Monkton Combe to Dunkerton Bridge
Contents
Introduction
This stage follows the remains of the Somerset Coal Canal for much of its length.
Distance: 8.4 km
If driving to Monkton Combe, parking is available in the village hall car park near St Michael's Church.
Historical information
A. Midford
The new turnpike road with a better gradient replaced the old steep road from Bath and it crosses the valley here near the junction of the Midford, Cam and Wellow brooks. The 'Castle' on the hill to the north was built c.1775 for Henry Roebuck. The plan is said to represent the ace of clubs, in commemoration of a win at cards.
There were two railway bridges over the road at Midford. That of the Camerton & Limpley Stoke Railway has been demolished. The one remaining was the track of the Somerset & Dorset Railway which terminated at Green Park station, Bath. This extension from Evercreech to Bath was opened in July 1874. The 8-arched brick and stone viaduct carried the S & D over the Bath-Frome road and the coal canal. The station platform may be seen from the pub car park. The line closed in the 1960s and now it is difficult to imagine the 'Pines Express' on its way to Bournemouth on summer weekends. With two engines, it climbed the Chilcompton incline and crossed the top of Mendip.
B. Combe Hay
The manor house, church and lake form an attractive group in a beautiful setting above the Cam Brook. The house dates partly from 1730 and partly 1770.
The Fosse Way passes just to the north-west of Combe Hay village and crosses the Cam Brook at Dunkerton Bridge. The original line for about 1½ miles north of the latter is now a footpath.
Excavations took place at Combe Hay following the discovery in 1968 at the fuller's earth mine of a Roman stone coffin and a possible pottery kiln. Later, other stone coffins containing skeletons were found. With its wooded valleys and many springs this was a good area for settlement and people were certainly living here in the Bronze Age. Romans were here early but the (possible) villa was rebuilt during the later Roman period, to be abandoned after 400 AD.
Map of Route
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Route description
[1] Start in Church Lane, in front of St Michael's church.
Continue along up the village road which bears right at the church, then left. At next junction, turn left onto lane to Tucking Mill and Midford.
Alternatively, you can walk through the churchyard, and come out on this lane. If you do, then turn left. Near the back gate of the churchyard is the grave of Harry Patch, who was the last surviving British soldier from the 1st world war trenches.
[200 m]
[2] Go along the lane until you reach some buildings. This is a narrow lane that can be busy with both vehicles and cyclists, so proceed with caution.
[700m]
[3] This is Tucking Mill. An interesting leaflet describing the area's nature, industrial history and geology is published here: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/siteimages/tucking_mill_visitor_leaflet.pdf
On reaching the buildings, join the footpath to the left of the lane. There is a low stone footpath marker on the left. Follow the path between a hedge and fence to the left of the road. See cottage on the right across the road, which once stood on canal bank, and has a memorial stone commemorating William Smith, "Father of English Geology", who is described in the above leaflet. It is now believed that William Smith actually lived at the previous house on the right, Tucking Mill House (see photo above).
Go through cycle barrier and continue along on path through wood. Go through WKG and continue through woodland. The remains of the Somerset Coal Canal (very dilapidated) are now visible on the right and Cam Brook can be seen in the fields to the left.
Come into Midford, turn left onto a short access road between houses, then turn right at the very busy Midford Road (B3110). Go uphill a short distance, then cross Midford Road at the Hope & Anchor pub, watching out for traffic.
[1100 m]
[4] Right opposite the pub, take footpath down with a garden on the left, which goes under the old Somerset and Dorset Railway bridge. Go through wooden kissing gate. The path follows the old canal bank. The stone bridge on the left led to a canal basin.
Through wooden kissing gate and bear left past a picturesque but unsafe stone bridge to another wooden kissing gate.
[550 m]
[5] Descend to the left through a wet and muddy area, then bear right and under a railway arch. The acoustics here amplify and misdirect the sound of the stream.
Bear right up the slope (NOT into field by stream), then through wooden kissing gate on the left some 50 m further on, and into a field.
Walk through open fields along the former towpath with the contour of old canal bed to the right, to MKG.
[700 m]
[6] Pass through MKG and continue along the old canal.
After another field go up steps to MKG in right hand corner of field
[450 m]
[7] Through the metal kissing gate and come onto a track.
Turn right, then immediately left through metal pedestrian gate and down through the wood. The canal bed is now on the left hand side under heavy vegetation. This section can be muddy. Follow the path past a long narrow field. This was the site of two locks. On reaching the fence at the end of the field, bear right up to wooden kissing gate onto road, opposite another railway arch.
[350 m]
[8] Cross road and go under old railway arch. This is the bottom of the old Combe Hay flight of canal locks, which are quite well preserved, with most of the lock chambers still clearly visible. There is an information board on the right under the arch.
Cross stile and head straight on along path with fence on the right and the flight of canal locks on the left.
At the WKG above a wooden footbridge to the left, the Limestone Link goes straight on. An alternative (steeper) route up through Engine Wood can be taken over this footbridge.
In approximately 50 m, turn left at the waymark sign.
[500 m]
[9] Ford the stream, then immediately turn left again as the second waymark sign, and climb up through meadow, then through a short stretch of woodland to WKG at the top.
Through WKG, and continue upwards across a second meadow to a further WKG at top of field. Go up steps and turn left down track.
[300 m]
[10] Proceed down the track, passing Rowley Farm (ignoring side tracks) to the Midford to Combe Hay road.
[550 m]
[11] Turn right at the road and go towards Combe Hay, passing the Wheatsheaf pub on the right.
Walk through the village, bearing left at the fork in the road, go uphill past the church and manor house, then past the old school house on the right. Turn left through WPG in stone wall (footpath sign).
[750 m]
[12] The path descends a steep bank through woodland, crossing a private track. Near the bottom, the path forks. Bear right at the fork, then through WKG into field. Bear half right ahead to far corner of large field, gradually descending towards the stream on the left. Through MKG onto road.
[500 m]
[13] Turn left and then immediately right through a Kissing Gate into the field. The path goes slightly left to the bank of the Cam Brook. Walk along the field boundaries with the stream on the left (the stream is mostly hidden by dense woodland), crossing 2 gated wooden footbridges. When the main road (A367) comes into view in front of you, do NOT bear right to the gate that comes into view, but go straight on, up the flight of stone steps and over a stone stile onto this road, at Dunkerton Bridge. This is a busy main road with fast-moving traffic, so proceed with caution. Turn left and reach the bridge over the river.
[2Kms]
[14] There are bus stops for buses to Bath and Wells about 100m up the hill to your right, and a large parking layby 200m beyond that. An alternative layby can be found a similar distance up the hill to the left.
The path to Dunkerton continues about 50 m to the left, on the far side of the main road.