Somerton Strolls Walk 4 – South Hill and Burnt House Lane
Distance: 11.1km/6.9m
A fairly level walk via South Hill with far-reaching views returning via Westcombe
Generally good tracks but a busy road to cross
Leave car park and turn right along West Street. At The Triangle by the post box, fork left along Sutton Road. After 200m turn L into Great Western Lane and follow as it winds through a modern housing development. Do not bear L under the railway bridge, but continue ahead and follow the road as it climbs gently and bears R to pass St Cleers chapel. At the cross-roads beyond the chapel, turn L, go over the railway bridge and go L again by the derestriction sign by Melbury House. After 400m at the cross-roads at Badger’s Cross, turn R and after a further 300m at the “Give Way” markings bear L to join the B3165. Follow this (with care) as it bears round a left-hand bend and up a slight rise. At the top of the rise, turn R into Windyridge Lane (SP Munday’s Court Lane ½m). At the end of the tarmac (by a Farm Feed shop) go straight along driveway with hedge on the left to reach a farm gate (yes, it is through the garden of the house on the right). Go through the gate and continue ahead along the track for 200m and follow as it goes left and descends gently with wide views to the Quantocks, Blackdowns and over to Dorset. The track becomes a tarmac lane bears sharp R and after 250m reaches a T-junction. Turn R into Burnt House Lane and continue as the tarmac lane becomes a track past woodland on the right, and then becomes a path, which passes above the mouth of the railway tunnel (not visible). At the end of the path there are three metal gates. Cross the stile by the middle gate and follow with hedge on the left. Go through the metal gate to the left of Saints’ Bushes Plantation, then over stile and follow the faint path through the woods roughly parallel to the left hand hedge. Emerge into field and go straight across heading for the tall tree slightly to the left of the white painted cottage. Through the gate, emerge on to the busy B3153, turn R for 75m uphill, then cross (with care) to follow track between two houses (no SP). At the end of this short track, go straight ahead over stile (SP Public Footpath) then through the gate to follow with hedge on the left. After 200m, continue through another gate and along hedge to emerge at a track. Turn R as track ascends gently and surface becomes tarmac. The road then descends gently with fine views to Glastonbury Tor and across to the Mendips. Pass Westcombe Farm and after 300m take the road on the right and continue to the T-junction. Turn R and follow Cartway Lane for 200m to join Langport Road. Turn L and after 50m, cross Langport Road and take Ricksey Lane, the tarmac lane opposite. After 300m go through the kissing gate on the L and follow the new footpath to reach another gate. Go ahead along the tarmac road past Barley Croft and take the next L down Farm Drive. After 100m at the next junction turn L and immediately R into St Cleers. At the T-junction with St Cleers Way turn R and at cross-roads turn L into Sutton Road. Follow this to reach The Triangle, West Street and the car park.
Checked August 2020