This walk visits the pretty hamlet of Cole, and returns through lovely countryside along the River Brue, on footpaths and quiet roads.
5 km, with 110 m of ascent. 70 to 90 minutes. Easy, apart from one short moderate section. There are sometimes livestock on parts of this route. Otherwise dog-friendly. Photo with thanks to Caroline Nolder.
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Starting at Bruton Community Office
Walk down Chapel Barton immediately to the side of the Community Office. At the bottom turn right into Lower Backway, and continue till a path on the left is reached. Take this path over the footbridge, swing to the right then take the left hand path up the hill. Steps lead up to Plox. Cross the road with care, and follow Godminster Lane ahead past Jubilee Park on your left to reach a four-road crossing [point 2 below].
Starting at Bruton Station
From the station walk to the bottom of the road, turn right towards the town, noting the two unusual towers of St. Mary’s Parish Church. On reaching Church Bridge continue straight ahead along the Plox, past the buildings of King’s School, to a road junction signposted to Godminster. Turn left going up a small incline and continue to a four-road crossing.
2
Turn right for a few metres, then left onto a narrow footpath, (sometimes overgrown) beside a garden fence, signed New House Farm. Straight ahead over bridge, through wooden kissing gate, across small field, then over stile to lane. Turn left and continue to wooden kissing gate on left. Go right, following waymarked path through fields to another kissing gate. Turn right and follow the track through a farm gate and down to the road.
3
Cross the road and, bearing right, take the waymarked path down through the grounds of Sexey’s School: before the tarmacked path starts to incline again, go left down the grass slope, aiming to the left of the tennis courts, to reach the stile onto the lane. Turn left along Gant’s Mill Lane and continue to a road junction. (Alternatively, for a shorter walk, turn right and follow the lane back to Bruton.) At the junction, turn right along the road to Cole. Take the right turn between houses and then right again before the river bridge, signed No Through Road. Continue to the waymarked stile on the right.
4
Go across the field alongside the railway line then under it (can be muddy), through a metal gate, then straight up the hill ahead. Follow the path at the top to the right, through gates and behind Gant’s Mill (take care on the steep and narrow downhill section just above the Mill). Continue alongside the mill leat into the grounds of Mill on the Brue Activity Centre at Trendle Farm. Keep to the path through this area and, after passing below the house, turn left over the stile, then right down the drive to the road.
5
On reaching the Road turn left and up the High Street to reach the Community Office. (Alternatively cross the road and turn right, then left through a small gap in the wall and across a footbridge. Continue, keeping left at the junction of paths to cross the River Brue by another footbridge and emerge into Lower Backway. Turn right for the Riverside Walk to Church Bridge, turn right and left opposite the Church to return to the Station).