Bower Hinton

Sat 20 Jun '26 DH, RW, PC, DL, JS, RC, PC, Scrumpy, Albus & Ember

Another bright June morning as we headed down the A303 for one last time before the chaos of the summer holidays turns the road into a mobile car park. The RV was the car park at Yandle's saw mill, and the Wincanton car arrived in good time to see that the car park was now signed down the South Petherton Road, although I still entered by the former gateway. The whole of the front of the yard as we knew it has been changed and the parking area is now a lot larger and further away from the café and shop. we got our boots on, the dogs on leads and waited for the Brutonians arrival. And we waited, and we waited a bit more! Eventually, through the new entrance, the trio of Clackson's arrived with Richard, having decided to take a quick drive further down the road to the Ranch café at the Parrett Works. Don't ask why??

Ten minutes later than planned and following the reintroduction of Robert and Peter, we set off towards the village before turning left by a patch of allotments and along a path by the side of a stream. The path entered a field and the dogs we happy to be let off temporarily. We had to get across to the southern side of the road for our next path and came across a small footbridge which would take us in the general direction we needed. unfortunately it was not a well used bridge and so we had to fight through the nettles before we could even get close. not a good day to be wearing shorts! However once across we started heading south along a track we have walked a few times in the past. as we made our way up, with all three dogs off the leads again, we noticed a young fox ahead staring back at us. it was not too worried to be faced by seven adults and three dogs and just sat on the track for a good thirty seconds before deciding it would be wise to get back to its den/mum. We turned off the path, into open fields and headed along a section of the River Parrett trail towards the reclamation yard and tall tower at the Perrett works.

Our route then took us eastwards back towards the residential area of Bower Hinton and through an orchard of mixed apple trees before we edged up the side of a horse enclosure and out into a small residential estate. Turning right once again we were now heading west again along Gaston's Lane and back out into the countryside. As we continued across fields of young corn the views to the north and west opened up. Veering to our left we were soon heading south with the houses and hospital of South Petherton getting closer on the ridge ahead.

Looking for the path that would take us back up the hill again, we noticed a couple sitting on a bench, and so at an obvious break in the corn crop, we turned left and started the climb up the appropriately named Cripple Hill.

It was only about a twenty meter climb, which the younger walkers simply took in their stride, but by the time we reached the couple and their dog, we were ready for a breather, and a chance to take in the view once more. We could just about make out the small knoll of Burrow Hill, just behind the cider farm where we had a good walk and lunch the other summer.

As we stood getting our breath back, JS started talking to the couple and managed to persuade them to take our group photo this week, which was much appreciated. Heading on again we could hear the traffic on the close by A303 as we arrived at the edge of the village of Bower Hinton.

3.5 miles