This is a walk for days when the endless muddy fields of a wet winter seem just too off-putting. On minor or very minor roads, it visits the tiny Hadspen stone hamlets nestling to the southwest of Bruton, before climbing over Honeywick and Ridge Hills with splendid views to the east then west and north.

The walk comes within ten minutes of the cafés and shops of Castle Cary, so could easily be combined with a visit to and lunch in that town. Alternatively, half of the walk could be combined with a train journey for a shorter outing.

Best walked clockwise, the walk presents no navigational challenges and is easy underfoot, but long at 7 miles (11 km) with 160m of ascent. Allow 2hrs 15 mins to 3hrs.

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Route description (as below)

Map

Start at Bruton Community Office

Walk west along the High Street (against the traffic). Follow the main road downhill, round to the left across the River Brue and under the railway bridge. A couple of minutes up Cole Road turn right down Gants Mill Lane (un-signed). Continue parallel to the railway then through a small wood until a T junction is reached. Turn right and walk into the pleasant hamlet of Cole.

1

Continue along the road through Cole, ignoring a road to the right and various tracks on the left. After just over 1km the equally pretty hamlet of Hadspen is reached. Ignore two roads to the left (the second signed to the village hall) and follow the road round to the right, through the even more delightful hamlet (just a couple of houses really) of Honeywick, then steeply uphill to a junction on the edge of town where a very minor road cuts sharply back to the right (signed Wyke Champflower and Lower Wyke).

2

For the delights of Castle Cary continue straight ahead, across the main road and downhill into town. Otherwise turn sharp right on to Wyke Road. Shortly views open up to the right, with Bruton Church tower visible 5km to the east, and the Stourhead Ridge in the distance beyond. A few minutes further, at a sharp bend to the right, splendid views suddenly open up ahead to the north and then to the west.

Continue downhill more steeply, heading towards Wyke Champflower sitting under Creech Hill. Cross the railway and then take the un-signed road (Wyke Lane) to the right.

3

This very minor road meanders through open countryside, before turning sharp right downhill, under the railway, over the river Brue and back into Cole to rejoin the outgoing route.