Shapwick To Moorlynch

via Swayne's leaps, Spring Farm Vineyard and Greinton.

Distance - about 7 miles. Duration 2 hours.

A longer walk, with an unbeatable combination of views from both sides of the Polden Hills.

Park near St Mary's Church in the centre of Shapwick village. At the crossroads, take the road to Bridgwater (Church Road). Within 50 metres, take the footpath into Church Close to the left.  At the T junction in about 50 metres, turn right noticing the Old Farm, which is now a private house on the. Within another 50 metres, turn left at the T junction, having just passed Knapps Cottage and Kiln Cottage, School Lane. Now on Mill Lane proceed straight ahead until it meets the junction with High Lane. Turn right. It is interesting to note how the names of the village streets reflect what used to happen in Shapwick. At the top of Mill Lane is the old steam mill, Lawn Lane goes past Lawn House, Butchers Lane has on it the old abattoir and Blacksmith Lane has the forge. Proceed past the string of cottages on High Lane which were the old quarry workers' houses. From here you get magnificent views of the

Mendip range and Brent Knoll to the north, as well as a lovely view of  Shapwick village. On reaching the end of the cottages, you will see a footpath sign pointing  to the left, just before the derestricted signs.  Take this footpath  keeping the hedge on your left until you reach the edge of the first field, a dip in the ground where the hedge used to be. Now head diagonally across to the far corner. Stand for a moment to absorb the panoramic view of Catcott and Edington Burtle in the distance. Crook Peak, the pointed peak on the Mendip range, going all the way along to Cheddar Gorge and right across to Wells and beyond. Proceed straight on until you meet the edge of Woodland Trust’s Loxley Wood. Turn right after you have climbed over the stile. Keep a watchful eye open for wildlife. There are deer & foxes in the wood, along with jays, pheasants and a whole variety of wildlife. Proceed down through the wood until you reach a track to the left. Take this and proceed until you find a partially concealed track going up to the A39. This is very busy road. Cross the road and turn right 20 metres, you will come to a drive. Turn left and proceed up the drive. Bend round to the right with the drive and proceed past the houses on the left. Carry straight on towards the final bungalow. Just before you get to the final bungalow you will find a footpath to the right going down to Swayne’s Leaps recording the incident during the Monmouth rebellion where Jan Swayne escaped from the Royalist forces. Climb over the stile in 100 yards and directly ahead you will find stones that commemorate the leaps that Swayne made as he escaped. (4 in all.) Retrace your footsteps back to the drive. Turn right and keeping the final bungalow to your left carry on along the footpath, or green road. Again a fabulous view is had of the Ham Hills and the causeway road heading towards Burrow Stump. In about 100 metres, find the kissing gate to the left into the field just above the old derelict vineyard. Proceed along the top of the field to the three oak trees, and keeping these to the right proceed diagonally across the field keeping the stile in view. Carry on in the same line heading towards the hedge running down the side of the hillock in the distance. Take the stile and turn left along the track until you see a field and way mark on the right. Go across the field, climb the stile and turn left along the edge of the field to two other stiles and a flight of steps dow to the road to Greinton. In Greinton turn right taking a footpath behind the old Manor to a lane. Go up the hill to the A39 and then a footpath from the A39 down into Shapwick.