Somerton Strolls Walk 11 – Littleton and Dundon Beacon
Distance: 10.8km/6.7m
To Littleton and around Dundon Beacon, returning via Etsome
A pleasant country walk generally not too muddy with some lovely views
Leave car park and turn L along West Street. At the Market Square follow the road past the Buttercross and bear L along Broad Street, with its lime trees. At Cow Square, with the renovated trough, continue ahead into North Street. At the mini roundabout, cross and go straight ahead into a track (SP Public Footpath) and descend, bearing round to the L to pass under the railway bridge. Continue along the path at the foot of a grassy slope and at the end turn R down a steep slope to the fishing lakes. Go ahead with lakes on both sides, through a gate, across a bridge over the river Cary and go straight ahead to ascend and join a field boundary on the left. Just before the hedge at the top, turn L through a metal gate and continue along the edge of the field, with the hedge on the right. As the path begins to descend, there are good views ahead to Dundon Beacon, Lollover Hill and the Polden Hills. Cross a gate and follow a track to descend to another gate, then continue ahead to reach a small gate beside a field gate. Then pass buildings on the left to reach another gate and a tarmac road. At a T junction turn R to pass a pond and just beyond Walnut Tree House go through a small black metal gate and along an enclosed path through a garden to reach a way-marked stile beneath evergreen trees. Bear slightly L to the top of the hill, over a way-marked stile and then head along the ridge with the hedge to the L, with excellent views to left and right. At next stile continue ahead to another gate and proceed, now with hedge on the right, to reach a sudden short descent and soon after to reach a way-marked stile and bridge. Head straight across field to a stile and sleeper bridge and pass through an orchard, keeping close to the right-hand hedge, to reach a stile and gate leading into an enclosed track to emerge at a tarmac road. Go straight ahead into a track (SP Ham Lane ½m) with hedge on right and good views of Gilling Down with its coloured strata, to go over the stile at the first cross hedge and ahead again at the gate by the side of a trough. After a stile, two kissing gates and a short grassy track, reach a road and turn L for 150m, then bear L through a kissing gate (SP Church Path). Follow the flagstone path with Dundon Beacon on the left, through several kissing gates and across a farm track to the top of the slope where on the L is a gate to the Nature Reserve (detour if you have time, but be warned, it’s quite a slog!) and 50m beyond, a stile on the left. Cross and follow with a hedge on the right and when the hedge ends continue ahead toward a thatched house, just before which cross a stile and turn L along the road. Pass a derestriction sign and 50m beyond, cross a stile on the R and head to the left of the barn to locate another stile. Aim slightly L across the field and cross a small water course by a rusty gate, then continue over the next field with a hedge on the left to cross a footbridge over a rhyne and then slightly left to reach a stile leading across a sleeper bridge into an enclosed footpath. Go along this footpath for 600m and at the T-junction turn R then almost immediately L along a tarmac road. Cross the bridge over the river Cary and after 200m turn L to pass Etsome Dairy Farm. This is Barpool Lane, running along the Cary valley and soon Somerton and the Viaduct come into view. Pass the sewage treatment works and continue past the track to the fishing lakes to ascend steeply to a T-junction. Turn L and take the next R, Laburnum Drive, and continue ahead into Pinewood to reach a T-junction at Behind Berry. Turn R then immediately L into King Ina Road and at the bridge over the railway do not cross, but continue ahead alongside the railway line with the fence on the L to reach West Street and the car park.
Checked September 2020