This Somerset walk includes a wonderful ridge walk along the West Mindop Way to the summit of Crook Peak. The return route passes through the villages of Compton Bishop and Cross.
Calculated time: 3h30[?] 
Distance : 5.86mi
Vertical gain : 932ft
Vertical drop : 928ft
Highest point : 679ft
Lowest point : 43ft 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Winscombe and Sandford
Starting point : N 51.30041° / W 2.83064° (D)The start is the car park on a minor road just off the A38 at grid ref. ST421560. After parking, walk uphill along the West Mendip Way in a westerly direction. This path marked as a bridleway on OS maps leads you steadily uphill, initially through woodland, up to Hill Farm, which is on your right.
(1)Continue in the same direction ascending more steeply onto Wavering Down. You will pass the trig point for this hill on your left, which at 211 metres above sea level is the highest point of the walk. The way ahead now descends before a short ascent takes you to the top of Compton Hill and shortly after a junction of paths (grid ref.ST389560). The route will eventually descend to the left here but first there is the short climb to the top of Crook Peak which offers a wonderful panorama of the Somerset countryside and the Bristol Channel.
(2)Having had a rest and enjoyed the view descend to the junction of paths and descend towards the pretty village of Compton Bishop. The path descends steadily and you need to look out for the exit from the path into Compton Bishop at grid ref. ST395551). Turn left here down into the village.
(3)You may wish to explore the village but to continue turn right at the T-junction with a road. Take the first lane on your left and walk to the next road junction. Almost opposite is a footpath that leads slightly uphill to reach a footpath junction (grid ref ST400554). Turn right here and follow the path to Bourton Farm (grid ref ST410551).
(4)Turn right down the farm access track and almost immediately take the footpath on your left. This path leads in woodland, bears right around the edge of an old quarry and brings you out on the road in the village of Cross, which has two pubs. Turn left along the road and nearing the A38 turn left onto a signed bridleway (grid ref. ST418547). Follow this bridleway uphill back to the start.(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 253ft - Car park off A38
1 : mi 0.7 - alt. 528ft - Hill Farm
2 : mi 2.3 - alt. 581ft - Crook Peak
3 : mi 3.32 - alt. 62ft - Compton Bishop
4 : mi 4.23 - alt. 108ft - Bourton Farm
D/A : mi 5.86 - alt. 246ft - Car park off A38
This pleasant walk in the Mendips provides some wonderful views and good exercise. The start is the car park on a minor road just off the A38 at grid ref. ST421560 roughly half way between Axbridge and Winscombe. The route is generally easy to follow but do remember to save some energy as the last section from Cross village back to the car park is mostly uphill.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 5/5
Number of opinions : 1
Description quality : 5/5
Routemap quality : 5/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 19/11/21
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
An excellent walk! We were lucky enough to have lovely clear skies giving us views in every direction across the Bristol Channel to Wales and the N. Devon coast, and to the east over the Somerset plains and the Mendips. It’s reasonably challenging with steep hills but very manageable. We did make one route variation from the top of Crook Peak, taking a footpath (not a marked PROW) along the ridge to link with another PROW crossing this path back down into Compton Bishop. This is an easier slope down the hill and gives more time to enjoy the wonderful views!
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