Mendip Ring +

Mendip Ring Circular. Limerick Farm, Lower Rudge, Chapmanslade. 10 Miles

This walk starts from Limerick Farm. Grid Ref. ST 810509.

Park in Limerick Lane near the farm. This walk gives you fine views of the Westbury White Horse as well as pleasant views across the Somerset and Wiltshire countryside, passing through the villages of Rudge and Chapmanslade

1.
From Limerick Farm take the path through the kissing gate up the bank which leads you down to the A36. Cross this with great care to the path opposite which leads up to the old road. Turn left and follow the road down to reach White Row Farm, turn right through the farm and follow the track round to the right, at the end of the buildings turn left round to the back of the buildings to reach and cross a stile into a field. Now aim for the top right-hand corner of the field over the stile and bridge follow the footpath across this field in the same direction, over a stile in the top corner, up some steps over the stile at the top, now follow the path across several fields to reach Scotland Lane. Turn left and follow the lane until you come to the T junction at Rudge, (here you leave the Mendip Ring) turn right and then take the first turning left up the gravel track, follow this round to the left and into an enclosed path, cross the stile in the hedge now take the right-hand path to the building in the bottom corner, follow the hedge on your left ignoring the stile on the left passing Honeybridge Farm. Follow the hedge until it turns left here you proceed straight on to reach a stile in the bottom hedge which exits onto a lane via a stile near a farm gate.

2.
On reaching the lane turn right then left at the T junction to reach Stourton Bushes then keep straight on into the bridleway, cross the railway line and ignore the path off to the left following the track down to reach the B3099, turn left then right down the lane ahead passing Clearwoods, on reaching the bend to the left, keep straight on down the tarmac drive ahead which leads into a path at The Grange, follow this path which takes you straight down to the A36 at Black Dog Hill. Turn right, cross the road with care, then take the bridleway on the left and follow this path for a good half mile to reach a kissing gate onto a lane which you follow into Chapmanslade.

3.
On reaching the A3098 at Chapmanslade turn right, when you reach Mendip Mowers take the footpath on your left, over the stile into the field, turn left through the fence then right to the stile at the bottom of the hill, follow this path crossing a green lane down to Huntenhull Green, turn right along the lane, then take the second footpath on your right, and head for Heath House Farm (you join the Mendip Ring again here) pass the farm on your right ( the path differs from the O.S. map here) cross the next stile and follow the hedge line on your right to reach a track which takes you to Lodge Hill Farm and onto reach the A3098 at Lodge Hill. Beware of fast traffic on this road. Turn right up the hill and on reaching the track to The Pheasanty, turn left up the drive following the path to the house, turn left and follow the path down into the woods, following the path downhill, turn left to reach a stile, cross this and turn right follow the path across the field, over the next stile through the wood to reach a field go straight ahead to reach Berkley Street.

4.
Turn right then take the footpath on the left, follow this passing a cottage on your right to reach Rooks Lane turn right and follow this to a T junction with Kemp's Lane, turn left following the lane over Marsh Bridge and on reaching a junction turn right into Dark Lane, follow this to the junction with Pot Lane, turn left then take the footpath on the right to follow the hedge line round to reach a track, the path follows the track for a short distance then turns half right and aims for a stile in the hedge halfway up the hill. On reaching the stile do not cross it but follow the hedge line up the field crossing two stiles before exiting the field via a kissing gate onto Limerick Lane. Turn right and follow the lane back to Limerick Farm.