Route Guide
BICKNOLLER TO ROADWATER - 9.5 Miles
Generally level walking to Monksilver. A strenuous one mile climb up Bird’s Hill from Monksilver that can be muddy. Thereafter down hill to Sticklepath, followed by a fairly level walk above the Roadwater Valley to Roadwater village.
- Start point: Bicknoller Community Shop, Bicknoller
- Toilets: None.
- Places to Eat & Drink: Pub (just off route) & shop at Bicknoller; pub at Monksilver; Pub and shop (just off route) at Roadwater.
- Maps: You are advised to carry with you OS Explorer Maps
140 Quantock Hills & Bridgwater
OL9 Exmoor
- Waymarking: The route is waymarked with a distinctive quill waymark.
ST 110 396 BICKNOLLER 9.2 miles
With the Community Shop behind you turn R on to road and follow this (Dashwoods Lane) for its length, with stream on R, down to A358.
ST 110 396
Cross the busy A358 with extreme care to the footpath directly opposite Dashwoods Lane. Pass through gate and at end of hedged track turn R and then bear L in front of gate facing you to a stile next to the West Somerset Steam Railway line (A). Cross railway line with extreme caution and cross another stile. At bridle gate turn R into field and walk along L hand edge of field to gate. Pass through gate and then turn immediately L through another gate. Turn R and follow track to road.
(A) Privately owned steam railway running regular services from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.
ST 098 394
Turn L and walk along road, crossing Doniford Stream. Where road bends L, turn R, signposted to Sampford Brett and then when road bears L, follow track to R of barn, signposted as a restricted byway. After ¼ mile turn R through gate on footpath signed to Sampford Brett. Go straight across the field to a gate on the other side. Go through woods and continue on track alongside stream to gate on the edge of Sampford Brett village. Go along road to Church (B).
(B) St George’s Church, dating from 13th C
ST 089 401 SAMPFORD BRETT 11.0 miles
Turn L along main village street to next junction. Walk along No Through road directly opposite until reaching Manor Farm on R. Turn R on footpath and walk directly through farmyard to gate opposite, respecting at all times the owner’s privacy. Go through gate and keep to right hand edge of field to kissing gate and wooden bridge on R. Cross bridge and immediately turn L and ead towards gate into woodland. Follow path through woods to junction of paths and turn L signposted to Aller. Follow this path until you reach Aller Farm.
ST 078 396
Go through kissing gate and turn R, signed Monksilver, through farm buildings and then turn L, following permissive bridleway signs past cattle sheds. Follow obvious track alongside open fields for around ¼ mile and, where footpath continues straight on, turn R following permissive bridleway signs uphill along L hand edge of field. At top of hill turn L, continuing to keep to L hand edge of 2 fields until reaching a fenced opening into woodland. Turn L, then immediately right, following bridleway to road.
ST 077 381
Take road directly opposite, signed to Stogumber. Where road bears left continue straight on enclosed way-marked track. After 200 yards look out for stile on R. Cross stile and follow footpath downhill along L hand edge of fields to the road at Monksilver. Turn R and follow main road through village to Church and the Notley Arms Pub (C).
(C) All Saints Church dating from 12thC and built of red sandstone.
ST 073 374 MONKSILVER 14.1 miles
You are now entering Exmoor National Park. Much of the route is on bridleways, waymarked in blue. The occasional footpath sections are waymarked in yellow.
From the Notley Arms car park, go through Monksilver church yard, with church on R, to the gate at the top end onto the road. Turn R up road and then just past The Old Rectory turn L on footpath signposted to Roadwater. Walk uphill along L hand edge of fields to join bridleway at a gate. Turn R and continue up Bird’s Hill bridleway for around one mile to road at Colton Cross.
ST 057 362
Walk along road directly opposite. After around 150 yards, look out for a gate on the R, with access to a superb viewpoint. (D) Back on the road, continue to bridleway on R signposted to Sticklepath. Go through gate and go directly across field to the corner of the wood ahead and with woodland on your R carry on to gate. Go through gate into woodland and follow waymarked bridleway straight ahead, ignoring all paths off left and right, down hill. Near the bottom take R hand fork signed to Roadwater to reach B 3190 at Sticklepath.
(D) Superb views across Bristol Channel to Wales.
ST 045 360 16.3 miles
At this point please exercise extreme caution as this a busy B road with blind bends and poor visibility.
Turn R and initially walk on R hand side of road. It is advisable to then cross to the L hand side along the straighter section of the road before the next bend. Then walk in single file downhill, as close to the L hand verge as possible. Go past first minor road on left and then turn L through metal gate on enclosed track, next to Chidgley Hill Farm. Follow track downhill and go L through wooden gate, signed ‘Roadwater Valley Route’.
ST 045 365
Head to the old bank of trees ahead, slightly to R and with these trees just to the R of you follow the track to reach a gate into Pitt Wood. Continue on main track through wood, ignoring paths L and R. At the end of Pitt Wood go through gate and follow an obvious route across open fields, with a fence on your L, before reaching a gate into more woodland. (You are now walking parallel to the Old Mineral Railway Line (E) at the bottom of the valley to the L). At the end of this second area of woodland go through gate, cross a small stream, (can be muddy) to gate opposite to enter Erridge Wood. Ignore path to L and go straight on, before turning R to join main track through wood. At the end of this wood the path emerges to cross the L hand side of open fields before reaching a gate onto the road at Roadwater. Turn L crossing the route of the old Mineral Line toT junction. (F)
(E) West Somerset Mineral Line was built during the 1860s to convey ore from the iron mines on the Brendon Hills to the coast at Watchet. From there it was transported to South Wales. It was abandoned at the beginning of the 20th C.
(F) If you wish to visit the local village shop you should turn R here. The Shop and Post Office is about 200 yards along the road close to the Village Hall, where there is also a car park.
Otherwise turn L and walk along road to The Valiant Soldier Pub
ST 031 382 ROADWATER 18.7 miles
15/05/07