From the (54) Bus Stop Walk Series 1 – Walk 6 Langport (Westover)

A disused railway line and small villages.
A fairly level easy going walk along tracks and country lanes
Distance 10.9 Km/ 6.8 miles
Total ascent/descent 71m

  1. From the bus-stop, turn into Westover (GR 465264) past Great Western House. Opposite the grain store beyond the Parrett Trail car park, go L (SP Muchelney) through modern stile and after 230m(250yds) at the next modern stile, go R then L along the Parrett (1) Cycleway – this is the track of the old railway line from Yeovil to Langport Junction and Taunton (2). Go ahead for 1.6km (1mile) to reach gates by a house and exit to a road.
  2. (GR423248) Go ahead for 800m (½mile) and where road bears R, continue ahead through Bristol gate (SP Drayton). Keep hedge on L and after 180m(200yds) where field narrows, cross to R hedge for 280m (300yds) to old gateway (now with no gate!) by concrete trough. Go R with hedge on R 90m(100yds) to a metal gate. Go along track for 400m (¼mile) to reach road at T-junction.
  3. (GR406242) Go R (SP Drayton) After 350m (400yds), turn R at Old Stream Farm (SP Ducks Lane) and at the end of the road by “The Granary” go ahead through three gates. At next gate go L and follow path to cross a sleeper bridge to reach a metalled road and follow for 300m(330yds) to emerge in the centre of Drayton by Duck Cottage. Turn L to pass the pub and church (3) and the end of School Street. After 200m (220yds) where road bears R, go straight ahead (SP Back Lane) into gravel track which soon becomes grassy and after 200m (220yds) go R at waymarked gate, then diagonally across the field to a gate. Continue in the same direction past large grey shed to another gate, then across field 360m(400yds) to wooden gate to emerge on to a road.
  4. (GR397250) Turn R 80m(90yds) to crossroads and continue ahead (SP Langport) and follow the delightful path on the L beneath the trees 400m (¼mile) to reach main road. Cross with care turn R and almost immediately L into Currywoods Way. Follow the road for almost 2km (1¼mile) as it passes into open countryside with pleasant views, takes a sharp R bend and descends into the hamlet of Wick.
  5. (GR401269) At the T-junction in Wick turn R and follow for 1km (⅔mile) to the A378. Turn R and follow the footpath for 300m (330yds) and cross with care to the drive of Portway Cottage.
  6. (GR408263) Through waymarked metal gate (SP Public Footpath) and follow with fence/hedge on L to another gate and two stiles to the field corner. Go L over waymarked stile and continue around edge of field with hedge on L to reach another stile. Cross and descend through woods to reach tarmac lane. Turn L and follow to reach the main Langport to Taunton road, cross with care and go R. Note the Old Railway Hotel (4) on the L at the bus-stop For car travellers, there is a small Parrett Trail car park in Westover or a free car park in Stacey’s Court 100m east of the Parrett bridge.
    FOR A SHORTER WALK
    Distance 3.6 Km/ 2.3 miles Follow as far as point 2. Retrace your steps to the start.

1 The Parrett flows 60Km(37 miles) to the Bristol Channel and drains an area of 643 sq miles – almost 50% of Somerset. The fall is only 1 ft/mile so is prone to frequent flooding. A bridge here is noted as early as 1220, but the current bridge was completed in 1841 and is Grade II listed
2 A book “Yeovil to Taunton” by former railwayman Derek Phillips describes the line with a descriptive narrative (ISBN 0955333407)
3 St Catherine’s church, Drayton, has an exterior in blue lias and golden hamstone. It dates from the 15th century, and was twice restored in the 19th Century. There is a 15thcentury cross in the churchyard.
4 The Hotel was built in 1906 and as the entrance was on the first floor an access bridge was required. A fixed bridge would have been too low so a manual swing bridge was installed.

Refreshments:
Café at Great Bow Wharf
Drayton Arms, Drayton
Cafés and Hotel in Langport centre

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