Head for the hills
Sue Gearing maps out a route near Chew Valley Lake that
gives wonderful views across the countryside – with an
-
alternative route if it looks as if it might be muddy
BEST foot forward into the high land in North Som- erset to
the south-east of Chew Valley Lake, up between Bishop Sutton
and Hinton Blewett.
The views are glorious and there should be many wildflowers
and plenty of birdlife. The circle begins on the causeway
across the lake, takes in a hillfort, a soft valley by a hill
which once featured a castle, and down an old trackway to
Hinton Blewett for a pub stop.
Then it's out across to the escarpment edge to walk steeply
down White Hill and through Duchy of Cornwall farmland. Treat
yourself to a cuppa at a nearby farm-shop cafe at the end.
There is a long steep hill at the start and then another
hill later, before a steep drop near the end. After rain you
will encounter mud! There is an alternative mud-free route if
the weather has been very wet.
Wear shoes with grips or good boots. The dog can have a good
time, too.
START
Go along the path by the road away from the lake (in the
Bishop Sutton direction). Pass the entrance to New Manor Farm
and shortly cross where a lane comes in on the right.
1. TRACK
Take the concrete byway at the side of the lane and start
the steep climb up to Burledge Common and a hillfort.
2. FOOTPATH
Eventually, near the top, take the first marked footpath on
the left along the side of Burledge Hill. The hill forms part
of a limestone plateau and is rich in wild flowers such as
lady's mantle, saw-wort and devil's bit scabious.
If there has been a lot of rain and you want to avoid mud,
take the alternative route by going straight on (see the end)
and join up later.
3. OPEN ACCESS
Eventually, go through a metal gate into a field, an open
access area, with great lake views. Cross the area, going along
the side of the hill, and near the end veer over to the left
and drop gently down. A short path leads to a metal gate. Once
through, go down quite a lot of steps and in the next field,
curve round to the right and then continue across the side of
the hill.
Start to descend and go through a wooden kissing gate, and
go down more steps and through another gate. Carry on down, and
this is where you may encounter the most mud. Go through a
hummocky area, the remains of former mining, and head for the
white gable ends of a cottage ahead. Go through the kissing
gate alongside the cottage and ahead to join a lane.
4. LANE
Turn left downhill. * Here the wet-weather route joins.
After a few minutes, at a bend, before you reach a cottage on
the right, turn right on the marked footpath through a large
metal gate into a field. Ignore the gate ahead and, instead,
turn right in the field and follow the left fence. Go through a
metal gate and maintain direction across the field and on the
far side cross the stream on a footbridge.
5. FOOTBRIDGE
On the other side, continue on, climbing gently up the
centre of this soft valley with wooded hills on either
side.
Continue to climb quite gently. Pass a pond and go through a
metal gate ahead and carry on up, through a kissing gate, and
on climbing to the top, to a stile by a gate.
6. STILE
Come on to a lane and turn right. There may be some light
traffic along here. After a few minutes, at a bend and
junction, go straight on down a byway, Nanny Hurn's Lane.
7. BYWAY
Follow it on for a quite a while, and at a right-hand bend
get some good views across to Cameley church, fishponds and
hamlet. Go round the bend, dropping down into the valley of the
Cam Brook. Watch your step down this stony downhill section.
Ignore side-paths and near the foot reach a stable, left,
before a cottage.
8. STABLE
Turn right through the metal gate opposite. Go ahead in the
field parallel with the left hedge, behind which is the Cam
stream. On the far side, drop down and cross a stile, a
side-stream and another stile. Continue on as before, shadowing
the Cam. Cross two stiles close together and maintain direction
in the next field.
At the end, in the corner, cross a stile into woodland and a
planked footbridge. Go over a crossing track and find another
stile up the bank ahead. This takes you through a little more
woodland and scrub, over another stile and into a field. Go
ahead along the left hedge and at the corner bend up left and
go uphill to cross a stile at the top.
9. HILLTOP
Turn right on the lane. After a few minutes reach a
T-junction. Turn left and go along and round into Hinton
Blewett, the small green and the welcoming Ring O Bells.
10. HINTON BLEWETT
Stay along the top of the green, passing in front of the pub
and then bending right and pass the entrance to the church.
Carry on along the lane, passing houses in the village. At
the next junction, at a farm, go right on a track and then
immediately bend left. Continue on, ignoring a track coming in
on the left, and shortly go straight ahead over a stile.
11. FIELD
Go up the field passing a telegraph pole with footpath arrow
and leave over a stile in the far right corner. Cross the next
field bearing slightly right and find a metal kissing gate
tucked into the far side, somewhat obscured by undergrowth.
12. WHITE HILL
Once through the gate, the descent of White Hill begins.
Follow the directions carefully. Go steeply down the hedgeline,
keeping it on your left. Continue on down under trees where it
may be rather wet, and cross the stile ahead into woodland
(watch the steep descent from the stile!) in an area called
Stitching.
Continue in the same direction through the wood, which again
may be a little wet, and after a while cross left over the
small stream and continue on down in the wood in the same
direction. Cross the marked stile on the left taking you into a
field and then go straight down the centre of the field to a
metal gate almost in the middle at the bottom. Go out on to a
lane.
13. FARM
Turn right past Widcombe Farm and on along the lane across
the common. Reach the A368 and turn left back to where you
parked.
Alternative route (less scenic): ignore the footpath
going left which is the fair-weather route, and instead, stay
on the track going across the old fort area and on, dropping
down eventually to a lane. Turn left towards Bishop Sutton down
Sutton Hill. After a few minutes, just past a cottage on the
left, find the footpath where the fair-weather route joins.
Continue from *.
Ring O Bells, Hinton Blewett, 01761 452239.
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