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.
Technical sheet
n°14020717
A Compton Dundon walk
posted on 27/08/21 by Somerset Wildlife Trust. Last update : 27/08/21
(S/E) Walking from the Castlebrook Inn turn left and follow the main road for 100 metres to a public footpath signposted on your right. Walk through the kissing gate and follow the footpath along the edge of the fields.
You now join the Church Path, a footpath linking Compton with the parish church in Dundon. The flagstones along the route were laid in the C18th.
(1) Turn left, passing a metal gate and follow the steep track up Dundon Hill to Dundon Beacon Nature Reserve. As you reach the top you will see a Somerset Wildlife Trust information board for Dundon Beacon. From here, you can explore the ancient hill fort, species-rich grassland and glimpse views across the surrounding moors and hills. Make your way back to the information board and head back down the track.
(2) After a short distance, turn left along a path, pass a metal gate and then turn right down the hill (steep in places), meandering between anthills. The grassland here supports many plants and insects that thrive on the limestone soil. Access over the slope is by the kind permission of the landowner and tenant. At the foot of the slope turn right and join a footpath that leads to the Church Path.
(3) At the Church Path you have a choice; either turn right to head back to the Castlebrook Inn or turn left to visit the parish Church of St Andrew, dating from the C14th, and its ancient yew tree believed to be over 1,700 years old. From here you can also carry on to Lollover Hill.
(4) On the return route, follow the Church Path through a kissing gate in the hedge on your left about 100 metres past the track that runs up Dundon Hill. Follow the path to the road, Ham Lane, and turn right. At the junction with the main road, turn right to return to the Castlebrook Inn.(S/E)
Waypoints
S/E : km 0 - alt. 14 m - Castlebrook Inn
1 : km 0.94 - alt. 27 m - Metal gate
2 : km 2.48 - alt. 71 m - Metal gate
3 : km 2.91 - alt. 26 m - Church Path
4 : km 3.06 - alt. 24 m - Kissing gate
S/E : km 3.9 - alt. 14 m - Castlebrook Inn
Useful Information
Roads, tracks, unsurfaced footpaths and fields. Undulating with some steep sections. Slippery in wet conditions. Please take care along the roads.
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.
Blackcap
Blackcaps are dark grey, the males sporting the black cap they are named after. Females have a gingery-brown cap.
Pyramidal Orchid
Its common name comes from the bright pink, pyramid-shaped cluster of flowers on top of the stem. Leaves are long, narrow and pointed.
Marbled Whites
Adult Marbled Whites can often be found feeding on purple flowers such as Field Scabious, Common Knapweed and Wild Marjoram.
Reviews and comments
3.3 / 5
Based on 1 review
Clarity of route description 3 / 5
Clarity of route map 4 / 5
Walk interest 3 / 5
ianbanks93
Overall rating :
3.3 / 5
Date of walk : 21/09/21 Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
The start was not clear..we could see the hill but failed to find the entrance point for the walk. So we headed for the hill anyway and picked up the path some way later.
The hill climb was expected..and at the top it was difficult to locate various features..and there was a lack of views.
The views were more apparent on the way down.
So, for a short walk it certainly exercised the leg muscles..the surrounds were pleasant and on the way down there were some decent views..so all in all a reasonable walk.
Would we do it again....probably not...but glad that we did it.
