This walk from Bruton, Somerset, includes tracks, field paths and lanes that cross a moderately hilly landscape. It's about four miles. Use the map OS Explorer 142 Shepton Mallet and Mendip Hills East GR 684349.

Start in Silver Street car park (which is free) in Bruton, five minutes walk from the Blue Ball. To get there, follow the A359 around the one-way system in Bruton and, 50 yards past the church, turn right into the easily missed and unmarked Silver Street car park.

B ruton is a delightful old town, deep in the Somerset hills, whose original wealth came from medieval woollen and silk industries.

There is a great sense of religious history in the town, too, dating back to the arrival of Augustinian monks in 1150 who upgraded the local priory to an abbey.

The abbey dovecote still stands, but the Augustinian priory is long gone, only a mysterious isolated wall remaining.

To the north of the town lies some remarkably hilly countryside that forms the focus of this walk. Hidden sunken tracks climb the hillside to reach Creech Hill Farm, whose hilltop location offers a fine vantage point across to Alfred's Tower and the woodland bordering the Stourhead Estate. This part of Somerset is certainly far from the proverbial madding crowd, the perfect spot to rest awhile and restore that contended mien.

The Blue Ball sits proudly at the eastern end of Bruton's High Street, surrounded by attractive stone cottages, houses, shops and other business premises. The stonework is now hidden beneath white plasterwork but, in keeping with its name, blue paint adorns the exterior of this fine old hostelry.

The delicious menu ranges from starters, light snacks, baguettes and grilled paninis through to main courses that could include sausage and mash, chilli or chicken curry, as well as a number of vegetarian dishes.

Opening times are noon to 2pm and 5pm to 11pm on Monday and Wednesday to Friday; 5pm to 11pm (only) on Tuesday; noon to 3pm and 6.30pm to 11pm on Saturday; noon to 3pm and 7.30pm to 10.30pm on Sunday.

Telephone: 01749 812315.

1.

Cross the footbridge over the River Brue at the end of the car park, and follow the footpath ahead uphill to Bruton's High Street.

Turn left and, almost at the end of the High Street, turn right opposite Mill Lane into Mill Dam, just before Truffles Restaurant.

Follow what becomes an enclosed footpath for 250 yards and, having passed a ford, follow a lane uphill to the right towards some cottages.

After 75 yards, turn left along a track signposted Huish Lane. In 200 yards, having crossed a footbridge over a stream, follow an enclosed track on the left that climbs gently uphill out of the valley bottom. In three-quarters of a mile, where the track bears left down to a road, pass through a wooden hand gate on the right to follow a bridleway.

Cross the field ahead, bearing slightly right, to reach a hand gate in the opposite hedgerow before dropping down to a track.

2.

Turn right and follow an enclosed sunken track uphill for 600 yards until it emerges on the hilltop by Creech Hill Farm.

Continue along the drive in front of the farm buildings and go on to its junction with the B3081.

Turn left and follow this B road for 500 yards to a junction by a small green.

Turn right – signposted to Batcombe – and almost immediately pass through a gateway on the right to join a way marked bridleway.

Follow the line of the hedge on the left around to a gap in the hedgerow in the far left corner of the field, before following a small ridge ahead in the next field.

Where this ridge ends, drop down the steep hillside making for a gateway and the drive leading away from Green's Combe Farm some 100 yards to the right of the farm buildings.

Join this drive, turn right and, in 200 yards, where the drive begins to bear right, pass through a gateway directly ahead.

3.

Head across the field ahead for 200 yards to the line of a hedgerow on the left. At this point, turn right down to a hand gate at the bottom of the field.

Continue along a path through an area of woodland for 250 yards to an open field, before following the fence ahead along to a gate and the B3081.

Turn left and follow the road with care for 150 yards to a hand gate on the right, just past the driveway leading down to Coombe Farm.

Follow the footpath to Bruton ahead across the middle of the field, following the line of the telegraph poles to a hand gate on the far side of the field, just above Bruton.

Walk down the right edge of the next field for 75 yards to a hand gate, and follow an enclosed path downhill to a gate and a new estate.

Half way down the estate, turn left along to the Royal Oak Inn and the B3081. Turn right down to the main road in Bruton by the Blue Bell, before following the main road opposite down to the church and the car park.

Places of Interest

Bruton's Museum, located in the Dovecote Building in the High Street, depicts the town's rich and varied history.

As well as displays relating to the local wool and silk industries from centuries past, the museum offers a new exhibition each year that runs from May to October. Telephone: 01749 812851.

St Mary's Church in Bruton, with its two towers, is also worth visiting. Internally there is a magnificent roof, but what will first attract is the chancel. This was rebuilt in 1743 and all its original decor is preserved intact. To the south of the church the abbey dovecote, now owned by the National Trust, stands on its hilltop location. Originally built as a tower, it was later converted into a dovecote and is surrounded by two lines of earthworks.