn left, go through a gate and then turn right to continue alongside the field edge halfway along this aim slightly left to a metal gate in the hedge ahead of you. Go through the gate and then walk diagonally left across the field to the farm gate taking you out into Wood Lane. Turn right then take the first path on your left and follow this up the hill to reach the road at the top of Windmill Hill. Cross the road with care and turn right then take the minor road a little to your left and then turn left to take the path through the kissing gate. You have know joined the Mendip Ring and the Polden Way. Climb up to reach The Hood Monument.

2.
Leaving the monument take the path on the SW side and keep straight ahead through the wood following The Polden Way signs, this path takes you on to Combe Hill and some really lovely views. Keep following the Polden Way, with the occasional Mendip Ring sign keeping you on the right path soon you will reach the view point at the top of Combe Hill. On leaving the view point continue following The Polden Way. Soon you will reach a path on the right, pass this and take the second path on the right down some steps to eventually cross the bridge over Combe Hollow into Kings Wood. Now follow the Polden way for the next mile or so. You will go through a gate into some grassland, (Gilling Down) now take the path to your left alongside the hedge which will lead you to a gate, pass through this and follow the path signed to Hurcott Hill (still on the Polden Way). You will soon come to a kissing gate on your left, still the Polden Way, at the junction turn right then when you meet a junction of paths (the Polden Way continues right here) take the left-hand path and shortly turn left again. Next turn right and almost immediately left. The path then turns right to reach a metal track. Cross this track into Great Breach Wood Nature Reserve. Follow this path through the wood and into a field, follow the field round to the left at the end and pass through some farm buildings to reach the B road. Cross the road to the gate opposite then go half right across the field to a gate next to the farm gate. Cross the road and take the public highway opposite (this has been made to look like a private drive but it isn't).

3.
Follow this road until you reach Butleigh Cross here you turn left following the road down to a fork and take the road to the right then shortly take the first footpath on your left. Cross the field towards the gate opposite. Don't pass through the gate but turn right to follow the path down the field through two gates, down the side of a house, to reach a road. Turn left, then take the first path on your right and follow this path to reach the road. Turn left into High Street and follow this road back to reach the Butleigh Post Office.