Mendip Ring +

Keinton Mandeville, East and West Lydford. 10.5 Miles

This walk start in the village of Keinton Mandeville. (Grid Ref ST 552309) and passes through East Lydford and West Lydford it follows the Mendip Ring along Babcary Lane to East Lydford then leaves the ring to cross to Lovington and Brueclay Mountian before following the Ring back along the River Brue to reach West Lydford and back to our start point.

1.
From the B3513 go down Babcary Lane following it over the railway bridge and on to reach the A37, cross over into Westover Lane, follow this lane until you come to a bridleway on your left (Lydford Lane) this is the Macmillian Way. Then follow this to reach the first track on your right (Hook Lane) follow this lane until you reach a farm gate, go through this and at the next hedge line turn left up the hedge line, follow this hedge through two fields then in the third field go through the Bristol gate on your right into an enclosed path over the stile through the woods into another field follow the hedge on your left to cross the railway line again taking you into a track, follow this to reach the B3513.

2.
Turn right crossing the road, on reaching the turning to East Lydford,(Church Lane) turn left and follow the road until you reach a path between two houses on your right roughly halfway down the road, here you leave the Ring. Follow this enclosed path between the houses to cross a stile and stone bridge, head straight across the field to cross a track via a stile each side, then turn half right and aim for the far corner of the field to reach a stile onto the B3153. Cross to the path opposite and follow this over the railway line turn left then right to reach a lane to Wheathill Golf Club, follow the lane and when you reach the drive range of the golf course, ignore the sign to Perry Bridge instead turn left along the hedge line, at end of this hedge turn leftagain then turn right through the gap in the hedge opposite onto the golf course turn left at the next gap ahead do not go through the gap but follow the hedge line on your left all the way across the golf course to a stile into a path, now follow this path towards Lovington on reaching a junction of paths take the right hand one heading across the field to a lane , turn right into Lovington.

3.
When you reach Lovington pass the church on your right following the road round to the left and at the sharp right hand bend take the bridleway which is the centre path and is a tarmac track (there are three paths here) follow this path passing Alford fields on reaching the farm follow the track (which differs from the correct line of the path) towards the farmhouse then turn right and left between the barns following a track back out into the fields, continue on to reach the railway line now follow the path out to reach a lane. Turn left and follow the lane past Alford Farm to reach the B3135 again. Turn left along the road for a short distance then turn right at the first footpath and cross the fields to reach Brueclay Mountain continue on across the bridges to reach a track, turn left to emerge into a field, aim diagonally left across the field passing the bottom of a hedge ahead (which ends in the middle of the field) then onto the stile in the next hedge in front of you cross the next field to reach lane a via a bristol gate.

4.
Turn left down the lane to reach Kingfisher Equestrian on your right. Go down the drive the path should run straight through the farm yard but has been taken round the edge. You will find the path on your left running down the side of the barn as you reach the stables at the end of the drive, follow this round to reach a field this path can be muddy as it is used by the horses.

5.
On reaching a gate into a field keep straight ahead to reach the end of a track here turn left down towards the river Brue, turn right and follow the path along the river until you reach a large bridge, cross this, turn right and follow the path out across the fields to reach the A37. Cross the road to the path opposite and follow the path along the river to reach West Lydford. Turn left along the road then take the turning on your right Mardi's Lane this turns into a track which crosses the fields to reach Cotton's Lane, turn left and follow the lane back to Keinton Mandeville.