Walking DPS:Layout 1
10/18/18
10:04 PM
Page 67
WALKING L
6 miles, about 3 hours walking. • OS Explorer 141 Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, grid ref: 477 590
Somerset Levels to Wales. Keep straight on a few yards to a mound and the scant remains of the Warrener’s House. He was responsible for encouraging rabbits to burrow and breed within the hillfort area to provide food. Continue down across the centre of the hillfort and reach the western side opening. Go up left onto the bank and along the small path to the south west corner. 6. STEPS Here drop down and find the start of a
steep stepped path. At the foot, cross a stile into a dirt parking area. Turn left, cross a stile and follow the wide track – often muddy. After about 300 yards pass a rusty corrugated shed, right, and about a minute later, turn right over a small stream onto a footpath which climbs quite steeply to the lane. 7. LANE Turn left and soon pass St Michael’s and All Angels church Rowberrow. A special feature is its six bells cast in 1752 by the famous bell-founder,
Thomas Bilbie. Continue along the lane to the Swan in Rowberrow hamlet. 8. PUB Turn left at the side in School Lane. Follow it along and downhill to a new house alongside the stream. The track here at the foot is known as the Slaggers Path – a daily route taken by miners in the 19th century to work at the Charterhouse mineries. Turn left through a barrier into Rowberrow Warren and head uphill. This was once heathland and planted as a forest after the last war. At a junction go straight on. A path joins from the left. Further along, bear down left on the main track, not straight on. At the foot, ignore the first path and go on a few more steps to a second, parallel, stony track and turn right. This is the track that runs along the foot of Dolebury Hillfort. Follow this all the way along and up to a track junction.
9. JUNCTION Go more or less straight ahead. The track rises and then continues on. Continue, with Black Down rising on the right and woodland left. Go through a barrier. Left is the black hut of Bristol University Speliological Society (caving club). Eventually come back to the Link where you were earlier and retrace your steps down to the start. The Burrington Inn, 01761 462227 The Swan, Rowberrow, 01934 852371
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2018 • PAGE 67