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MENDIP TIMES
A walk on the wild side
JUNE’S circle explores the countryside to the north of Clutton, where the highlight is going through beautiful Folly Farm on permissive paths. Folly Farm, cared for by Avon Wildlife Trust, is a working farm and wildlife sanctuary where you can see butterflies, birds and wildflowers including orchids (mainly in June). It has an amazing natural amphitheatre and from there and from Round Hill there are superb views over Chew Valley Lake. Walking is a mixture of flat and undulating country with climbs and downhills. The start is uphill on lanes through Clutton and then we follow field footpaths and lanes and there are many kissing gates (KGs) and very few stiles. A busy main road has to be crossed twice. Please note: No dogs allowed on Folly Farm land. This lovely route came from Twenty circular walks near Timsbury a new book of walks written by Peter Bradshaw, Larry
With Sue Gearing PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2022
Curringham and Sue Fraser (details at the end).
PARK: At Clutton on the A37 south of Pensford. Clutton church is in the village signposted off the main road. There is a small car park there and parking nearby on the road. START: With your back to the church, turn left soon passing the small triangular green on the right with an oak tree, the King’s Oak. This is a replacement for the original oak, now just a stump on the green, planted to commemorate Edward VII becoming king. Follow Church Lane along and up in the Pensford direction. Turn left at the Tjunction and almost straightaway, go right on Broomhill Lane. At the end, take the middle footpath on Tarmac going straight on and up.
1. MAIN ROAD Reach the A37 and cross with care, through a kissing gate (KG) into the first field, following the Three Peaks Way. The Three Peaks Circular Walk covers 16.5 miles of hilly, field-footpath terrain. The route takes you around Pensford, Clutton and Chew Magna and the “peaks” are Maes Knoll, Knowle Hill and Blackberry Hill. Keep straight on through a small and then a long field, with a Bristol Gate at the end on the right. Turn left in the same direction as before, through a gap at the end. Keep on, bearing right to reach a KG
in the corner. Maintain direction in the next field and take the KG into Tynemoor Wood.
2. WOOD The entrance is muddy due to the stream. Follow the stream closely on your right through the wood and exit through another KG. Turn right in the field, ascend and suddenly get a surprising view from the brow over towards Stowey Church and House and Chew Valley Lake. The church and house are now separate from Stowey village which has reduced considerably over the centuries. Drop down and stay close to the bottom of the hill to reach a KG in the left corner. Turn right round the field edge and round one corner. Then take the KG in the right fence and bear left under two trees. Go through another KG and cross a plank bridge. Now head diagonally across to yet another KG by a large field gate. Once through bear left across this field to find a Bristol Gate onto a quiet lane, which in parts is not much more than a track. 3. LANE Follow it right. Cross a small ford and reach a T-junction with a track. Here we go left for about 350 yards. Reach a right bend and go ahead through a gap in the hedge and follow the marked path right alongside a beautiful house and garden. Bend left. Go through a gate and then diagonally across the field, meeting the end of a drive and then onto a lane at the end with a sign for Folly Farm on the right.
