Barren Down, Windsor Hill, Bowlish - 3.5mls

A short family walk through Shepton skirting the prison, following the old railway to reach Barren Down, crossing the road to Windsor Hill dropping down to Bowlish before walking round Collett Park back to our start point. This walk starts from Mendip District Council car park, Cannards Grave Road.

1. Leave the car park via the footpath to the town centre to reach Park Road, turn left then right into CollettPark, after 100 metres turn left into the footpath taking you between the tennis court and the bowling green to reach the A361. Cross into Firthfield Lane, then take the first turning on your left in front of the prison (Goal Lane) follow this round to the right as it drops downhill. At the fork turn to the right and follow this path to a junction, turn left, then right at the next junction to reach the bottom of Leg Square. Cross the road passing the Kings Arms on your left, follow the road round to the left taking the lane signed Quarr. Enter the field at the top of the lane, cross the field to the metal stile on the far side, once over this turn left up the lane, At the junction turn right, and in a few metres turn left up some steps into the woods, turn left and follow the path through the woods, then follow a wall on your right and the woods on your left to reach a kissing gate at the end. Pass through this and the next one in front of you, turn right across the old railway, up the bank and through the next kissing gate into a field, follow the field boundary on your left to go through the gateway at the top. Turn left and follow the field boundary on your left over a stone stile continue round this field to reach and cross a stone stile with a high wire fence above. Follow the path through the garden round to the right to reach a stile and gateway next to a house, then follow the path between the houses to reach the road via a gate.

2. With care cross the road to the lane opposite, follow this for approx. ¼ mile to a footpath on the left. Turn left over the stone stile, aiming towards the old railway arch, in the bottom corner of this field you cross a stone stile with metal rails, now aim to pass through the old railway arch straight across the next field to the far corner to cross another stone stile with metal rails. Turn left through the kissing gate and follow the path down to the end of the hedge, continue round to the left to pass through another kissing gate. Once through this turn right and follow the fence on your right, where this ends ignore the path to the right, take the path going slightly right towards the large fir trees. Drop down the bank then round to the right to a metal kissing gate taking you behind the cemetery. Follow the path through a kissing gate at the end then turn left downhill to reach a tarmac path at the bottom. Turn left and follow the path round through a kissing gate into a road, keep straight ahead and when you reach a junction on your right, turn right. Follow the road round to a T- junction, turn right then left into Tipcote Hill, just before you reach the steps turn left back down the slope to pass under the arch to reach Lower Lane. Keep straight ahead and just after the bridge turn left into a footpath signed Fosse Way. After a few metres turn left under a small archway and follow the path up the steps over the bridge to reach Peter Street. Cross the road into Church Lane following the flagstone path into the churchyard, follow the path round to the left. On leaving the churchyard keep straight on to reach the A361. With care cross the road, turn left and when you reach the footpath signed Cannards Grave via Collett Park, turn right passing the tennis courts and bowling green. On reaching the park turn left, and follow the path down to the pond, pass in front of this and at the far side turn right following the path up the slope to pass the aviaries and the play areas to exit the park into Park Road, turn left then right to return to our start point.