Circular Walks
Exploring the landscape and history of Taunton Deane
Whether you are a visitor or a resident of the Borough this new series of circular walks should help you to better understand and enjoy our local landscape.
The trails, although only short, give the walker ample time to discover both the history and landscape of the area from the scarp slopes of the Blackdown Hills to the gently undulating Vale. Each walk is described in enough detail so that you shouldn't need an ordnance survey map. The route is clearly shown in plan on the leaflet and way marked along the route.
Please remember to follow the 'Country Code' - details on request.
There are 14 walks in the series. We have provided a short description of the walks and leaflets which you can download or request from Heritage and Landscapes by emailing heritage.landscape@tauntondeane.gov.uk
We hope you enjoy the walks and would welcome any comments on how you think they could be improved.
- Castle Neroche
- Creech St Michael
- Kingston St Mary
- Milverton
- North Curry and Knapp
- Orchard Portman
- Otterford and Yarty Valley
- Staplegrove and Norton Hillfort
- Taunton to Cotlake Hill
- Taunton to Longaller
- Wellington to the Monument
- Wellington and Westford
- West Monkton
- Wiveliscombe and Maundown Hill
1 Castle Neroche
Description - 5.5 kilometres, quite steep gradients and muddy paths. A walk from ancient fortifications high on the Blackdown Hills, through woods and along green lanes.
Landscape Character - Blackdowns Scarp
Main Points of Interest - Blackdown Hills landscape and natural history, Castle Neroche and the Iron Age hillfort.
 Castle Neroche information sheet (225 KB)
2 Creech St. Michael and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal
Description - 8 kilometres, mostly flat with a moderate climb up to Knapp. This is an easy walk following the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal, then gently climbing up to Knapp before returning back along the River Tone.
Landscape Characters - River Flood Plain and Low Vale
Main Points of Interest - Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and related infrastructure. Landscape views from the North Curry ridge. River Tone, wildlife and natural history. Ham. Church of St. Michael, Creech.
Creech St. Michael and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal information sheet (294 KB)
3 Kingston St. Mary
Description - 9 kilometres, moderately undulating, with a steep ascent from Kingston St. Mary. Quite a strenuous walk to the east and south of this old village situated below the southern end of the Quantock Hills, passing Hestercombe Gardens on route.
Landscape Character - High Vale
Main Points of Interest - Church of St. Mary, Kingston Landscape views across the Vale of Taunton. Hestercombe Gardens, a short detour from the route.
Kingston St. Mary information sheet (392 KB)
4 Milverton
Description - 7.5 kilometres, moderately undulating, quite steep in parts. A lane and field walk to the west of this large village rich in architectural interest, with extensive views of the surrounding countryside.
Landscape Character - High Vale
Main Points of Interest - The architecture of Milverton Church of St. Michael. Panoramic landscape views. Pooles limekiln and quarry.
Milverton information sheet (241 KB)
5 North Curry and Knapp
Description - 5 kilometres, gentle ascent and descent of the North Curry ridge .A gentle walk along the River Tone, up to Knapp and along the sandstone ridge to the interesting village of North Curry, before returning back across the western edges of the Somerset Levels.
Landscape Character - Levels and Moors
Main Points of Interest - River Tone. The landscape, wildlife and natural history of the Somerset Levels. North Curry for its architecture. Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.
North Curry and Knapp information sheet (230 KB)
6 Orchard Portman
Description - 7 kilometres, gentle with no steep gradients. Can be muddy at times. A varied country walk from Thurlbear to Orchard Portman, with good views across the Vale of Taunton and to the surrounding hills.
Landscape Characters - Limestone Scarp and Low Vale
Main Points of Interest - Churches, at Thurlbear and Orchard Portman. The trees and hedgerows of this landscape. The landscape views across the Vale of Taunton, and the Blackdown Scarp.
Orchard Portman information sheet (252 KB)
7 Otterford and the Yarty Valley
Description - 6 kilometres, moderately undulating, quite steep in parts. A walk from Otterhead church across part of the Blackdown Hills, down into the Yarty Valley, passing Birchwood church and returning past the Bronze Age burial mounds of Robin Hood's Butts.
Landscape Character - Blackdown Hills Plateau
Main Points of Interest - Church of St. Leonard, Otterford. Blackdown Hills and the Yarty Valley, landscape and natural history. Robin Hood's Butts.
Otterford and the Yarty Valley information sheet (245 KB)
8 Staplegrove and Norton Hillfort
Description - 8 kilometres, gently undulating. This is a fairly easy walk from Staplegrove, over Rag Hill and across to Norton Hillfort with views to the Quantock Hills, and then back along Norton Brook and the line of the old Grand Western Canal.
Landscape Characters - Urban Fringe, Low Vale and River Flood Plain
Main Points of Interest - Norton Hillfort. Church of All Saints, Norton Fitzwarren. Course of the Grand Western Canal. St. John's Church, Staplegrove.
Staplegrove and Norton Hillfort information sheet (354 KB)
9 Taunton to Cotlake Hill
Description - 7 kilometres, level with a moderate ascent and descent from Cotlake Hill. This walk to the south of Taunton starts at Vivary Park and passes through Trull before gently ascending Cotlake Hill to give panoramic views of Taunton and the surrounding landscape.
Landscape Character - Low Vale
Main Points of Interest - Vivary Park, Taunton .Church of All Saints, Trull. Panoramic landscape views from Cotlake Hill.
Taunton to Cotlake Hill information sheet (636 KB)
10 Taunton to Longaller
Description - 6.5 kilometres, level walking. This is an easy walk starting in central Taunton, along the banks of the River Tone and across the water meadows to the west of Taunton.
Landscape Character - River Flood Plain
Main Points of Interest - Taunton Castle and Museum. River Tone, wildlife and natural history. Course of the Grand Western Canal. Old mills, Bridge House and Longaller.
Taunton to Longaller information sheet (314 KB)
11 Wellington to the Monument
Description - 9 kilometres, gently undulating at first followed by a steep ascent. Heading south from Wellington, this is a steep climb up onto the Blackdown Hills, rewarded by spectacular views across the Vale of Taunton to the Quantock Hills and, on a clear day, to the Bristol Channel.
Landscape Characters - Urban Fringe, Low Vale, High Vale and Blackdown Scarp.
Main Points of Interest - Wellington. Wellington Monument. Blackdown Hills landscape, natural history and views across to the Quantocks and beyond.
Wellington to the Monument information sheet (267 KB)
12 Wellington to Westford
Description - 7 kilometres, generally level with some gentle undulations. A walk west from Wellington along the Westford Stream, and back along the course of the old Grand Western Canal.
Landscape Character - Low Vale
Main Points of Interest - Industrial and natural history of Wellington Basins, Westford and Prowse's Mill. Course of the Grand Western Canal.
Wellington to Westford information sheet (346 KB)
13 West Monkton
Description - 5 kilometres, undulating with some steep gradients. Quite a short walk over undulating countryside to the north of this pleasant village, with fine views all around.
Landscape Characters - Low Vale and High Vale
Main Points of Interest - Church of St. Augustine, West Monkton. Panoramic landscape views across the Vale of Taunton and beyond. West Monkton Quarry, nature reserve.
West Monkton information sheet (771 KB)
14 Wiveliscombe and Maundown Hill
Description - 9 kilometres, hilly with steep gradients. This is a 'walker's walk' with spectacular views over the surrounding landscape and down to the historic town of Wiveliscombe.
Landscape Character - Brendon Hills
Main Points of Interest - Wiveliscombe, history and architecture. Dramatic landscape of the Brendon Hills. Panoramic views to the Quantocks, the Blackdowns and beyond. In Wooded valley of the River Tone.
Wiveliscombe and Maundown information sheet (250 KB)
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