Walking DPS:Layout 1
10/18/18
MENDIP TIMES
10:04 PM
Page 66
A stunning circle around the slopes of Black Down
THIS is one of my favourite Mendip Hills walks in the heart of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Starting from Burrington Combe, it is a great combination of woodland, history, views, high open land, an ancient hill fort, a shady combe, with a great pub en-route. There are hills but nothing too arduous. It is a great dog circle too. There is refreshment also at the
Burrington Inn just near the start. My thanks to John and Naomi Lyons of Blagdon for their input into this enjoyable circle.
PARK: Near the bottom of Burrington Combe on the B3134 that leads up from the A368 Churchill to Blagdon road. Park in the car park planted with trees just before the Burrington Inn. It used to be the car park for the former garden centre and bicycle shop.
START: This area of the combe will be the subject of great renovation in the coming years to turn it into a multi-use Mendip centre. Cross to the slip road opposite – Link Lane. Climb for a few minutes. 1. WOODLAND Take the first marked path on the right, by a good viewpoint over Wrington Vale, which soon leads up into Mendip Lodge Wood. Continue in the wood along a clear track on the level which offers good views between the trees over Wrington Vale.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2018
2. RUIN Reach the ruin of Mendip Lodge on the left after about half a mile. This decaying shell is all that is left of the magnificent 18th century show home of Dr Thomas Whalley where he entertained lavishly. It was built in Italian style and had magnificent terraced grounds. Sadly Dr Whalley
squandered all his money and failed to sell the lodge so it fell into steady decline. Just past the ruin, bear up left on a track leaving the main signed footpath. You are walking above the site of the old stables. Look carefully for a signed footpath going off right under laurels and joins a crossing stony track. Go over this and through a gate. Keep straight on walking on the level through the woodland. Begin to drop down and then fork left by an area of large yews and come through a stone wall to what is known as the Lookout. 3. LOOKOUT It was the famed viewpoint for Mendip Lodge visitors. Woodland Trust volunteers have been building walls and helping to restore it. Go back through the wall and turn up the side. This narrow path climbs up to a main track where you turn right. 4. GATE Follow this along to an open area with a grassy triangle and turn sharp left through a marked gate. Go diagonally up across this field all the way through a gate and on in woodland. Reach an open sward on your right. Head quite steeply up this and continue on. 5. HILLFORT Eventually reach the eastern outer banks of Dolebury Hillfort – an Iron Age hillfort looking out over the