Somerton: A walk with a view

Route of the walk with a view walk (Image: Archant)

This undulating walk round the parishes of Somerton and Hawkedon has many pleasant views. Winter is a good time to do this walk as it consists of a lot of hard surface walking.

Start the walk with your back to the church and turn left walking on the road. You will soon come to a footpath sign on your right – ignore this and carry on in the same direction and you will soon come to a sign with Francis Farm on it. Just carry on walking on the road you are on, ignoring the footpath to the left. When you come to a footpath sign on the right just carry on, along the road you are on.

When the road you are on swings to the left into a farmyard, you carry straight on in the same direction now walking on a green track. When the green track ceases just carry on in the same direction on a defined path across a field, aiming for the left hand side of the farm in front of you. Once across the field go slightly left towards a footpath sign then carry on in the same direction, now walking on a green path with a row of trees to begin with to your right.

When the trees cease just carry on, now having a few shrubs and very quickly a tall conifer hedge to your right then a laurel hedge, then a fence and you will very quickly come out onto a road. At this point turn left. When you come to a T-junction of roads turn left. When you come to a footpath sign to your left ignore this and carry straight on in the same direction. About 300 yards after passing a second sign for Hawkedon turn left by a footpath sign, walking on a green track.

You will then go over a small stream and turn right, keeping to this path as it zig-zags until you come to a footpath sign on your right. Turn right and you will soon be faced by a gate. Turn left just before the gate, keeping a barbed wire fence to your right. You will then come to another gate. Go through this and go straight ahead across a meadow for a short distance and then cross a stile to your right.

Once across just carry on in the same direction having a barbed wire fence to your right. You will then come to a gate, go through this and turn left walking on a track with trees both sides. This will take you out on to a road. Turn left and when you come to a footpath sign on your right. Ignore this and carry on in the same direction. You will come to footpath signs on your right and left, ignore these and carry on in the same direction.

You will then come to a road to your left signposted Somerton, turn left here. You will soon come to a footpath sign on your left indicating a right turn. Ignore this and carry on in the same direction.

You will then come to a footpath sign to your right turn left here walking on a green track with a hedge to your left. When you come to a footpath sign on your left turn to your left and then a quick right walking on a green track with trees to your right. Just keep to the track as it swings to the right and left.

You will then eventually have a tall hedge to your right. Carry on in the same direction and you will then come to a gap in the hedge to your right, turn right and carry on in the same direction on a road having a conifer hedge to your left and a larger to your right. You will soon then come to the village pump on your left that actually still works. You will soon come back to the church on your left from where you started.