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MENDIP TIMES
Doing a stretch from this medieval town
YOU may well end up in prison at the end of this walk, but you should actually enjoy it! This is a circle of contrast – from the medieval town of Shepton Mallet with its shambles, viaduct and historic prison, going up across fields and then along the Fosse Way. Here we enter Beacon Wood known for its wild flowers and bluebells. The return leg is across fields and along a very quiet lane/drive to take us to Chelynch with a popular pub. Finally head across the hill and back down under the old railway and to the disused prison, a feature of the town for 400 years. There is a welcoming café and free visitor centre in the prison – ideal for the end of your walk. After rain expect some mud. There are
With Sue Gearing PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2022
several stiles. It is a steady climb up out of Shepton but the rest is easy-going and then downhill. PARK: In the centre of Shepton Mallet in the well signed large car park – the Commercial Road car park which is next to the car park which serves Haskins, Aldi etc. Parking fee is reasonable, especially on Sunday (£2 all day). Toilets.
START: Go out on the path at the side of the toilets signed to the Town Centre and join Commercial Road. Continue on to the traffic lights and turn down left into the old part of the town, the shambles and market square with its iconic Market Cross. There was a market cross here as far back as 1500. In 1685, following the Monmouth Rebellion, 12 of the followers of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth were hanged, drawn and quartered at the cross. Here in the square is a good café, the Cheeky Bean. Go straight on through the square and then shortly turn right in Church Lane towards the visible church. Go left round the side of the church and past the Old Grammar School House and Old Rectory. Follow the path down left and reach the Batch. 1. RIVER SHEPPEY Go down the path on Edengrove and soon cross the River Sheppey. The path meanders and then goes under an arch with a sign – Mendip 40 – which was the old name for the East Mendip Way. Turn
left and then climb uphill, up steps and at the top cross a stile into a field. Continue to climb straight up.
2. RAILWAY PATH Reach a crossing track, the remains of the former Somerset and Dorset Railway (affectionately known as The Slow and Dirty). Turn right along the track or if you prefer take the footpath at the side. It all joins up later. Continue along and then cross right to join the fenced footpath and carry on. Ignore a stile on the right and bend left on the path, soon going under the railway tunnel. At the path end go down steps onto the main A37 road. Turn left and, shortly, cross with great care and take the footpath by Ivy House Farm. Go through a gate with an old sign warning you of the penalty of not closing it! After another gate get good views of the elegant curving viaduct right. Charlton Viaduct which has 27 arches is a Grade II listed building, built in the 1870s to carry the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway over the River Sheppey. Originally the stone bridge carried a single railway track but was widened to carry a second track in 1892 using red bricks. Take the left of the two footpaths, going into a field. 3. FIELDS We now climb gently up through fields, gate and stiles in the same direction until, up in a top field corner, cross a pipe stile onto the north-south old Fosse Way track.
