Hawkedon and Somerton circular walk

This walk goes through both villages, up and down several hills, and crosses the River Glem in two places.  The pub in Hawkedon is open midday on Saturday and Sunday but only opens evenings during the week

Leave the car on the green below Hawkedon church.  Walk up the hill, passing the pub cum village stores cum post office on the right.  Once over the brow of the hill take a sunken track to the right.  This crosses a very modest ford and follows a hedge and deep ditch round to the right.  At the corner turn left and after a short distance turn right (waymark) and follow a narrow path beside a barbed wire fence.  On reaching a gate go through into the meadow and turn left to follow the hedge uphill.  Just before an obvious angle in the hedge go left over a stile and footbridge and re-enter the field you have just left (I know but that's footpaths for you!) Turn right and follow the hedge and copse uphill.  Enter the next small unkempt field (waymark) and continue in the same direction heading for a new metal gate and a finger post on the top of the hill.  Go through the gap and stick to the hedge on the right. Enter a garden (that's also footpaths for you) and reach the road.  This is Somerton high street and a right turn will take you past cottages, the church and the 'old' village pump.  Turn right here, there are seats if you need a 'breather', and join the Bury/Clare walk for a short distance. Follow the left hand hedge until you are directed through.  Follow another left hand hedge going gently downhill and appreciate the views over the valley.  In the next curve go through the hedge again using an uphill footbridge and take the upper of the two fields. After a short distance you drop to the lower field (waymark) and continue downhill.  Be careful not to miss the next 'go through the hedge' which is hidden but coincides with the hedge becoming a small wood. Turn right, downhill, until you are directed left to cut off the corner of the field. Drop down to the road and head up the drive to Lodge Farm and your first crossing of the River Glem. At the end of the drive continue in the same direction along a shady green tunnel called Snugs Lane. (Some names are spot on, don't you think?)  This is a bridleway and as such hosts horses and the occasional motorised vehicle.  It can be muddy and, if you are unlucky, slippy as well.  Climb up the hill, and it is a hill, until you reach the modern barns at the top. You should turn right, half back on yourself, between barns 1 and 2 (waymark) and head downhill on a hard track. This eventually leads to Gallowgate Farm nestling in the valley.  This is a farm as farms ought to be - black barns, open fronted lean-tos, rusting machinery, lopsided doors, windows displaying many years accumulation of cobwebs yet contented cattle and calves in straw yards.  Turn left in front of a flint wall (faded bridleway sign) and along the lower edge of a small mainly fir wood.  Once back into the open stick to the track as it heads alongside the right hand hedge above a surprisingly deep drop and then veers left up a slope between crops.  On reaching the road turn left (a few yards to the right gives a view down the drive of half timbered Thurston Hall and is worth the diversion).  Turn right at the road junction, signposted to Stansfield, and go downhill.  Take the stile and footpath on the right and drop down to the river.  Cross a footbridge and climb another stile (waymark) then walk between hedges soon losing the one on the left.  Once up the hill continue round to the right and shortly after the next corner go through the hedge.  Turn left down the side of the wood and at the first corner turn right (waymark can be seen from the other direction) across the growing crop heading for finger post on the road. Turn left at the road heading down hill and up again to return to Hawkedon church.

The circuit will take a good 2 hours of walking and covers about six miles.
Roger Medley 01440 821861