Mendip Ring +

Circular. Walton to Combe Hill. 9.5 Miles

Starting at Walton Village Hall Car Park. Grid Ref. ST 463365

This walk starts at Walton Village Hall Car Park and joins The Mendip Ring at Whitley Road following it as far as the Hood Monument before making your way back to Walton.

1.
With your back to the Village Hall follow the road to turn right into the path between the houses and into the field, follow the hedge to the top of the field and cross the stile on your left follow this path across the field, at the far side turn left to a stile in the bottom corner, cross this and follow the path through the industrial estate to reach Creeches Lane. Turn right, where the lane turns right take the path on your left, follow the field boundary on your left round to cross a stile in the hedge keep straight ahead to reach a gate in the fence ahead then turn left to a farm gate which takes you onto Whitley Road. You have now joined The Mendip Ring. Turn left uphill to join the A39.

2.
Turn right along the A39 passing The Walton Gateway Pub, then crossing the road turn left into Bramble Hill and take the first path on the left passing behind some houses to reach an estate, turn right along the road and take the footpath ahead between a house and a block of garages, at the end of this path cross the road into the track opposite following this up the hill, ignore the path off to the left and continue uphill to reach the road. Take great care crossing this busy road.

3.
Once over the road take the path a little to the right turn left over a stile straight up the hill to pass the windmill on your right and follow the path across the top of the hill passing the view point and onto reach a lane turn left up to the road, cross this and follow this path with the road now on your right, pass the Ivythorn Y.H.A., when you come to a fork in the path take the right hand path, this brings you out to the busy crossroads at Marshall's Elm. Take care crossing the road to follow the path through a kissing gate onto Collard Hill. Follow the path across the top of the hill (with fine views across the levels) until you reach a lane, cross this and make your way up the hill to reach the Hood Monument.

4.
With the Monument on your take the left hand fork following the path down to reach the road, cross into the path opposite and follow this path down the right hand boundary through a gateway, through the gateway at the bottom of the next field where you turn left down the field to reach Wood Lane, cross this taking the path opposite, aim towards the hedge opposite then turn left towards a gate in the hedge ahead then diagonally across the field to a gate to reach Wood Lane again, pass Moore's Wood then when you come to a cross path turn left and follow this back to reach the lane. Turn right and on reaching the junction turn right again then next left to take the path on your left at the next junction, soon you turn right and follow the path to reach Keen's Elm Lane. Cross into the path opposite into (Millfield School) following it round to the left and then on to reach the B3151.

5.
Turn left along this road for a short distance then take the footpath well hidden in the hedge on your right, follow this path to reach Burleigh Lane keep straight ahead into Overleigh then first turn right (still Overleigh) to reach Ivythorn Road. Turn left, then shortly right into the footpath taking you behind the sports ground to reach Eglinton Road go up this, then left into Smithfield Road, continue to the junction at the end and turn right into Brooks Road. Then turn right into Quarry Road before turning left into Ringolds Way on reaching the T junction turn right into Brooks Road, follow this up to the mini roundabout at the top of Stonehill then turn left to follow the footpath, crossing a small bridge on your right then on to reach East Mead Lane. Turn right following the lane out to reach the A39. Cross into Asney Road and on reaching a footpath on your left follow this back round the sports ground to reach the car park.