Species rich hay meadow. To see the reserve at its best visit between April and mid-July before the annual hay cut.
Calculated time: 1h05[?] 
Distance : 2.35mi
Vertical gain : 10ft
Vertical drop : 10ft
Highest point : 85ft
Lowest point : 72ft 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Babcary
Starting point : N 51.055392° / W 2.622444° (D/A) From the Red Lion Inn car park turn right, following the road in front of the pub. Keep left at the fork, walking past the village hall, and continue along this road for approx. 400m.
(1) When you reach the ford turn right and cross the bridge into Somerset Wildlife Trust Babcary Meadows Reserve. The site is among England’s few remaining areas of traditionally managed unimproved neutral grassland.
Complete a circuit of the reserve as shown on the map overleaf. From April until the annual hay cut in mid-July, bursts of colourful wildflowers fill the fields - lookout for Cowslips and Green-Winged Orchids early on, with Yellow-Rattle, Oxeye Daisy and Salad Burnet making an appearance later, in June and July. Fungal fairy rings can be seen in the autumn, and Redwing and Fieldfare flocks arrive in winter.
(2) On exiting the reserve turn right onto the track, keeping left at the fork. Continue along the track for approx. 250 metres.
(3) Go through a wooden gate on the left onto a public footpath. Continue straight, along the edge of the field until you reach the river. Follow the river for a short while, leaving it again to exit the field through the gate halfway up the field boundary.
(4) Turn left and follow the road into Babcary. Just after the sharp bend in the road, turn left through a gate to follow the footpath. At the end of the footpath, turn right to return to the Red Lion Inn.(D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 75ft - Red Lion Inn car park
1 : mi 0.34 - alt. 75ft - Ford
2 : mi 1.53 - alt. 75ft - Exiting the reserve
3 : mi 1.68 - alt. 72ft - Wooden gate
4 : mi 1.97 - alt. 72ft - Babcary Lane
D/A : mi 2.35 - alt. 75ft - Red Lion Inn car park
Roads and footpaths, with ruts and standing water, very flat; can become very muddy after prolonged periods of rain. Please take care along the roads. Dogs welcome but please keep on lead.
More details : https://www.somersetwildlife.org/wildlif...
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Marbled white
A distinctive medium-sized white butterfly, with black-chequered markings. Adults on the wing in the summer, from June to August.
Redwing
Dark brown above and white below, with a black-streaked breast, orange-red underwing and white eyebrow stripe. This medium sized thrush overwinters in the UK to feast on berry-laden bushes.
Cowslips
Tube-like, egg-yellow flowers clustered at the end of tall stems. Seen in large numbers in April and May.
2.11mi
+59ft
-59ft
1h00
Easy
Starting point in Butleigh - Somerset Unimproved neutral grassland and a small copse. The site has open access via rights of way from Butleigh. Please keep to the edges of the field until the hay has been cut.
9.04mi
+705ft
-705ft
4h45
Average
Starting point in South Cadbury and Sutton Montis - Somerset The walk follows the Corton Ridge and offers great views across the Somerset Levels and the Dorset Hills. It has great historic significance as Cadbury Castle is reputed to be Camelot King Arthur's Castle. You also cross the ancient medieval village of Whitcombe. It's an up and downer and can be boggy in wet weather. As an incentive there are two great pubs you can call in at!
2.42mi
+272ft
-253ft
1h20
Easy
Starting point in Compton Dundon - Somerset A mosaic of calcareous grassland, scrub, ancient oak woodland, secondary woodland and conifer plantation on Dundon Hill. The top of Dundon Hill features significant archaeological remains with a hill fort, Bronze Age round barrow and ancient quarry.
8.49mi
+528ft
-538ft
4h20
Easy
Starting point in Evercreech - Somerset A thoroughly pleasant and not very arduous walk from Evercreech to Chesterblade, then to Batcombe and back along the River Alham. There are quite a few hills but none of them are very long and the total ascent of the walk is surprisingly modest.
1.63mi
+16ft
-16ft
0h45
Easy
Starting point in Meare - Somerset Westhay Moor is north of the village of Westhay in Somerset. The car park is just off the road to Godney, at the junction with Daggs Lane Drove. A National Cycle Network route runs along a disused railway line, just south of Westhay village.
4.88mi
+161ft
-643ft
2h25
Easy
Starting point in Cranmore - Somerset This walk is intended as the return leg to the central section of the East Mendip Way from Shepton Mallet to Cranmore Tower and is originally published on the East Mendip Way Facebook page.
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