(A) St. Nicholas church. There has been a place of worship on the site of St Nicholas for over a 1,000 years, believed originally to have been an old Saxon cell or chapel of the saint, St Whyte. The church was built here In the Norman time and was known as St Gregorys and only became St Nicholas after the reformation. When it was built, the church was an enlargement of an aisleless cruciform plan, with the tower between the nave and the sanctus above the chancel and appeared to have been completed in the year 1200AD.
[1] From St. Nicholas church, head south along A37 and turn right into Blackacre. Continue past cottages on left hand side and through kissing gate (kissing gate), after 10 metres bear left through gap in hedge. Cross field to cross over foot bridge then cross three more fields to go through kissing gate at junction of four footpaths. Turn right immediately through second kissing gate, continue ahead across field towards the rear of houses. Pass through a gate and cross the footbridge into Emmett Wood (road).Turn left to walk along Stoneberry Road and left again into Holbeach Way. Turn left into Longacre Road and then left again into East Dundry Road. Proceed uphill passing track to Hill Farm on right hand side. Just before the top of the hill, a stile on left hand side points the way to Maes Knoll Hillfort.
This footpath may be used for spur walk to the Maes Knoll Hillfort viewpoint and back.
(B) Maes Knoll is an Iron Age hillfort. It consists of a fairly large flat open area, roughly triangular in shape, that has been fortified by ramparts and shaping of the steep-sided hilltop around the northern, eastern and southwestern sides of the hill. It rises to an altitude of 197 metres (646 ft) above sea level,and provides views over the lands it would have once commanded. From here, there are clear views north to Bristol, east to Bath and the Cotswold Hills, and south over Stanton Drew stone circles to Chew Valley Lake and the Mendip Hills.
[2] After footpath to Maes Knoll proceed for a further 1.25 miles/2.3kms toward East Dundry for point H. At the first lane on the right hand side with a steel barrier, turn right through the barrier and then left to walk along a green lane with a radio mast ahead. Turn right at North Hill Farm into metalled lane passing radio mast on your right hand side. Continue straight ahead along another green lane to metal gate and stile in right hand hedge.
[3] Cross over stile and follow hedgerow on right hand side. Straight ahead through gap in hedgerow to far right hand corner of second field then turn left keeping hedge on right hand side. Proceed to right hand corner of field. Continue over two stiles into another green lane. Go through heavy metal gate passing Rosslyn bungalow on left hand side. Straight ahead along Middleway Lane and cross main road with care at Broadoak Hill.
[4] From Broadoak Hill walk straight ahead toward Dundry church tower. At the T junction of Oxleaze Lane go through second metal farm gate on left. Follow right hand hedgerow to turn right through first gap in hedge then turn left. Follow marker stones along old packhorse track to metal gate then straight ahead along footpath with hedge on right. cross over series of metal stiles passing Hill Farm on left hand side continue into Hill Road to the corner of Dundry Church churchyard.
[5] From the churchyard wall in Hill Road turn right down Ham Lane walking past several 19c cottages to a farmyard and metal gate at the bottom. Pass through gate and cross over metal stile on right hand side, turn left and left again to pass around back of out-building and go straight ahead through break in field boundary to cross next hilly field keeping woods on left hand side. Ignore stile uphill into woods but turn right down hill passing through dense undergrowth keeping hedge on left hand side. Pass through wooden kissing gate and continue down. Exit onto short lane via kissing gate, left of stables. Straight ahead and turn right onto Highridge Road at ‘Windy Ridge’ bungalow. Continue down the road passing Oxleaze Lane. After a bend in the road and the last two homes on this stretch (Whitegates and The Ridge) cross with care and turn left along short track to house and large metal field gate.
[6] Straight ahead through field gate passing left of tree to stile in hedgerow. Cross over stile and turn right to follow right hand hedge. At broken field boundary turn left following line of broken posts to far hedge (beware fallen posts in grass) and turn right to stile in corner. Do not cross over stile but turn right and follow fenceline to top of field. turn left through gate and follow a tree-lined track (frequently muddy and slippery) to Highridge Road.
[7] Turn left down road then left onto tarmac track toward a house (“Works”) at far left of grass. turn right at “Works” onto grass and head almost north across Highridge Common with hedge on left hand side. Pass the imposing “Highridge Cottage” on left hand side and continue to far end of common then turn left into Elsbert Drive. Straight ahead to go through kissing gate. Turn right to walk with backs of houses on right hand side. Continue over four stiles and on to double stile exiting at A38. Do not cross, instead turn right on roadside footpath toward Bedminster Down. End at the Kings Head public house.