Mendip Ring +

Circular. Baltonsborough, West Lydford, Barton St David. 9.5 Miles

Starting at Butleigh Post Office Grid Ref. ST 521337

This walk starts from Butleigh Post Office follows the River Brue passes Baltonsborough Flights, to reach Tootle Bridge then West Lydford, and onto Keinton Mandeville and Barton St David following the Mendip Ring as far as Keinton Mandeville. Parking is available near the Post Office with care and thought for the residents.

1.
With the Post Office on your left walk up the road to reach the driveway on the right leading to the church, follow the footpath up the drive and before reaching the church take the footpath off to the right, enter into the fields, straight across the first one then half right in the second aiming for the wood in the bottom right hand corner and out to the road. Turn left and on reaching the junction follow the road round to the right. On reaching Walley's Bridge take the footpath on the right along the river Brue to the Baltonsborough Flights, cross the bridge and take the right hand path through the gate then turn left following the hedge line all the way to reach Tootle Bridge. Cross the bridge and take the path on the right through the gate ahead, continue straight ahead through another gate, at the end of the second field cross the stile on your left and follow the hedge on your right going over a stile in the corner, this will bring you out into an orchard where you turn left and follow the track to a junction with Chapelfield Lane. Turn right here, at the next turn in the lane ignore the bridge on your right and turn left to follow the lane out to the road.

2.
Turn right to reach the church at West Lydford. Turn into the path through the churchyard crossing the bridge at the back of the church yard on your left, once over the bridge turn right then follow the path round to the left then right to follow the Mill Stream, when you come to the end of the orchard turn right then left through a gate continue through the paddocks of Combe Hill Farm, follow the fence on your left to another gate after which you turn left passing through a small gate over a bridge and out to the lane. Turn left and follow the lane out towards the main road, just before you reach the road take the footpath on the left, Cotton's Lane, follow this uphill when the lane becomes tarmac look for and take a footpath on your right. Go over a stone stile ( do not go through the large wooden gatepost into the private drive).

3.
Follow this path over another stone stile, turning right then follow it round to the left to reach and cross Copis Lane. Continue along the path opposite, in the direction of the gravel track and heading for the grey barn roofs in the distance, until you come to another road, turn right here and follow this road to a T junction with a "No Through Road sign" turn into this road (Blind Lane) and immediately cross into the footpath on your left which takes you into Barton St David. Turn right then take the first path on your left on reaching a cross path turn right, follow this path straight across a junction of footpaths continuing ahead to emerge onto Withy Lane. Turn left then right at the next junction, then take the next path on your left. Cross the stream and continue across the fields behind Hill Farm, on reaching a farm track the footpath and kissing gate are almost opposite. Continue through fields to reach a junction of paths, turn right onto a track come drive towards Greenhill House. Ignore the first path on your left but follow the path on the left just before the parking area, then cross the field over a stone stile and stream and follow the path ahead to reach Oddway. Turn left then right at the next junction, follow the road to take the first path on the right then on reaching the road continue straight ahead to reach the Post Office and the end of this walk.