Route Guide
ROADWATER TO WHEDDON CROSS - 8.4 miles
A strenuous section with two major climbs. From Roadwater a long climb through Langridge Woods onto farmland, followed by a downhill section to Luxborough. Then another long climb past Newcombe Farm to the highest point on the route at Lype Hill and then gently down hill to Wheddon Cross. NB. the weather can often be different across Lype Hill.
- Start point: The Valiant Soldier pub at Roadwater.
- Toilets: in car park at Wheddon Cross.
- Places to Eat & Drink: Pub and shop (just off route) at Roadwater; pub and tea gardens at Luxborough; pub and shops at Wheddon Cross.
- 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 031 382 ROADWATER 18.7 miles
With the Valiant Soldier pub on your R continue along the road to the next junction (A) and turn R, signposted to Luxborough. Walk along this road for ½ mile and, immediately after Peterswell Lake Cottage on the R, turn L on footpath signed to Treborough Lane. This path rises through Langridge Wood. As path levels take R hand fork. A further 300 yds along this path you pass Langridge Wood Cist (B) on the L (go through gap in fence to view). Rejoin main path and where a major track comes up from the R continue ahead to reach a gate at the end of the woods.
(A) At Vale House there is a recently restored WW2 pillbox built during the 1940s and disguised as a summer house with a pitched roof.
(B) A stone lined grave probably dating from the Bronze Age around 4,000 years ago. Found by workmen around 1820.
ST 011 373
Pass through L hand gate and keep uphill on the R hand edge of the next 3 fields. The end of the first field is crossed by a stile. In the second field bear round to the left, keeping fence on R, ignoring all gates off to R. As you climb look back for superb views across to the Quantocks and the Bristol Channel. In the third field the path eventually becomes a track leading to a gate onto a road.
ST 003 368
Turn immediately R through gate on signed footpath to Luxborough. Head diagonally L up a short rise and then head for obvious gap in beech trees ahead. Continue in same direction to gate on L. Go through gate and walk along L hand edge of field to gate on L. Go through this gate and turn immediately R along R hand edge of field through another gate. Head to gate slightly R of farm buildings.
SS 997 370
Here go straight across track onto a bridleway signed to Luxborough past farm buildings on the L (can be muddy) to a gate in the R hand corner. Go through gate and walk along R hand edge of long field, (if too muddy go to left of holly trees). Keep along R hand edge of field to reach a gate. Go through gate and keep ahead in same direction along an enclosed track through several gates to eventually descend to road in Luxborough, directly opposite the village hall. Turn R here if you wish to visit the Royal Oak Pub, L for tea gardens.
SS 984 376 LUXBOROUGH 21.9 miles
Turn L along road, passing village hall on your right, and after passing tea gardens and crossing the river turn R on road signposted to Dunster. Continue uphill for about ½ mile on road ignoring 1st bridleway signposted Wheddon Cross. Go round R hand bend until reaching the entrance to Newcombe Farm. Turn L on main track (initially tarmac) for nearly 1 mile, passing to the R of Newcombe Farm (can be very muddy near farm buildings). Continue uphill keeping to rough track (as you climb look back for superb views) until reaching gate at top of hill. Go through gate and turn L on enclosed track to reach waymarked wooden gate on R into a grass field. Go through gate and turn R, signed to Wheddon Cross.
SS 964 371
The next section crosses the highest point of the route at Lype Hill (423 metres) and should preferably be undertaken when visibility is good. Follow waymarked route (not the route as shown on OS Map) to Wheddon Cross across Colly Hill, Lype Common and Lype Hill. In the first field keep to R hand bank and then aim for a waymarked gate about 75 yards from R hand fence (due west). Then follow waymarked L hand fence until reaching second gate on L. Pass through gate and go diagonally R (due west) across field to next gate with a fingerpost sign to Wheddon Cross. Pass through gate and continue in same direction to gate opposite. Continue along L hand fence to gate on R hand side of trig point (C). Head in same direction (bearing slightly left) to gate in fence opposite before striking diagonally L (due west) to gate in L hand corner of field to road north of Heath Poult Cross.
(C). On Lype Hill are a group of burial mounds close to the trig point dating back to the early Bronze Age.
943 371 24.9 miles
Cross road with care and go through signposted gate opposite. You will now be crossing fields that are frequently used by cattle and sheep.
Cross field diagonally L to go through gate in far L hand corner. In next field go diagonally left to single gate halfway down L hand edge of field. Go through and turn R downhill with fence on R to reach an other gate. Go through and continue down hill along R hand edge of field to gate in R hand corner. Go through gate and continue in same direction on L hand edge of field (this can be very wet and muddy) to reach another gate.
SS 932 376
Continue straight on enclosed track with house on R and past Pitleigh Kennels on your R and then pass through 3 green gates. Keep ahead on L hand edge of field to gate in far L hand corner. Go through gate and then immediately R. Keep to R hand edge of next 2 fields to reach sunken track that continues down hill. This track is initially soft but then becomes rocky. Please exercise extreme caution when walking down this track as the rock surface is extremely slippery even in dry weather. At the bottom of the hill you reach the road at Cutcombe Cross.
SS 930 388
Go straight ahead on road opposite towards Cutcombe and take next road on L (D) and follow this to where the road bears L at the end of a row of houses. At this point the Coleridge Way goes through the gate ahead signed to Dunkery Hill Gate (E)
(D) Cutcombe church is only 150 yds straight on should you wish to visit it.
(E) Wheddon Cross village has a small Supermarket, car park and public toilet facilities and The Rest and Be Thankful Inn. If you wish to visit these or are staying in accommodation in the village do not go through gate but continue on the road pass the school on the R to reach the war memorial and main road. Most facilities are around the crossroads to the L.
Whilst In Wheddon Cross take a look in the entrance porch of the Moorland Hall to see the new stained glass window celebrating Coleridge's poetry. It is on the main road opposite the playing fields.
SS 928 391 WHEDDON CROSS 27.1 miles
01/08/07