Walking Sue Gearing

Beckington walk

ANeasy New Year circle in East Mendip going through the wonderful parkland of Orchardleigh near Frome. It starts at the old village of Beckington and then drops down, crosses the River Frome and heads through fields to Orchardleigh. Then we follow the drive past the house and golf club with fine views over the estate. Walking is mainly on good paths, but there are quite a few stiles – most of them ok for dogs. We do have to retrace our steps over one short section. There is a popular café deli, Mes Amis, and the 16th century Woolpack Inn in the village centre.

At the end is my alternative loop in Orchardleigh taking in the unique little church on an island and then going round the edge of the lake. But only attempt this in dry conditions or if you have wellies as there is a 20-yard section that is very, very muddy!

PARK: In the centre of the village near the Woolpack. The village streets are wide so there is plenty of parking.

Beckington is architecturally a very attractive village, steeped in history. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Preindustrial revolution, it became a place of some significance and wealth as a result of the wool trade. Evidence of the clothiers' importance can be seen by the clothiers' marks in the church and by the large houses in the village main street. Along the side streets are old stone workers' and artisans' cottages.

START: From the Woolpack, cross Warminster Road and go up Bath Road (not well signed). Immediately pass a house called the Malt House and continue up with Beckington Motors on the other side. Pass Mes Amis café on the right. Continue up a little more and take the first turning left, Mill Lane.

1. MILL LANE

Follow this along and drop down all the way to just before a bend and a B&B sign. Here leave the lane and take the public footpath track which bears up left. Go through a large metal gate and then another gate and start to get good views down right over the River Frome to Orchardleigh. Leave the concrete track as it bends right and go straight ahead down to a stile. Follow a short fenced track, go through a kissing gate.

2 and 8. BECKINGTON LOOP

Reach a sign for Beckington Loop where we return later. Now go straight on through the metal pedestrian gate and along the bottom edge of the field to a stile. Follow the path through woodland and alongside a pheasant enclosure. After another gate carry on along the grassy swathe to a stile at the end.

Cross onto a drive leading to an industrial unit and go straight over to a stile. Then follow the hard track along. As it bends right, leave and go ahead to gates and fencing and a stile. Cross this parklike field and bear over to the right, going over a stile by a gate. You have joined the long distance path, the Macmillan Way. Go over a crossing track and head to the other side of the field. There is a pill box over right.

3. RIVER

Cross a footbridge and then bear over right to a stile in the field corner onto a small lane. Cross to the footpath opposite over a stile. Reach a marker post where you return later. Go ahead (not left) still on the Macmillan Way. Pass a large oak tree on your left and continue on. Pass another splendid oak. Reach a drive and go straight over. There is an attractive bridge on the right. Arrive at a crossing track and turn right all the way, through a gate to a lane. Follow it left uphill.

4. LULLINGTON

Come into the pretty, tiny village of Lullington and turn left. You may like to go straight over and visit the church, but our route stays left, passing the village pump on your right. Soon go by Gloucester Farm and on the bend, go ahead into a field (not left) and follow the left hedge straight on. Further on, continue to follow the left edge, and carry on into another field. Maintain direction, climbing slightly all the way until you cross into the golf course at Orchardleigh.

5. GOLF COURSE

Take care as you follow the arrow across, between two mounds and further on pass a pond left. Pass Tee 2. Reach a marker post on the drive.

4.6 miles, or 5 miles (loop round lake). OS Explorer 142 Shepton Mallet & Mendip Hills East). The village is right on the edge of the map. OS grid reference: ST801518, postcode BA11 6SP

This huge estate comprises 500 acres, the main mansion, several other converted buildings, the island church, plus a golf course. Owned by the Champney family since the Norman Conquest, the estate was acquired by William Duckworth who built the house. It is an example of the briefly fashionable combination of Elizabethan and French styles – "nouveau-riche”. The last Duckworth sold the Estate in 1986 to an old Frome family, the Vincents who have had it extensively renovated and developed into a premier wedding venue.

For the optional route to the 13th century church on an island, see instructions at the end. Or you could simply go down to the church and back here (a third of a mile each way).

6. ORCHARDLEIGH HOUSE

So for the drier route, turn left on the drove soon passing Orchardleigh House. Don’t turn right towards the house, just continue on to the golf club. Start to get good views right over the estate. Stay to the right in the direction of Orchardleigh Castle, another wedding venue.

As you approach an estate lodge house, turn right off the drive down the fence. Go through a large wooden gate, where you will get a glimpse of the listed Palladian boathouse.

7. BRIDGE

Go on, over a bridge to the edge of the lake. Immediately turn left and follow the stream. There is a short drop and a footbridge on the way. Continue to the end of the woodland where the path turns right. It can be a little overgrown along here in parts. Follow it through woodland to Lullington Lane.

8. LULLINGTON LANE

Just before the lane follow the path left. Continue on this, paralleling the lane until you reach the marker post where you were earlier. We retrace our steps for a while: Go right, cross the road and turn right in the field. It’s over the footbridge and straight on, over a track and into the field opposite. Head on bearing slightly left to reach the stile, gates and fencing. Follow the drive on. Cross the stile at the end by the cattle grid. Then it’s across to another stile to join the grassy swathe. Keep on in this direction, coming alongside the pheasant enclosure. Then walk along the bottom of the field to the metal pedestrian gate and signed Loop. (End of retrace).

9. BECKINGTON LOOP

Simply follow this up right until you drop down steps and over a footbridge. Cross a stile and the path leads uphill to join Stubbs Lane (not marked as such here).

10. STUBBS LANE

Turn left to come back into the village and turn left back down to the Woolpack.

Optional route to the church

From the drive, bend left and take the drive down all the way to a lodge house. Turn left to the beautiful little church.

This 13th century church on an island at the end of the man-made lake, has the grave of the poet Henry Newbolt and his wife who was a member of the Duckworth family and loved this place. This simple place, candle-lit, is a favourite place for weddings.

Go back out of the church gate and immediately turn right through a metal gate and follow the path along with the lake on your right. The path bends right at the lake end and then left. Further along here is the very difficult muddy section. Continue to the end and turn left on the track to come back to the bridge where you join the main route at 7. Bridge.