Walking Sue Gearing

A Fyne day out in the Quantocks

Thistime, for a change, we head south to another Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Quantocks, with this easy and very varied circle from fascinating Fyne Court, through the grounds and then out through woods and across fields, down in valleys and by streams. Enjoy some good views across country. There should be some glorious autumn colours to enjoy. There are no major hills. You may like to take a stick to hit back some of the undergrowth alongside paths which has grown up over the summer. There are a few stiles. There’s a great start and finish in the courtyard of Fyne Court with an inviting cafe and information about this beautiful estate and its history. it’s a great walk at any time of year with snowdrops and bluebells to enjoy in the winter and spring. START: At Fyne Court, Broomfield in the southern part of the Quantock hills. From the M5 junction 24, go through North Petherton. There is plenty of parking in the main car park and an overflow area on the other side of the road. Free parking for NT members. it is a good walk for dogs.

This beautiful and welcoming estate was once the pleasure grounds in the Arcadian style of a large house belonging to 19th scientist and pioneer in electricity, Andrew Crosse, whose family owned the house from its construction. Sadly, it was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1894 and is now a visitor centre and glorious wildlife area and nature reserve owned and run by the National Trust. It also houses the office of the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Andrew Crosse conducted a series of experiments with electricity at Fyne Court in the early 19th century. He became known as “the thunder and lightning man” and it is said spuriously that his work could have inspired Mary Shelley to create Frankenstein. There was a large country estate of woodland, ponds and meadows, including a walled garden and arboretum. Within the grounds are a folly and boathouse. Have a look further into the estate after the walk.

There is a very pleasant tea shop in the old stables, a snug, toilets and bookshop. You can find a lot more information about the Crosse family and maps of the estate here.

From the main car park cross and go down the path by the parking meter. Bend round and then go ahead between buildings to the courtyard and hub of the place. Turn right across the lawn following the red route arrow. Go into woodland under a large lime tree and climb up. Bend right on the red trail and through the arboretum with some splendid specimen trees. Pass on the left an amazing fallen tree – a great magnet for young tree huggers and climbers. Reach the entrance drive and cross onto the path opposite which soon bends right. Along here on your left is the overgrown serpentine lake – once a main feature of the estate. soon reach steps down right which you can go down to get a good look at the restored folly below.

Known as Castle Folly, it is thought to have been used as a prison and also as a dog kennel. Today it is a useful undercover picnic place for rainy days.

Return to the path up the steps and turn right, going above the folly. soon reach the restored Boathouse.

1. BOATHOUSE

This sits at the end of the serpentine lake. Go up over the bridge and round the back and continue on. Cross a bridge and go up through woodland. Pass a wooden xylophone on your left – another attraction for children. soon you will see, through left, the circle of posts and open area of sky Glade. You can turn here into the glade or go on until you reach another marked post and turn sharp left almost back on yourself up into sky Glade.

This is a restful area of trees and ring of posts where you are encouraged to sit back and enjoy the sky. Some of the posts are carved with the names of cloud groups.

Leave the red route and go through the

glade, following the purple trail. Continue through the woodland with a field on your right. Bend right through a gate into open grassland.

2. MARKER POST

Go straight across to a marker post then turn right, as directed there. The purple trail has been diverted from Five Ponds Wood, down in the valley, while work is taking place to combat ash dieback. Go through a large gate and further on fork left, leaving the purple trail, dropping down more steeply. Before reaching the edge, fork left, drop down under the trees on a muddy steep path and cross the small stream. Come up to a path with a locked gate left and here turn right alongside a stream. Cross a footbridge, and go up steps. Turn left over a stile and follow the public footpath through a valley with the stream on your left. Continue to a lane.

3. WOODS

Go straight over through a kissing gate and uphill on a path through the woodland where you can expect to see bluebells and wild flowers in season. Pass a dilapidated wooden shelter and continue on this path for a short way until you reach a small path on the right, by a large sweet chestnut tree. Make sure that you don’t miss this turn. This path drops steeply, crosses a stream and climbs up the other side, then meanders on to reach a wall ahead. Go out by a post and come alongside a mesh fence. Turn left and walk alongside with the fence on your right. At the end, keep straight on (not right) and follow the marker post taking you out into the open.

4. FIELDS

Enter a field and keep straight on following the edge with some lovely views across country. Eventually reach a stile, cross and continue straight on but this time following the hedge on your right. At the end, go through a Bristol Gate and another gate passing spring Cottage. Reach the lane and turn left.

5. LANE

head uphill to a junction and turn right. After a few minutes, at a slight left bend, reach a small stony lay-by on the right. On the road ahead you can see a signpost and junction but don’t go that far. here, at the lay-by, cross over the stile on the left of the large gate, follow the left field edge hedge and enjoy glorious views down across the valley below. After a gate, continue to drop, looking down a beautiful valley onto an organic farm, stream Farm.

6. STREAM FARM

At the foot, come alongside the orchard fence to the corner and turn right on a grassy swathe with the orchard right and tennis court left. Cross a step-through stile and continue on along the hedge. A short way down on the left, cross a stile and go diagonally across the field towards a small lake where another stile takes you onto the farm drive. Follow it up right, then bend right onto Tarmac.

7. MACMILLAN WAY

You are now on the Macmillan Way. Continue all the way to a junction and turn right uphill. Pass a new farmhouse, and shortly go left up steps and over a stile. Follow the bottom of the field above the farmhouse. Go over a stile, through a kissing gate and turn right along the top of this field.

8. GARDEN

Gradually drop down to a kissing gate and on through a garden. Cross a stone footbridge and carry on by the stream with a lake up on the right, beautifully fringed with meadow sweet when i came. head on over a stony bridge and across to a gate into woodland, part of Broomfield Common. The path wends its way through the woods. Eventually come to a crossing track and turn right on this, following a stream. The track climbs and becomes sunken. Exit the woods at a lane junction.

4.25 miles. About 2.5 hours walking but allow time to explore. OS Explorer Quantock Hills & Bridgwater 140, Grid ref 222 320, postcode TA5 2EH

9. BROOMFIELD

Go straight on along the lane climbing very gently and pass the village sign for Broomfield.

The village is the most widely spread and highest in the Quantocks. For centuries from 1259-1890s it was the scene of an annual fair selling coarse cloth and cattle, sheep and horses and with other traditional fair attractions. It was held in the Fair Field opposite the village green.

Go past the beautiful village hall, once the village school, and reach the entrance to the church. Turn into the churchyard past the enormous ancient yew and war memorial.

The church is well worth a visit and has an outstanding set of 16th century carved wooden bench ends. In the NE of the churchyard is an obelisk memorial to Andrew Crosse.

Exit the main door, turn right in front of the yew tree and the gate you entered by and go straight on through the churchyard along the path to the village green. immediately turn right and turn right again into a field marked as NT Fyne Court. Go left along the edge and through a gate, dropping down steps on a path. After another gate turn left and rejoin the NT’s purple trail which returns you to the courtyard and cafe.

Wedmore walk July –Reader alert.

Apologies to the reader who wrote saying there was a problem with a farmer near the start of the walk. i was on holiday but somehow or other the email had disappeared when i returned home and went to answer it. Please could he or she contact me again and i will try and help.