A MODERATE circle in the Mendip Hills from Blagdon, North Somerset, stopping at a picturesque hamlet and streamside pub. There is a good mixture of open and woodland walking. About 5.75 miles, 2.75 hours walking. Use the map OS Explorer 141, Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, ref: 501 591. Park in the free car park behind Blagdon Village Club down Station Road by the fire station.

THIS is a classic and medium-length walk in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Mendip Hills escarpment above Blagdon, going across Burrington Ham and down to Burrington hamlet and then over to picturesque Rickford with its ford.

There's the chance of a stop at the stream-side pub in Rickford before rising up to get even more great views and then through sun-dappled woodland before descending back to Blagdon. Choose a clear day to make the most of the spectacular views. There are two hills, but the rest is quite easy walking on dry paths and it is a good dog circle, too.

START

Go out the car park by the way you came in from Station Road and turn left a few yards downhill. Then turn right into Bell Square and go through, picking up a Tarmac path. This connects both sides of Blagdon and gives great views across Blagdon lake and valley and across to the impressive church tower of St Andrew's. Follow the path round and down, through a gate and along, through another gate by a natural spring, Tim's Well, and then turn left and head up towards the church.

1. CHURCH

This beautiful church dates back to 1907/9, and was built on a site where there had been a church since the 14th century. Just before the entrance to the churchyard, turn right along the green bank in the open at the top of the small valley. Follow this to the road. As you near the road, look down to see the village orchard.

Turn left on the pavement, separated from the road by a grass verge. Shortly, at the playing field, turn right through to the road and cross. Go up Slad Acre Lane opposite and begin to climb.

2. COTTAGE

When you reach a cottage ahead of you at the top, bend right and then immediately go left up steps following the footpath arrow. Continue on the path which leads into a field. Now keep climbing up the left side of two fields getting panoramic views over the lake and Blagdon village. Cross a stile at the corner, on to a road.

3. ROAD

Turn right and follow the road down to a junction with Ellick Road. Here go left up a Tarmac path/lane, Luvers Lane.

4. LUVERS LANE

Follow this Tarmac path along the top of the hill. Go through a gate, ahead into a field and now maintain direction, following the left hedge through three fields until you come out on to Burrington Ham Open Access Area.

5. THE HAM

Head straight across Burrington Ham. Ignore side- paths and crossing tracks. Go straight on into a ridge of land which gives great views on either side – left up across to Black Down, right over Wrington Vale and across the Severn Estuary.

You may well see Exmoor ponies here, introduced to keep the vegetation down.

If you wish, after a while you can walk out on the left side of the ridge getting better views across over Burrington Combe to Black Down. But when you get as far as you can, the track bends down right (north) and drops downhill and ahead you can see Long Rock.

6. LONG ROCK

Reach the foot of the rocks and on a clear day it's worth climbing up for the views. Then to continue the round, go on a few more yards on the track you were on, bending right, and almost immediately turn left down the end of the rocks. Reach an open area and then bear slightly right following a path through bracken, along the side.

Continue on until you come to the foot of a line of silver birches. Here turn right on a beautiful path under the birches. It bends down left, still under trees and leads to a T-junction with another path. Turn left and follow this track downhill. It goes through a small open area. Go through a gate on to the Link, an unmade and quiet residential road above Burrington.

7. THE LINK

Turn left. When you drop down and reach a triangle of grass and a junction, turn right downhill, passing the former village pound and come into Burrington. The church is worth a visit.

At the small square by the church, turn right and follow the No-through lane past pretty cottages and on as it becomes a Tarmac path.

It leads to the main road. Cross and go down opposite into Rickford and its pretty ford.

8. RICKFORD

Bend round right through this peaceful hamlet and arrive at a traditional English pub, the Plume of Feathers, with tables set outside overlooking the stream.

The stream that runs through Rickford links up to the River Yeo, and Rickford has its own natural spring attached to Blagdon Lake. It is the scene of a very popular annual charity duck race, usually held in July. Continue on past the Victorian gauge house from which Bristol Water controls the stream from the lake.

Reach the main road by the waterfall and lake.

This was once a millpond serving a flourishing flour mill and later a paper mill. The picturesque church, originally a Baptist chapel, is now a Masonic lodge.

9. MAIN ROAD

This is a blind bend on a fairly busy road, so take care. Cross and turn right a yard or two and then take the marked footpath on the left which climbs up through woodland. Ignore a side-turn and simply carry on up, passing a beautiful garden down on the right, just before you go through a gate ahead onto a crossing track. Turn left uphill.

Continue on and cross a cattle grid and now you are climbing up through an open area with glorious views over Wrington Vale and across to Wales. Cross another cattle grid and come to a farm. There is virtually no more uphill work now.

10. FARM

Turn left at the side of a stone barn, following the footpath sign. Continue on, entering woodland. Fork left and go through woodland called Fuller's Hay, which in spring is a carpet of bluebells. Continue on, dropping downhill and, after several minutes, descend quite steeply to cross a small valley. Carry on up the other side and before long come up into a field.

11. FIELD

Turn left with woodland on your left. Cross a stile/barrier into a field and go straight across. Cross another barrier by a gate and here get a great view of Blagdon Lake.

Up on your right is Lakewood Conference Centre run by the very successful local company, Yeo Valley Farms.

Go straight ahead ignoring a crossing path and near the far side, turn left down a spur of the field. Cross a stile by a gate in the corner and continue on down the left hedge. In the bottom corner a kissing gate leads to a track. Turn right and come down to the main road in Blagdon. Cross over to the village club and walk through to the car park behind.

The Plume of Feathers, Leg Lane, Rickford BS40 7AH. Tel: 01761 462 682 (they can also give details of the duck race). There is also a good choice of pubs in Blagdon itself.