Yeovil and South Somerset

OS Map: Explorer 129 - Yeovil and Sherbourne

South Somerset might not obviously spring to mind as an area for walking, but much of this peaceful farming region has the same unspoilt rural atmosphere as Dorset. If you want a relaxing walking break in a landscape of fields, woods, orchards and meandering rivers you could do much worse than visit South Somerset. Yeovil is the largest town and provides a good base and shopping, although some of the smaller market towns are equally convenient for walking and perhaps quieter. Bruton, Castle Cary, Crewkerne, Langport, and Somerton are particularly attractive towns.

The area has it's fair share of public footpaths and, armed with OS Explorer 129, planning interesting routes in this agricultural area is relatively easy. South Somerset District Council have excelled in the work they have done for walking, both in the publications they have produced and the imaginative trails they have helped develop. It is definitely worth contacting them to obtain a copy of their 'walking pack'. (contact details below). Of particular interest are the following trails:

The Leland Trail: This is a 45km route begining at Penselwood [ST78311] and taking a generally south westerly direction to finish at Ham Hill Country Park near Montacute [ST495167]. The landscape is one of dairy and arable farming and passes through a number of attractive villages. The theme of the route is John Leland, keeper of the royal libraries under king Henry VIII, who travelled the route under commission to document England's antiquities. A trail guide is available from South Somerset District Council.

The Liberty Trail: This route, also about 45km, continues from the end of The Leland Trail at Montacute and heads south across undulating hills and vales into Dorset and finishing on the south coast at Lyme Regis [SY339914]. You will need OS Explorer 116 (Lyme Regis and Bridport) for this trail. The theme this time is supporters of the Monmouth rebellion of 1685 who made the trip to Lyme Regis to join the Duke of Monmouth in his ill fated campaign. Somerset is steeped in this facinating period of our history.

River Parrett Trail: This route, which passes through the ecologically important Somerset Levels and Moors, has a strong environmental emphasis on it's promotion which is to be applauded. The route traces the Parrett river from it's source near Chedington on the Dorset border [ST475067 ] to it's estuary at Combwich in the Bristol Channel [ST261421]. The total distance is about 80km. There is a trail guide available and a trail website (see below).