STON EASTON – GURNEY SLADE

Walk Length and Type

A Linear Walk as part of the Radstock Ring. 3.5 miles/5.5 km

Description of Walk

This linear walk as part of the Radstock Ring starts at Ston Easton Church and takes you along country lanes/ bridleways and across undulating pasture land to Chilcompton and onto Gurney Slade.

Description of Area

Ston Easton is a ribbon village which lies on the A37.  The name Ston or Stone comes from the geological strata in the area and Easton meaning east of Chewton Mendip. The Church of St Mary The Virgin from where this stage of the walk starts dates from the 11th century. The village also has a Manor House “Ston Easton Park” which a grade 1 listed building.

Chilcompton village’s history is mainly that of farming and coal mining. There is a coal waste mound in the north-east end of the village. The village used to have the Chilcompton railway station on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, which closed in 1966. The River Somer rises in small streams in the village and travels from Chilcompton through Midsomer Norton, Wellow and joins the River Avon in Bath.

The walk continues across pasture land along part of the old railway line to Gurney Slade. Gurney Slade village lies on the A37 and grew due to the limestone quarrying which started in the mid 18^th century and continues to this day.

The Basics

Distance in miles and km: 3.5 mls /5.5 km

Gradient: Undulating

Severity: Moderate

Approx minimum time to walk : 2hrs

Stiles: Many

Maps: OS Explorer 141/142

Path description: Field Footpaths, Country Lanes, bridleways

Dog Friendly: Yes

Public Toilets: None

Nearest Refreshments: Gurney Slade Stores, and The George Inn, Gurney Slade

Public transport: Please use www.travelinesw.com to plan your journey Nearest bus stop for Ston Easton is on the A37 at Rush Hill or at 'The Crossroads', Chewton Mendip for a safer walk to the village.

Parking: Roadside Parking opposite Ston Easton Church, Post Code: BA3 4DN. Ensure field gateway is kept clear.

Start Point: Ston Easton Church ST 62381 53453

Map

Download route:

Walk Route

[1]Park in the lay bay on the A37 opposite Ston Easton Church.  Cross the road and take the lane opposite sign posted Clapton and walk along passing Manor Farm, Hay Street Farm and the Old Vicarage.

[2]Reach No 5 Hay Street, turn right and pass No 6. Walk along Strap Lane which is a track which becomes narrower after passing a barn on your left.

 Reach a lane and cross to a stile opposite.  In the field bear right to the far hedge corner, (if the field is under cultivation you can turn right along the lane and take the first track on your left which will bring you into the field corner).  Now walk with the hedge on your right crossing a small stream and shortly after take the direction of the waymark left across the field to the top right hand corner.  Here, find a redundant stile with a path through often overgrown grass and where the path turns right go ahead through scrub land to a stone stile leading to a fenced path, gate and driveway to reach B3139.

[3]Turn right with care and cross to enter Coal Pit Lane on the left.  Walk along ignoring first footpath sign and then take the second of two gates by a footpath sign to enter a field.

Walk diagonally left down to the bottom corner to find a  stile amongst the trees.  Over the stile cross the track and climb the stone stile ahead into a field.  As the field climbs  keep to your left and pass through a gate.  Continue ahead in next field and pass through further gate to a field which leads through a gate to pick up the track passing Cockhill Farm.

[4]Turn left just past the farm and follow down with hedge on right to reach stile, with Cockhill Quarry in front of you.  Here, turn left along track to reach stile to field.  In the field bear right to a stile and in next field walk along with hedge on right to another stile.  Continue in the next field to pass over another stile.  Walk down with hedge on right to yet another stile which takes you left to a stile by a farm leading to a track.  Turn right and then almost immediately take stile on the left into a field.  Walk down to find stile leading to road at Gurney Slade Bottom.      If you wish to visit Gurney Slade turn right and walk along road passing quarry buildings to reach A37.      Alternatively turn left to continue next stage of walk.