ASHCOTT & PEDWELL

By Ken & Helen Wade

An easy walk over Shapwick Hill, along country lanes and footpaths with views of Sedgemoor, the Ham Hills and the Mendips.Distance - about 3.5 miles. Duration 1.5 hours.

This is a walk starting from Shapwick Cross Roads near St Mary's Church, going up over the hill towards Greinton and then to Ashcott via Pedwell and back to Shapwick.

Head south up Main Road towards the old vicarage. Pass Vicarage Lane cross roads and keep straight on. Go past the old abattoir and butchery on the right, now called Oak Farm. past Blacksmiths Lane on the right with the old forge. Look across right through the cider orchard to the old steam driven mill, which used to grind all the flour for Shapwick. At the sharp left hand bend, Popplehay Corner, where the road meets High Lane, go straight across and take the right hand of the two gates and proceed across the field diagonally. You can just make out the gate in the hedge at the far end of the field bordering the A39. Head towards this gate and climb over it, carefully crossing over A39.

Turn right and in 100 metres turn left down a little lane to Greinton. Proceed along this lane for about 50 metres, where on a clear day you can see right across the Sedgemoor plain with Greinton down towards the right and across in the distance Middlezoy, Othery and Westonzoyland churches. Also you should be able to see Burrow Mump, with its ruined church on the top, and the Ham hills. Continue down the lane for about 0.5 mile until you come to a sharp right hand bend. On this bend take the gate on the left hand side. Go across the field to a stile in the middle of the hedge opposite. Cross over the stile and proceed towards a gateway straight ahead. At the gateway take a stile on the right and head along the edge of the field with the hedge on your left. In another 50 metres climb the gate into the green lane. Head straight down this lane wending your way between farm and cottage until you meet the road at Pedwell. You pass a wonderful old cottage with a beehive in the front garden. Turn left and in 50 metres turn right down Pedwell Lane towards Ashcott past Broom House and notice up on the hillside on the left the new flats that have been constructed from the old Ashcott Village Hall.

At the cross roads with the A39 go straight over, after checking left and right. Continue along the Batch turning left up the hill. At the end of the Batch and West Street turn left and immediately right up School Hill. Carry straight on at the top of the hill along the lane to Shapwick. Shortly turn left into Kings Lane and go straight ahead towards the Ashcott playing fields. Follow the road as it bends right and then as it bends left, go straight on through the field gate and walk along with the hedge on your right to the next gate. Continue keeping the hedge on your right and at the next gate turn left along the track towards Shapwick Hill. Pass through the next gate and head on still with the hedge on the left to the next gate. You can now make out Shapwick village in the distance, and beyond it, on a clear day, the Bristol Channel, Steep Holm and the Welsh mountains. The Mendip range from this location looks superb considering how little we are above sea level. Continue on to the next gate with the hedge on your left. Pass through and continue again with the hedge on your left. Go through the next field entrance with the hedge on your left to the next gate in about 50 metres. You can now hear the traffic on the A39 which is over to the left. Head towards the right corner of the next field having gone through the gate. Continue through the next field keeping the hedge on your right. At the road go through the gate and turn right down into the village and back towards the church. Looking down at the village you can see the D shaped outline of the walled garden of the old vicarage. Turn right round the bend down Main Road, past Lawn House and back to the church cross roads.