Sue Gearing follows an old drovers' road through the gently undulating hills of the West Mendips, enjoying ancient woodland and spectacular views over the Somerset Levels

THIS invigorating circle aims to provide a more unusual, gentler and more varied route than normal for enjoying the heights and views of Crook Peak, one of the most dramatic hills on the West Mendip plateau.

The exploration follows an old drovers' road under the northern edge and then climbs quite quickly to the Wavering Down ridge. You can go up Crook Peak if you wish. The route then travels round the curving ridge before dropping to Compton Bishop from where a pretty path leads through fields along the southern edge with an option of visiting a pub in Cross.

There's a good contrast at the end, through ancient Kings Wood. There is a steep but short climb up on to Wavering Down about a third of the way round, and another very short uphill section after the pub. Otherwise, the route is gently undulating. There are several stiles.

START

Turn left along the lane, which is not too busy and gives good views over the valley and across to Wales on a clear day. After about nine minutes, pass a road bends sign, and shortly past this, turn up left on a drive.

1. BARTON DROVE

This is Barton Drove, an ancient thoroughfare across Mendip for moving animals. We follow it for about 1.5 miles. It is an attractive path below the hill with good views. Eventually go into a beautiful meadow. Follow the left edge and then go left over a stile and continue on in the same direction with the fence on your right. Cross a stile in the corner and carry on. Join a path and follow it to a stile at the end.

2. CLIMB

This is now an open access area and our climb begins: turn left up the track and, as it enters trees, fork up right and follow the path up on to open land. Cross a stile ahead by a gate and come on to the West Mendip Way and Wavering Down. Your reward on a clear day should be some tremendous views over Somerset and to Crook Peak for the next stretch.

3. WAVERING DOWN

Turn right. Follow the wall along and then drop down to a marker post. If you wish, go straight on and up Crook Peak itself and then turn left down to rejoin the main route. So for the main route, fork left and go along under the left side of the peak (don't drop down). Reach a grassy ridge and now continue along this, so you have made a horseshoe shape from where you came on to Wavering Down. There are fine views over the Levels as you go and over Compton Bishop village and the down behind. Go on as far as you can, dropping down.

1. BARRIER

Go through a wooden barrier ahead. Turn left down a path under trees. Go on through a gate and carry on down to a T-junction in Compton Bishop.

5. COMPTON BISHOP

Turn left passing the old manor house and come to the church. St Andrew's was consecrated in 1236. Inside the church is a fine pulpit, the remains of 14th-century glass and an interesting double piscina.

Turn right on Church Lane and go on to a junction. Here go straight ahead following the marked footpath track. It bends round right, servicing one or two houses along here and then goes into a stable yard. Keep straight on over a stile and on through several fields following the right hedge. Up on your left towers Wavering Down.

Reach a garden fence ahead around a house.

Follow the footpath left along the fence around the garden. Cross a stile and continue on maintaining your earlier direction. Go down the length of the field, over a stile and then bend right in the next field following the right hedge. Cross a stile and continue on as before with telegraph poles on your left. At the end reach a farm drive.

6. FARM DRIVE

Cross and go on to cross a stile ahead. Follow the right hedge on and go over another stile and along the hedge. Go through a kissing gate and on with hedge still on the right. Then as the hedge bends, head across the field bearing slightly right to the far side where you find a ladder stile over a wall on the left. Go through a disused quarry on the right side.

Options: To stay on the hill and not visit Cross: (this route is easier, a little shorter and prettier), ignore the stile on the right and continue on and then bend left with the wall on your right and climb a little. Soon get some good views across the Levels and along the Mendip ridge. Continue to follow the path until you reach a crossing of paths. Turn left and follow from the directions from 8. Crossing Path.

Options: For the pub and Cross village, turn right over a marked stile and follow the path down, over a stile and through a gate to the road.

7. CROSS

Turn left and after a few minutes reach an old coaching inn, the White Hart. If you want a pub open all day, go on a few more yards to the New Inn.

There's about another half-hour back to the start. To continue the round, shortly past the White Hart, just before the 30-mile sign, turn up left on a steep small path (unmarked). It's steep, narrow and rocky for a short section and then becomes easier. Go through a wooden gate into the open access area of Crook Peak. Continue on along the bridleway on the right hand edge of the area. After about a minute reach a crossing path. Go straight over.

8. CROSSING PATH

Here the non-pub walkers join. After another couple of minutes enter woodland – the ancient Kings Wood. At a fork in the path, go either way – it all meets up. Continue on.

9. LARGE GATE

Go through a large gate. Reach a marker post and a clearing (but still under trees) which serves as a path junction. Here, continue on but take the left-hand path (the higher path) going deeper into the woodland. Go through a wooden hunting gate and continue on to a wide crossing track. Turn right. Follow this down to the car park.

The White Hart, Cross, Tel: 01934 732260

The New Inn, Cross, 01934 732455