Sue Gearing follows the old Strawberry Line in North Somerset

This is a fairly easy and scenic short circle from Winscombe, North Somerset, using an old railway line, the West Mendip Way, field paths and tracks and calling in at a Mendip village en route. It's a little over five miles, about two and a half hours walking. Use the map OS Explorer map 141, Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, ref: 417 575. Park in Winscombe, which lies just off the A38 about three miles north-west of Axbridge. There is a public car park by the Woodborough public house and other parking options. Walk down the main street (A371) in the Banwell direction, past shops, and soon reach the arch over the old railway.

T he former Strawberry Line, as it was known, starts our circular journey in North Somerset into the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Mendip Hills.

It makes tracks south and then we head up to Sidcot and follow a green valley and fields gently up to Shipham, an old Mendip mining village. Some of the route is along the West Mendip Way.

In Shipham there are two pubs and a great cafe (about a minute from the start).

It's an easy, flat and downhill route from there via the hidden hamlet of Winterhead. There are a couple of steady climbs, one short uphill and one short very steep section, so take a stick if you are at all uncertain.

This is a circle which your dog should enjoy, too.

START

Down by the railway arch. On the Winscombe side of the arch is the entrance to the Railway Walk, by public toilets. Go through the barrier by the sign for Old Station Millennium Green and then turn up the ramp left on to the old line. Turn left going across the bridge over the road and continue on walking in a southerly direction.

Soon you begin to see the open land of Mendip ahead. Watch out for cyclists who also use this route and often they don't have bells! Go under a bridge and continue on. Cross a Tarmac track leading to the recreation ground and carry on.

1. STEPS

Reach steps on each side of the line. Take those on the left which bring you up to the end of the recreation field. Go ahead on the path keeping the playing fields on your left. This takes you over a stile and joins a tarmac track, Fullers Lane. Maintain direction and you come to the main A38.

2. MAIN ROAD

Cross with care and take the stile opposite and follow the hedged path. Soon this bends left and then right, continuing in the same direction and beginning gently to climb. Reach a small crossing path. Turn left and follow another hedged path, between gardens, crossing a drive en route, all the way to a residential close in Sidcot. This is a hamlet probably best known for its Quaker school.

3. SIDCOT

Turn right and after a few yards at a junction with a lane, turn left. Almost immediately, turn right up a short Tarmac drive following the footpath arrow and on over a stile into a field. Bear across left and go over a stile by a gate. Then turn right in the field following the right hedge. The next section is well marked. Simply maintain your direction through fields, and over stiles gradually entering a small combe and climbing very gently. The combe becomes more tree shaded and a little wetter and there is a small stream running down and evidence of how man has taken steps to control it and harness the natural springs in the area.

4. FIELD

Eventually a wooden field gate ahead takes you into the open. Continue on across to the far side of the field to a stile and gate and come on to Winscombe Drove, one of several cross-Mendip thoroughfares used in the past for moving animals.

5. DROVE

Turn left. Before long, turn left on the first track marked as the West Mendip Way. Follow this to just before a farm. Cross right over a stile and head up across the field still following the WMW. Go through into the next field by the remains of an old stone stile. Now follow the left hedge straight on. There may be patches along here that are a little muddy after rain. Certainly, there are some fine views left over the estuary and across to Wales.

Ignore a footpath arrow left by a gate and start a very steep descent into the valley, using the steps. At one point, a fallen branch has blocked the steps but a route has been made round the side. At the foot, take the footbridge over a stream and then climb up the other side.

The path bends and continues to climb and leads to a stile on the right. Cross and continue on up. Reach another stile in the corner and once over come down onto the main road. Carefully cross and go up the bank more or less opposite by the end of the wall to come onto the raised pavement. Turn left with the main road down on your left and this brings you down into Shipham village by the green.

6. SHIPHAM

In the centre of Shipham is a choice of refreshment: The Penscot on the left and a little further on, the Miner's Arms. On the green opposite the Miner's Arms, and tucked away just past the village cross, is Lenny's, a tiny, popular cafe run by volunteers from St Leonard's Church.

To continue, take the footpath down the left side of the Penscot (as you face it). Follow it along and cross a stone stile and then another stile into a field. Continue straight on, dropping down following the left hedge and then continuing on and soon following a hedge on your right.

After crossing a stile you follow a path on under trees soon coming to a humpy, bumpy area, "gruffy ground", showing evidence of mining for lead and calamine.

Maintain direction going through a glade of trees and on towards buildings, but bearing right following footpath signs. Then curve left and go through a gate at the side of a stone barn on to a track in Winterhead hamlet.

7. WINTERHEAD

This also was once a mining community. Turn right. Soon reach a junction of tracks. Go straight ahead, following the track up and bend left and stay with it all the way to the main A38. Cross and step out on the track immediately opposite.

8. HOUSE

This leads to a house. Continue on along the footpath keeping the garden on your left. Cross a stile into a field where there are good views across to Sandford and Lyncombe Hills. Follow the right hedge and in the far corner cross a stile on to a track. You can either follow this all the way to the end going between concrete boulders on to Shipham Lane, or go left near the start of the track over a stile and then right in the field. A stone slab stile at the end leads you out on to Shipham Lane.

9. SHIPHAM LANE

Turn left. Follow this fairly quiet lane for about half a mile to the Sandford/Winscombe road. Cross into Ilex Lane opposite. This leads over a stone bridge over the Strawberry Line. Then turn down left and the Tarmac path leads you to the line.

10. RAILWAY WALK

Just continue on. There are good views across to Crook Peak and to Banwell Castle. Eventually reach the old station and Millennium Green.

The Millennium Green Sculpture was carved by out of coarse-grained limestone from Doulting Quarry – the same stone was used in the construction of Wells Cathedral.

Then come to the old platform and site of the former station.

Stay over to the left and drop down to the barrier, passing an information board on the way, and back to the start of what I hope has been an enjoyable walk.

Penscot Inn, The Square, Shipham, nr Cheddar, BS25 1TW. Ttel: 01934 842659. The Miner's Arms, The Square Shipham, Winscombe, BS25 1TW. Tel: 01934 842146. Please telephone before setting out to confirm opening times.