Croscombe, Rural Walk - 3mls

There is no better way of getting to know the local area than walking. The flora and fauna leap out at you, sometimes literally. Here we describe a pleasant walk through village, woods and field which we could recommend trying. It was that very rare commodity a warm Sunday afternoon when to my surprise my family agreed to accompany me exploring this walk. The prospect of a railway viaduct probably encouraged my younger son, the elder was given no choice.

The starting point is found easily enough, the west gate of Croscombe church, and there was room to park in the lane as long as I got close to the wall. Croscombe is a most attractive village with a very interesting history. Although only two miles apart, relationships between Croscombe and Shepton Mallet have not always been the most amicable. Two hundred years ago Shepton Mallet had a similar sized population to that it has today but crowded into the much smaller area of the valley of the 'River Sheppey'. The river provided a reasonably effective town drain washing all the sewage and effluent off. Two miles downstream was often not a very pleasant place to be — especially on a hot summers afternoon. However there was no such problem on this particular afternoon so we started our walk.

The first instruction in the leaflet was clear: 'Up the hill, turn right into Pound Fold. Continue straight ahead, across Rock Street, along Boards Lane and over a stile into a field. Walk straight down into the valley bottom'. The key was keeping straight on until we climbed into the field. Here the path was decidedly over grown. However a slight detour to the left took us into the clear and the way to the bottom of the valley was easy. On the way we had the first of our nature debates. Was the bird of prey soaring above us a light coloured Buzzard or was it an Osprey? We tended towards the former but subsequent study of bird books has only served to confuse by suggesting Goshawks as a possible contender. Bird-spotting sons need to discover that parents are fallible when it comes to identification.

We turned left along the former quarry track through Ham Woods. Very soon the rocky sides of the valley close in and the rich and varied vegetation takes you into a different world. The track gently rises for almost three quarters of a mile through wood which echoes to the sound of bird call. Although there are signs of recent forestry the variation of species of trees and the steep sides give it an appearance of natural neglect.

Stay on the track until it swings sharply to the right and there is then an obvious smaller path to allow you to go straight on. According to the leaflet 'You will reach a branching of trackways when you find a railway viaduct looming high above you'. We found the branching of the trackways all right. It was here that we were to turn sharply to the left and follow the path marked to Wells and take the leaflets medium route back to Croscombe. However the viaduct was missing. The next half hour or so was spent exploring the paths to the right which the leaflet said led to the quarry and the longer route back. After one false start we found the huge quarry with wrecked cars and a general feel of desolation. We could still not find the viaduct which as I have said was our younger sons motivation for coming on this walk. Back eventually to the 'branching of trackways' where we spot one more path straight ahead up a very steep slope. At last we spot a column of the viaduct and manage to climb right up to it. In the unlikely event of the Somerset and Dorset Line ever being restored a lot of work would need to be done.

Back to the 'branching of trackways where now we know where to look, we can just catch a glimpse of the viaduct. Even in winter when the trees have lost their leaves 'looming high above you' must be treated as poetic licence. The path marked back to Wells soon takes us up and out of the Wood and into fields. The leaflet instructs 'In the field ahead at 10 o'clock, keeping the little quarry line kiln just on your right'. We correctly assume that they mean the little copse of trees and the small structure of the kiln looks very interesting. Reference to 'The Story of Croscombe' proves it to have been the scene of a horrific accident in the past. Limekilns look innocuous enough but they were extremely dangerous places to work. 'Go through the gap in the middle of the hedge and continue straight over two stiles. Then cross the field at 2 o'clock, cross the stone stile then head for the waymarking post at two o'clock and out onto Thrupe Lane.

Simple isn't it? Perhaps it was because it was after two o'clock, but we came out on Thrupe Lane by a barn, turned left and found that we had come out about two fields higher up than intended. We found the next stile in the hedge on the right hand side just before another barn, and followed a footpath by a right hand hedge across a field and out into West Lane. Examination of the map confirmed that we were on the right route.

West Lane turned out to be a delightful overgrown track between two hedges. After about half a mile it started to go steeply down hill and as it became a road you realise that you are on the same level as the top of the spire of Croscombe Church which is only a few hundred yards in front of you. This downhill stretch tests the muscles in the back of your legs and you soon arrive back at your starting point.

Thanks to Mendip District Council for this walk