(S/E) Turn right from the entrance of Mount Pleasant Farm and walk along the road for 150 yards. Continue along the larger road at the junction with Rawlings Lane for a quarter of a mile to Ashton Windmill.
(1) In the left-hand corner of the windmill compound, climb a stile and walk along the hedge beyond past a water trough. In the corner of the field, turn right and walk down (with the hedge on your left) to the farm buildings.
Officially speaking, the right-of-way passes between hedge and barn, but if this is overgrown walk out to the road through the farmyard. Turn left along the lane and follow it as it curves right into the hamlet of Ashton.
(2) At the road junction beyond Hillview Farm, take the no-through road on the right. Follow the lane for half a mile, passing Moor View Farm, beyond which the tarmac ends and the lane becomes a farm track.
When the track turns left, leave it for the grassy drove ahead of you.
This narrows and swings to the right, with views over the Levels to the church tower at Mark. The path runs beside a drain before widening and meeting a metalled lane.
(3) Turn left over the bridge then immediately right through a gate into fields, with the drain now on your right. Follow the drain through three fields, whereupon a track joins from the left by an overgrown footbridge. Ignore the
bridge and continue along the left bank of the drain to an arched stone bridge (Broadness Bow). Again, stay on the left bank of the drain and continue for a further half-mile to a concrete bridge at a junction of tracks.
(4) Turn right here and follow the track for half a mile into Stone Allerton (ignoring a bridleway off to the right where you meet the tarmac). Follow the lane between cottages and farmhouses to a junction.
Carry straight on at the junction (signposted to Chapel Allerton and Mark). Follow the road as it bears right to the junction with New Road at a house called “Corners”.
Keep along the road, with the war memorial on your right.
(5) Pass Sycamore Farm on your right and walk between cottages and out of the main village. At Wayside Cottage, turn right and follow a winding lane between hedges (ignoring paths to right and left). At the next junction, turn right past the Wheatsheaf and continue beyond back to Mount Pleasant Farm. (S/E)
Waypoints
S/E : km 0 - alt. 37 m
1 : km 0.62 - alt. 43 m - Ashton Windmill
2 : km 1.38 - alt. 28 m - Views over the Levels to the church tower
3 : km 3.07 - alt. 8 m - Bridges
4 : km 4.58 - alt. 8 m - Stone Allerton - War memorial
5 : km 6.17 - alt. 38 m - Wayside Cottage
S/E : km 7.07 - alt. 37 m - Mount Pleasant Farm
Useful Information
Paths on the Levels may be muddy, or even impassably flooded, after rain. There is one stile to negotiate.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
Ashton Windmill is a Grade II* listed windmill, built in the 18th century to a typical Somerset design. It is open from 2.30 to 4.30 on Sundays from Easter to September and Wednesdays in July and August.
Axbridge, though now smaller than its famous neighbor Cheddar, is historically the more important settlement. The half-timbered King John’s Hunting Lodge, built c.1460, houses a local museum.
Cheddar Gorge forms an obvious defile in the southern slope of the Mendip Hills and is well seen across the Axe valley section of the Somerset Levels from the Isle of Wedmore.
Mount Pleasant Bed & Breakfast
Chapel Allerton, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2PP
Tel. (01934) 710285 mountpleasantfarmsomerset@gmail.com www.mountpleasantbnb.com
Reviews and comments
5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Clarity of route description 5 / 5
Clarity of route map 5 / 5
Walk interest 5 / 5
Delphinium
• Last modified:
Hi Sydney,
Thank you for this feedback.
Could you please tell me which bridge is it, so I can see if there are some detours available?
Enjoy your hikes
Sydney2000
Overall rating :
5 / 5
Date of walk : 19/02/22 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Lovely walk, but having had storm Eunice on the Friday, a tree was down; we managed to climb over it. A foot bridge on the Bridleway was temporarily closed for works as it was dangerous (not sure when this is scheduled to be repaired). Quite muddy in a couple of stretches due to the wet weather, and definitely needed wellies on. We had to drive to get to this walk, but parking is a bit of an issue. Lovely walk though.
