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Interesting Walks There are a number of interesting walks in and around Shepton Mallet, taking in many of the historical and industrial features which make the town so special. A selection of walks are listed below. The Town Council, in partnership with Mendip Ramblers Association, Mendip District Council and Ordnance Survey have also produced a booklet "Walk Around Shepton Mallet". Please ensure that at all times you adhere to the Countryside Code. Contact the Beacon Hill Society in regard of Beacon Hill Wood. Further walks around the Mendips and indeed Somerset can be obtained from Walking In Somerset. Short Walks Barren Down, Windsor Hill, Bowlish - 3.5mls - A short family walk through Shepton skirting the prision, following the old railway to reach Barren Down, crossing the road to Windsor Hill dropping down to Bowlish before walking round Collett Park to our start point. Bowlish, Spring Walk - 3.5 mls - A walk leaving via Bowlish, through Ham Woods and the Windsor Hill Tunnels and then dropping down just outside Croscombe to return either via the main road or, for a more rural route, via Ham Lane East. Croscombe, Rural Walk - 3mls - A pleasant walk through village, woods and fields starting at Croscombe church, through Ham Woods and returning steeply downhill to the starting point West Shepton / Friars Oven / Darshill - 6 mls - An easy walk with superb views all the way around crossing Knowle Hill and Friars oven to retrun along the ridge above Croscombe, with good views to the coast on a clear day. West Compton / East Compton / Cannards Grave - 6 mls - This is an easy walk with some fine views across Moderate Walks East Compton / Prestleigh / Mendip Vale Walk - 8 mls - A moderate walk leaving Shepton via Compton Road over the ridge to the hamlet of East Compton, crossing Beard Hill with its good views on our way to Prestleigh, then climbing up to Doulting Sheep Sleight passing Mendip Vale Station as we drop back down to Charlton to return to our start point via the old railway track and then some of the back roads of Shepton. Downside/Croscombe/Bowlish Walk - 8.5 mls - A moderate walk with good all round views, leaving Shepton climbing up to Barren Down to reach the Fosse Way, crossing farm land to Downside and on to the hamlet of Thrupe, then dropping down to Croscombe back along the ridge to Bowlish through some of the older parts of Shepton. Fosse Way/Ham Woods/Windsor Hill Walk - 7 mls - A moderate walk following in the footsteps of the Romans on the Fosse Way with fine views over Shepton Mallet from Downside, then onto Ham Woods with the old viaduct and tunnels, up the side of the quarry to come back over Windsor Hill to Bowlish then back via the older parts of Shepton Mallet. Whitstone Hill/Doulting/Bodden - 7mls - A moderate walk with only one steep hill up and one down, the views being worth the climb. We go under Charlton Viaduct, pass The Hundred Stone, & St Aldhelm's Well, before coming back across Ingsdon Hill. Long Walks Barren Down / Beacon Hill / Darshill - 11 mls - A hilly walk with superb all round views. This walk leaves Shepton passing the prison to climb Barren Down, crossing the Bodden, Cranmore, Doulting - 10.5mls- A hilly walk for the railway enthusiast, we climb to Barren Down crossing farmland to Bodden following the East Mendip Way for a few miles to reach Cranmore Tower before dropping down to Cranmore and the East Somerset Railway. On the way back we cross Ingsdon Hill with its fine views, then pass through Doulting Quarry and back to our start point via Burford / North Wootton / Croscombe Walk - 11mls - A hilly walk leaving via West Shepton crossing Knowle Hill to reach Buford, then following Folly Lane down to North Wootton and onto climb Worminster Sleight before crossing the old railway to then drop down to Croscombe and back along the ridge to reach Shepton via Darshill. Chelynch / Doulting / Shepton - A pleasant afternoon walk that takes in the Pochers Pocket at Chelynch and the Abbey Barn at Doulting where refreshment is available. The walk leaves Shepton via the Frome road, along the old The Mendip Society are an organisation of people who care for the Mendip Hills.
Barren Down / Beacon Hill / Darshill - 11 mls Barren Down, Windsor Hill, Bowlish - 3.5mls Bodden, Cranmore, Doulting - 10.5 mls Bowlish, Spring Walk - 3.5 mls Burford / North Wootton / Croscombe Walk - 11mls Chelynch / Doulting / Shepton - Downside / Croscombe / Bowlish Walk - 8.5 mls East Compton / Prestleigh / Mendip Vale Walk - 8 mls Fosse Way / Ham Woods / Windsor Hill Walk - 7 mls West Compton / East Compton / Cannards Grave - 6 mls |