Albus smells the bacon

Sat 11 Oct ‘25. DH, DL, JB, JS & Albus

Another week of just four Wincanton walkers so we headed a little bit further south west than previously to the village of Norton-sub-Hamdon, which sits about half a mile below and to the west of Ham Hill Country Park. We parked up in the village hall and primary school car park and once ready to go headed off onto the open fields by the village hall. Todays route would be a clockwise loop out to the Chisleborough ridge, an area I have previously walked whilst taking part in Yeovil Hospital Cardiac Rehab 10km walks following my heart attack, almost twenty years ago. We exited the large village play area in the bottom right corner straight out onto one of the many lanes which cross cross the area underneath Ham Hill. From there a narrow track took us to the rear of some properties and alongside a small stream then across a small field into another lane. H almost hidden in the hedgerow opposite a small cottage was the next gate taking us into a field with horses, thankfully behind a large electricified ribbon fence. We headed away from the village through another tight pathway and out onto a small road on the outskirts of Little Norton.

As we walked up the road the penny suddenly dropped that we were in an area we have been through a couple of times before. Happy that we didn’t need to continue along the road anymore to confirm our location, we turned up through the driveway and car park of Little Norton Mill, and past the small secluded B and B rooms at the rear of the property. We climbed up through the garden and over a steep stile onto a narrow track, however no sooner than I was over it I noticed a large Harras fence blocking the intended route. Taking a closure look at the notice fastened to it, I read that the pathway was closed due to a land slip further along. Unfortunately we had no other option than to retrace our steps through the car park and take the road around the obstruction. As such we headed past the mill with its stationary wheel and along past the Tinkers Bubble empty produce stand to the junction in the road which is normally covered in water running down over rocks from out of the woods.

We turned right up the metalled track and through a set of large gate posts marked for Bagnell Farm. The road surface was well maintained and a substantial black metal fence ran alongside the left hand verge. We passed the point where our original path would have brought us out, again closed off with a Harras fence and after letting a farm truck through turned to the left at a sharp bed. On our left side four startled black pigs left their feast of apples and carrots and hid from us in the undergrowth near a small muddy pond. Slowly they returned to their breakfast and Albus was keen to check out these small portly black creatures. Neither were afraid of each other as he poked his nose through the wire to get a proper smell of the bacon. John B in the mean time was also keen to get involved and using his Dr Dolittle approach soon had one of them sniffing at his hand. Who knows what could have attracted them to his sweaty palm?

Leaving the pigs to continue their feast we set off again, only to be stopped in our tracks soon after by a large brown Rhodesian Ridgeback bounding towards us. He appeared friendly enough as he passed us with his accompanying pair of Jack Russells making a beeline for Albus. Thankfully there was no confrontation and the two ladies walking the dogs managed to regain control pretty quickly. We continued along the track and took a loop around the main working area of the farm before passing in front of the substantial Hamstone farmhouse. We were looking for our next path on the right that would take us uphill out of the valley and convinced we had to go a bit further still, passed a track enterance as we continued towards more buildings. We could see what looked like a gate at the far end of a grassy area but with a nice bench overlooking the small stream it appears that the owners have subsumed the pathway into their water garden feature, so avoiding any unnecessary confrontation we doubled back to the track to access the steep grassy field.

The climb up the spur was slow and steady with the obligatory stops from time to time to take in the views as they opened up the higher we went. As we neared the top we could see above the treetops right across to the open fields above Montacute and also the Witcombe valley down which we have walked previously this year. We passed through a short section of wood and exited through a gate onto a minor road which was busier than expected, mainly with supermarket food delivery vans!

The road ran east to west across the top of Chselborough Hill and we had a good view down to the south although as is often the case, we weren’t quite sure what we were looking at. The furthest ridge was probably the high ground as you approach the road tunnel before dropping down into Beaminster and further right I’m sure I could make out the escarpment of Pilsdon Pen. The build up areas could well have been the outskirts of Crewkerne and the villages of Misterton, North Perret and Haselbury Plunkett, although I’m not 100% sure. Along the top we passed the two ladies with the ridgeback and terriers again before we took a right turn and stopped at a gate with a wonderful view down a steep valley for this weeks group photo. At the bottom of the valley a series of enclosures and barns certainly looked like a large equestrian complex.

Continuing along the road we started to drop downhill into the village of Chiselborough. On the right side of the road hidden by a bit of undergrowth we noticed a stone with a plaque on it, by the side of a narrow path leading up the hil to Chiselborough Common. This area above the village is managed and maintained by village volunteers. You can find out more about the flora and fauna on the common and much more about this ‘special village on their website here.

Unfortunately though something I can’t find on the village website is any information about the horse structure and flag which stands on top of a small hill overlooking the village. After much searching I can only conclude that is is all part of the same equestrian complex we saw down the valley earlier. If anyone can shed any further light on it and the nationality of the flag, there are four men of Wincanton who would be relieved and delighted to know the answer. We continued around the top of the village and starting heading back towards Norton. My initial plans were to drop down to the church and return via the River Parrett trail, but with time being tight we took a more direct route back and stayed on the road a bit longer until the church and the slopes of Ham Hill came into view.

Keeping clear of a group of cyclists we turned through an open gateway to be met with a field that had been recently spread with a liberal coating of manure, but in the friendly manner most fitting for this area the farmer had actually left a good wide pathway through for walkers and dogs. I imagine the local pub we came to (The Nelson) are most pleased not to have to put up with that from anyone walking in for a swift pint! We took the lane alongside the pub then across a small bridge of a footpath running alongside the church and grounds.

St Mary’s is a Grade 1 listed church originating from the 13th century. It stands as proud today at the centre of the village as it did when erected over 500 years ago. Its nearly 100’ tower contains 8 bells which are regularly rung. It has many outstanding architectural features such as mediaeval windows, bell tower and dovecote, and it is featured in the book of “England’s Thousand Best Churches”.

We were particularly impressed with the corner buttresses and also the gargoyles and drainage channels on the top corners. I was less impressed with the gate in the wall which was only about five feet high. Although we didn’t have time to go in, the most famous politician from this area in recent years, the former Liberal leader Sir ‘Paddy’ Ashdown, is buried in the churchyard.

It was then just a short walk past a well kept Jubilee garden area and out onto the road for the last 100 metres back to the car. A very pleasant four and a half miles, completed in two hours. This week the route map is taken from Albus’s tracker although I’m not sure if the reddish highlights are a result of his increased speed or increased pulse rate.

If it’s the latter then at the bend below Little Norton his little heart must have been racing when he came nose to shout with the pigs! We headed into Martock and the cafe at Yandles wood yard for a very tasting breakfast, with cheerful and swift service from the team. A pleasant morning out into a new bit of South Somerset for all of us.