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Chipstable - flying high in Somerset

Difficulty Moderate

Walking time 2 hours 15 minutes

Length 7.1km / 4.4mi

Route developer: Chris Mumford

Route checker: Nicholas Savage

Start location Village church, Chipstable, Somerset. TA4 2PZ
Route Summary A circular walk though wooded hills and valleys, along part of the West Deane Way, and following a young River Tone. The route has delightful views and is below the Brendon Hills. It has one moderate ascent and one very steep one.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

By car: The village is most easily reached via the B3227 between Bampton and Wiveliscombe. If coming from Bampton, follow the signs for Wiveliscombe and at Waterrow bear left at Rock Inn and then take 2nd left to Chipstaple. If coming along the B3227 from Wiveliscombe, the turn off is a sharp right immediately after the bridge.The road up from Waterrow is steepish and narrow. Park on the roadside, in the village near the church.

There is no public transport to Chipstable.

Description

[1] From the church, walk down the hill, to turn left at the first junction and then left onto bridle way track. Follow this track upwards, then through two fields, following the track along the right hand side of the field. At the end of the second field, go through the gate and straight ahead of you is a track between two banks. This is Pitt Lane, which as you can see is a sunken lane or hola weg.

(A) Anglo-Saxon – a hollow way, a sunken path. A route that centuries of foot-fall, hoof-hit, wheel-roll & rain-run have harrowed deep down into bedrock.

[2] Follow this sunken lane down to a T-junction where you turn left along the track and then past a barn on your right. 

Tree felling operations can take place along this section of the route.

Follow what is now a reasonably good track up the valley. The young River Tone is down below you in the valley on your right-hand side. The track descends gently to the floor of the valley. You then come to some habitation. Turn right through a gate, cross the footbridge over the Tone in front of you and then turn left along a track. Following this track you will reach a metalled road, with a ford on your left. Cross the road and go onto another track now with the River Tone on your left and the barn on your right. Follow this track until you reach another metalled road with a bridge to your left. This is Washbattle Bridge.

[3] Cross the bridge and now follow metalled road, which turns sharpley right and rises slightly,  to pass past Newhouse Farm and then turn left into the drive of Newhouse Cottages opposite post box. Once past the gateway turn half right and head for a pedestrian gate in top right hand corner of field. Then follow the left hand hedge through two fields to a stile into a garden. Pass to the right of the house, through a small gate onto a metalled road.

[4] Turn left up hill and in a very short distance where the road bends right, you turn off left, finger posted, onto a steep track that ascends 340 feet in just over ¼ mile. Part way up you will cross a wider track, ignore this and continue up the hill, following the way marked route. At the top of the hill you reach a T-junction of tracks - turn right. Follow along this level track, past a wood shed on the right until you reach a gate, directly in front of you, where the track turns off to the right.

[5] Go through the gate into the field and cross it diagonally to the far right corner. This is a large field separated by fencing. Aim for field gates in this fencing and this will give you the line to exit in the far right hand corner. A short track takes you out onto a metalled road where you turn left.

[6] Follow this beech tree lined road and where it bends left, ignore track coming in from the right and take the next gateway, marked East Barn, on your right.

(B) There are some excellent distant views from this point. The Blackdown Hills are ahead of you, with the needle-like Wellington Monument on the skyline and (if it is clear) Dartmoor can be seen over to your right. The tower of Chipstable parish church can also be seen below, so you know you are on the final straight.

Follow the left hand hedge down hill to the field's left hand corner. Pass through gateway and now follow the right hand hedge down to this field's bottom right hand corner. Cross over stile into a short track that brings you out opposite the church near where you will have parked your transport.

(C) The Church of All Saints in Chipstable village was built in the 15th century. The tower and part of the nave remain from a previous building of about 1239. It is possible that it was an earlier pagan site.The church has a list of vicars going back to the 1200s.

POI information

The name Chipstable means Cippa's post and has nothing to do with either chips or tables.

The manor was held by Muchelney Abbey (the other side of Taunton) from the Norman Conquest until the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and then passing to the Bluets of Greenham in Stawley. The parishes of Chipstable and Raddington were part of the Williton and Freemanners Hundred. 

Notes

 Map: OS Expl.128 Taunton & Blackdown Hills

Start grid reference: ST 043 271

Terrain: Some quiet country lanes, rough tracks, woodland and fields. There is one very steep ascent for ¼ mile. Delightful scenery.

Stiles: 5 easy stiles

Dogs: on leads near livestock and when requested

Refreshments: There is a pub at Waterrow or choices available in Bampton town

SATNAV post code to start: TA4 2PZ

Total walk ascent: 1133 feet

Navigation: Way-marking is good where it needs to be.

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • All Saints Church, Chipstable
    All Saints Church, Chipstable
    By - Mumfy
  • Sunken lane or hola weg
    Sunken lane or hola weg
    By - Mumfy
  • Washbattle bridge & hamlet
    Washbattle bridge & hamlet
    By - Mumfy
  • Beech tree drive, Heydon Hill
    Beech tree drive, Heydon Hill
    By - Mumfy
  • One of the delightful views on the walk
    One of the delightful views on the walk
    By - Mumfy
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