Chelynch / Doulting / Shepton -

A pleasant evening or afternoon walk that takes in the Poachers Pocket at Chelynch and the Abbey Barn at Doulting where refreshment is available. The whole walk takes just over 2 hours, suitable footwear is advisable as it can be wet.

Commencing in the centre of Shepton Mallet, walk along the Frome road to the traffic lights just past the Thatched Cottage Inn. Turn left by the Turn Pike House down the original Fosse Way (now called Martins Lane). Proceed down the road through the two halves of the Charlton Estate (right of the Charlton Brewery).

On the right, just before reaching the gate, are some stone steps set into the bank. Go up the steps, follow the path and climb the stone stile into the fields. Cross the field to the stile by the footpath sign, climb over this and turn left.

Up the lane for 70 yards (60 meters) on the right you will come to a track. Walk along the track and follow the country code by climbing any gates the hinge end, closing behind you any you open. After the last gate walk diagonally up across the field to another gate. Go over or through the gate, walk along the top of this field to the end. Carefully get under the temporary barbed wire fence. You are now on another farm track, follow this to the end. Take note of the beautiful views on the way.

At the end of the track you will come to Bodden Lane. Turn right and follow the road to Chelynch. Turn left at the end of the road and the Poachers Pocket is just a few yards away.

After any refreshment, retrace your steps back down Bodden Lane. Approximately 80 yards down the lane on the left is a footpath sign and some steps in the bank. Climb these and follow the path along the top of one of Doulting's old quarries, now wooded. Keep on the path past the paddock on through the next field and into Doulting School. Keep to the footpath behind the school, through a lovely kissing gate made of wrought iron and a curved wall of Doulting stone. At the end of this you will come to a lane in Doulting. Keep going to the end between the cottages, when you can turn left if you wish to visit the Abbey Barn Inn, or right to make your way back to Shepton Mallet.

Go down the hill to the bottom, you are now at the source of the River Sheppy or Doulting water as it should be known. Take the footpath on the right, you will come to two ponds, these were built by one of the Fussels (a relation to the Mells Fussels) who had an iron works and edge tool business here in Doulting.

Keep on the path up the steps and over the stile into the field. Turn left and follow the edge of the fields, along the river, over the stiles. Keep going until you come to the farm gate.

You will now retrace your steps down the farm track to the lane. Turn left and walk 70 yards to the footpath sign and stile up the bank on your right. Walk across the field, keep to the wall at the end where you will find the stone stile to go down the short path to the Old Fosse Way. Turn left, go up the road to the traffic lights, turn right and follow the road back to the town centre.

Many thanks to Chris & Pat Challis for this walk