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Around Dunster

Difficulty Moderate

Walking time 4 hours

Length 12.5km / 7.7mi

Route developer: Edward Levy

Route checker: Neil Leeson-Smith

Start location Dunster Village Car Park
Route Summary A circular walk over Grabbist Hill, passing close to the village of Timberscombe and on to Withycombe Hill Gate and back into Dunster.
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Getting there

By car: Dunster lies just off the main A39 running between Bridgwater and Taunton.  The A396 passes through the centre of the village.  First bus route 28 runs 1/2 hourly and Webber bus route 18 runs hourly through most of the day.  Both Services run between Taunton and Minehead and stop at the A396 junction at the foot of Dunster Steep.  

By rail: The West Somerset Railway runs a steam service between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead and there is a station at Dunster.  The station is approximately 10 minutes walk from the start of the route.  There are up to 7 trains each way during the busy summer months and over the holiday periods of Easter and the Spring Bank Holiday.  There is a reduced service at other times and no service in some of the winter months.  If you intend to use the train to get to and from the walk it is recommended that you consult the timetable.

Description

[1]  Leave car park by steps at rear and on reaching the main road turn left.  A short distance ahead, before the road turns sharp left turn, cross over to minor road (The Ball Priory Green). Follow the road uphill. Where the road turns to the left pass through a wooden kissing gate and continue ahead on a tarmac driveway.  At the end of the drive pass through gate onto a grass path running between wire fences.  The path emerges onto a minor road at Butter Cross.  Turn left and walk downhill for approximately 50 yards and then turn right.   Immediately to the right is a path (waymarked “Grabbist Hill”).  Follow the path steeply uphill.  Beware! a stream shares the pathway - even in good weather. It can be very wet and slippery after heavy rain.  On reaching a tall deer proof gate pass through it and turn left to follow path slightly downhill.  The path soon bears round to the right and then goes steeply up to join the ridge running across Grabbist Hill.  

(A)    There are views across to North Hill Minehead and out across the Bristol Channel to South Wales.

Follow the path which runs straight ahead. On reaching a cross path by a wooden seat (Holes Corner) continue forward with the wood and ditch on your left. 

[2]  On reaching a cross path by a wooden seat turn left (waymarked “Timberscombe”).  Follow the path steeply downhill. Where the path crosses a forest road (waymarked "Marsh Cross") continue forward and down. Further on the path levels out. Take care; as the path is used for moving cattle. On reaching a minor road turn right and then in a short distance turn first left to continue downhill to Cow Bridge. Take care; although a minor road this is a main route into Wootten Courtenay. On reaching T-junction with main road turn right.  Caution; the A396 is a major road and is often busy especially in the summer months.  After approximately 100 yards the road bends to the left before entering Timberscombe.  Turn left here onto a footpath marked by metal barriers.  The path goes uphill and soon crosses an unmade road. It then passes some loose horse boxes and then onwards through a paddock into woods.  The path then drops steeply to gate and runs through a narrow path between walled cottages to a junction with a stony track at the edge of Timberscombe. 

[3]  Turn left onto the track and follow it uphill.  At top of track turn right through a gate and then continue upwards between farm buildings and then bear left (waymarked Dunster) and onwards to a gate.  Pass through gate and continue ahead through some trees to reach another gate.  Pass through gate and continue in same direction passing a small wood on the right before reaching woodland.  At entrance to woodland cross a small stream to a gate in a wall.  Pass through gate and bear left to follow path uphill to join a broad track merging from the right.  Bear right and go ahead on the track (waymarked “Broadwood Farm”) and on reaching a minor road go straight across.  Continue ahead ignoring both of the 2 broad tracks going off to the right and then go downhill through some tall pine trees.  Continue ahead where a broad track joins from the right and descend more steeply now to cross a double plank bridge across a stream.  Cross second shorter plank bridge and then follow the path uphill through some trees. The path then goes downhill to reach a minor road.  Cross road and turn right.  Take care; temporary industrial storage plant on your right. Follow road towards gate and approach Broadwood Farm.

[4]  Follow the road and continue past the farm.  At the end of the farm buildings the road ends and continues as a stony track.  Follow the stony track and after approximately 100 yards turn right through a gate into a field.  In the field bear left and follow the boundary fence. When you reach a wide ditch cross the wooden bridge into the second field.  Continue in the same direction until you reach the far left hand corner.  Here you will find a gate. Go ahead and follow the path downhill to ford a stream at the bottom.  After crossing the stream turn sharp left (waymarked “Dunster”) and follow the path downhill.  At the point where the path turns left go straight ahead up a steep stony track.  Continue ahead; ignore Crown Estate tracks to the left; until you reach the hilltop. 

[5]  On reaching the waymarker, close to a wooden seat, at Withycombe Hill Gate turn left (waymarked “Dunster”) and pass through a tall deer proof gate.  Immediately turn right and follow broad track down hill.  The track soon reaches the edge of woodland and turns left to follow the woodland boundary on the right.  After approximately 1/2 a mile the track veers left with tall standing fir trees ahead.  Here turn right and follow broad grassy track downhill through the trees.   Exit the woodland through a gate and then go ahead a short distance and turn left through tall deer proof gate and then go downhill past  thatched cottages to Gallox Bridge.

(B)     Gallox Bridge is an old packhorse bridge dating from the 15th century.  In the 14th century it was known as Doddebrigge.  The name Gallox was derived from gallows as the village gallows were nearby.

Cross the bridge and walk up road for approximately 50 yards between thatched cottages.  Turn right into a footpath (Millstream Gardens) and then at road junction turn left.

(C)  The stream running in the culvert on the right hand side of the road powers the water mill.  The working mill is open to visitors and can be reached by turning right out of Millstream Gardens (there is an entrance charge).  The tearoom at the mill  is open to all.

Follow the road to the junction of the main street running through Dunster.  Turn right into the street and follow it as it winds through and out of the village to the car park. Beware!  Some parts of the street are narrow with no pavement and traffic can be busy.

(D)   Dunster is a beautiful medieval village dominated by the castle at the east end of the High Street and the Conyga Tower at the west end.  The Yarn Market in the middle of the High Street was used to sell woollen yarn produced from local sheep.  The castle is a National Trust property and is well worth a visit.  There are many tearooms, restaurants and public houses in the village.

 

POI information

[1] On the left of the grass path between the wire fences is the Dunster Community Orchard.  

[3] To the right (250 yards) is a local pub; food available except Monday lunchtime.

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Minehead from Grabbist Hill
    Minehead from Grabbist Hill
    By - Edward Levy
  • Timberscombe
    Timberscombe
    By - Edward Levy
  • Thached Cottages near Gallox Bridge
    Thached Cottages near Gallox Bridge
    By - Edward Levy
  • Gallox Bridge
    Gallox Bridge
    By - Edward Levy
  • Dunster Yarn Market
    Dunster Yarn Market
    By - Edward Levy
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