Downside / Croscombe / Bowlish Walk - 8.5 mls

A moderate walk with good all round views, leaving Shepton climbing up to Barren Down to reach the Fosse Way, crossing farm land to Downside and on to the hamlet of Thrupe, then dropping down to Croscombe back along the ridge to Bowlish through some of the older parts of Shepton to return to our start point. This walk starts from Mendip District Council car park Cannards Grave Road, or from The Bull Terrier in Croscombe. If starting from the pub you will need to park in Fayreway at the top of Church Street joining the walk at No 5.   

1. Leave the car park via the footpath to the town centre into Park Road, turn left then right into Collett Park after 100 metres turn left into the path going between the tennis courts and the bowling green to reach the A361. Cross the road with care into Frithfield Lane then turn left in front of the prison (Gaol Lane), follow this as it bends downhill to the right to reach Leg Square. Cross towards the Kings Arms keeping it on your left to walk up the lane signed Quarr, cross the stile at the top and then cross the field to go over a metal stile on to a drive, turn left and on reaching the junction at the top turn right after a few metres you turn left up some steps follow the path round to the right under the old railway bridge and out to the A37.

2. Turn left and on reaching the entrance to Ivy House Farm on the opposite side of the road, cross and walk through the farmyard closing the gates behind you, on reaching the gates at the end go through the one on your left then aim for a gateway in the field boundary ahead and on to cross a wooden stile then a stone stile. Still in the same direction head uphill, cross the next stone stile then keeping the wall on your right aim for the top corner of this field to cross a stone stile with metal rails onto the Fosse Way, turn left and continue along the Fosse Way to reach Bolter’s Lane. Turn right along the lane then take the first left Yellingmill Lane (not signed) pass a farm on your left and where the road bends to the right cross the stile on your left, aim slightly right towards the second telegraph pole and on to the bottom corner of the field to find and cross a stone stile. cross two more fields to reach a wooden stile with Yew Tree Farm on your left. DO NOT cross the stile but turn right and follow the hedge on your left to reach and cross a stile at the top of the field the path then drops down to the gate at the bottom of the hill. DO NOT EXIT THE GATE but turn round and with your back to the gate aim for the top right hand corner to go through a farm gate, follow the hedge on your left round to cross another stile which takes you out to the A37.

3.  Cross the road with care. DO NOT cross the stone stile opposite but turn right, after approx 50 metres bear left into a drive and cross the stile on your left into the field, traverse this field slightly down hill passing through the large gap near the bottom, now follow the tree line on your right crossing a stone stile pass through a narrow field over the next stone stile to reach the road. Turn left uphill and after 20 metres where the road starts to bend to the left look for a small gate /stile on your right (the choice is yours), From the gate take the path to the right across the marshy area, over the small stone bridge and on to cross a stile into a field, go up the bank keeping the hedge on your right to pass a defunct stile then on towards a gateway you can see across the field ahead. Go over the stile next to the gate then bear left to pass to the left of the two large trees in the middle of the field, then over the stile you can see ahead to follow the hedge on your left dropping down to a small gate at the bottom of the field. Go through the gate and follow the fenced path to your right to emerge onto a track, cross this and aim for the small gate on the far side of the field, from here aim a little to your right, cross the next field towards the far end of a line of trees, where you will find a small stone stile next to a gate leading you onto a bridleway. Turn left and follow the bridleway into a field, you then follow the hedge on your left through two large fields to pass through a bridle gate into a track and out to reach Thrupe Lane.

4. Turn left, ignore the turning on your right to Dinder and just before you reach the first farm on you left turn right into a hedged track (West Lane not signed). Follow the track as it twists & turns for approx ½ mile and as the track turns left and then right slightly downhill look for a stile on your left, ignore this, and just round the corner on the right you will find a well hidden stile, cross this and follow the hedge on your right. At the end of the hedge next to a large tree turn right and aim to cross the stile next to the barn at the top of the hill, follow the path behind the barn and out to the road. Turn left along the road for roughly ¼ mile to the first footpath on the left, cross the stone stile then the narrow field and stiles, after which you take the path to the right aiming for the double stile in the top corner of the field. Once over this follow the hedge on your left (ignoring the gateways) through three fields. The hedge then drops downhill to the left, halfway down you will come to a stile, cross this which takes you back onto West Lane. Turn right downhill to reach Croscombe emerging into Fayreway.

5. Turn left towards Church Street then turn left again into Pound Fold, at the junction with Rock Street turn left uphill, on reaching Thrupe Lane go straight ahead into Boards Lane, where this drops downhill to the right go straight ahead over the stone stile and follow the path down hill into the valley, go through the metal gate ahead and following the marked path climb back up the other side to cross a stile at the top of the hill emerging into a field, aiming slightly left cross this field, go over a stile then keeping in the same direction cross two more fields to cross a stile behind the farm. Turn right following the fence round to cross a stile next to a gate going into the farmyard, where you turn left down the drive to reach the road. Turn right, ignore the lane on your left and where the road bends to the right cross the stile on your left, take the path straight ahead and cross the field to go over a wooden & stone stile, keeping on the same heading cross this field to a stone stile next to a gate taking you onto Ham Lane.

6. Turn right and follow the lane down to the T junction at the bottom, turn right, then left at the stop sign, at the end of the cottages follow the track round to the left through a kissing gate. After two more kissing gates you emerge into a road, follow the road straight ahead, then take the first turning on your right follow this to a T junction, turn right up Tipcote Hill to reach the main road, cross the road turn right to walk up Town Street and on reaching the Market Place turn left to reach the Church then turn right and follow Regal Road to emerge onto the A361. Cross the road with care. Turn right, then left at the cross roads, walk up the High Street and at the top cross Park Road to follow the paved path through the Council Offices and back to the car park.