This is a six-mile circle from Wellow village in North Somerset, south of Bath, going through beautiful Combe Hay and exploring the undulating country between. It's about three hours walking. Use the map OS Explorer 142, Shepton Mallet and Mendip Hills East, ref: 738 581. Park in the free car park in Wellow Villlage, north-east of Radstock and about six miles south of Bath. Wellow is off the A367 roundabout at Peasedown St John. The car park is signed off the village street on the right as you approach from this direction. The 757 Bath to Midsomer Norton bus stops in the village by the Fox and Badger.

I t's up hill and down dale in the peaceful undulating countryside between Wellow and Combe Hay, taking in open hills, tracks through woodland and valleys and by the Cam Brook.

We call in at a boutique pub at Combe Hay and there's a welcoming pub at Wellow, too.

Wear good boots or stout shoes and be prepared for some mud after rain.

It's an ideal walk for dogs, too, with none of the stiles presenting any real problems.

START

The car park is on the site of the old railway at Wellow. The Somerset and Dorset joint railway served the village for more than 90 years, closing in spring 1966. Its main purpose was to transport processed Fullers' Earth, agricultural machinery, grain and watercress.

On the way out of the car park, pass the old station, now a private house.

Turn right on the road, cross over on to the other side and go through the village. Soon reach the centre, with the Fox and Badger on the right.

Cross the side road and continue on in the same direction passing the school on the right. Continue on along the raised pavement.

1. CHURCH

Carry on to reach the fine church of St Julian's, built in 1372 by Sir Thomas Hungerford. Go into the churchyard, passing in front of the church and main door and go out the other side.

Turn left up a Tarmac footpath. Cross a stile and go along a path and over another stile. Follow the footpath arrow down a grassy track dropping downhill. Go under an avenue of field maples and follow the arrow which forks right and goes over another stile into a field.

In this area was St Julian's Well, the source of water used for christenings at the church. It was also said that the family ghost of the Lords of the Manor, the Hungerfords, used to appear at the well just before a calamity.

Go across the end of this grassy valley and up on to the bank on the other side. Find a marked stile up on the bank, up a couple of steps. Once over, bear up right into a field and follow the right edge of the field, climbing. There are some views as you go, back across the Wellow Brook valley and village.

In the corner by woodland cross a stile ahead of you and in the field follow the right hedge. Cross another stile and continue up the right hedge. In the corner, stay in the field and turn left along the edge, climbing a little more, all the way to the end where you go out on to a lane.

2. LANE

Turn right on this quiet lane which gives good views over the Cam Brook valley. Drop downhill and reach a junction at Middle Twinhoe.

3. TWINHOE

Turn left and then bend left and go past cottages in this remote hamlet. At the next bend, go right on the marked track. Before long come to a crossing path. Turn left on the bridleway through a hunting gate. Now follow the left edge of this field, which commands good views across the valley. Stay with it as it bends round – left and then right – don't go through into the next field at this point.

4. WOOD

Pass Brake Wood on your left. Then just continue on the track going through a Conservation Area and dropping into the valley. There may be muddy areas, particularly under trees. Ignore a side gate with a conservation sign.

Eventually go ahead through a large gate into a field parallel with the woodland on the right. Continue on a track and in the corner, go through a gate and on down the track.

5. CAM BROOK

Cross the Cam Brook and continue up to the lane in Combe Hay.

On the right is the Wheatsheaf, once a farmhouse and now described as "a haven of contemporary rustic chic" serving good and stylish food.

To continue, turn left on the lane and go through Combe Hay.

This is an old settlement listed in the Domesday Book as "Cumb" and a village that has seen many changes over the years as the canal and railway came and went. It was the site of a series of canal locks, dating from 1805 on the Somerset Coal Canal including one of the only Caisson locks ever built. It was also served by the Camerton and Limpley Stoke Railway, and was the site of a Fuller's Earth mine until 1979.

Stay on the road as it winds up through, passing the Georgian rectory, church and Combe Hay Manor.

Just as you leave the last houses, turn left through a gate on the Limestone Link and follow the path down, forking right into the grassy valley. Go through the valley gradually getting nearer to the Cam Brook. At the end come on to the lane.

6. BRIDGE

Turn left over Combe Hay Bridge (ignore the Limestone Link before the bridge). Then turn right on the marked public footpath entering the meadowland in the valley with the stream on your right.

Continue on and draw very close to the Cam Brook. Cross a stile ahead into woodland. This next few yards are quite tricky because of fallen trees but find your way straight through, staying quite close to the stream. Cross over into a field and continue on, still with the Cam Brook on your right. Go over a small side stream and a stile and carry on as before along the bottom of the field.

7. FIELD CORNER

In the corner, bend left in the field and climb gently following the right hedge. Not far from the top, cross right over a stile. Bear diagonally up the field to the far top corner.

8. TRACK

Here go through on to a track between trees. Cross a stile on the way and continue on the track, now more grassy, with a shallow valley on the right. Go under power lines and follow the track, ignoring side gates.

9. FARM

Pass below White Ox Mead Farm. Reach a lane and turn up left. At the house above, turn right on the lane and shortly as it bends towards another property, go right through a kissing gate. Go across the field, going left up the small bank first, and head for a stile and gate to the left of a house on the far side. Come on to a track and turn left uphill. Near the top, fork up left and this track reaches the top and takes you along the hill, with good views over the Wellow Valley. Ignore side paths and eventually go under power lines.

10. STILE

Just as you see a farmhouse ahead, reach a crossing path. Cross right over a marked stile. Bear left across the field corner to another stile. Your direction now all the way to Wellow is very much the same so, once over, continue on across this large field to the far bottom corner.

Go through or climb a rather awkward metal barrier gate, marked with a footpath arrow. Below is Wellow village.

Cross a marked stile just above the far corner, and then bear across the field, divided up for horse grazing when I came, and on the far side in the corner cross a marked stile.

Head across to another and this takes you over to a drive. Turn left to the road and turn right downhill to reach the centre of Wellow and the pub opposite. Turn right back to the car park.

The Fox and Badger, Wellow, tel: 01225 832293. The Wheatsheaf, Combe Hay, tel: 01225 833504, closed Monday lunchtime. As always, please call to confirm opening times before setting out.