Circular Walk 3 Wanstrow, Studley Lane and Breach Wood Walk:
About 3½ Miles, mostly on unsurfaced roads, permissive paths and a small section of footpath.
From the crossroads by the King William IV Pub in Wanstrow, walk down the High Street, over the ford and turn right up Bridge Hill, between Coombe & Pear Tree cottages. This is the commencement of Studley Lane. Keep straight on along the tarmac lane until it becomes a stony track. Keep straight on over the stone railway bridge and follow Studley Lane (an unsurfaced track, often wet in winter) southwards all the way to the A359 Bruton Road at the top of Burt’s Hill.
Cross over the main road, carefully, leaving Bird’s Hill Farmhouse on the right. So far you have been on the old road to Bruton, but 100 metres beyond Bird’s Hill Farmhouse, the old road curves left by some sheds, and at this point it is necessary to turn right up the clearer track between high banks. In 150 yards the footpath to Batcombe crosses the track, but keep straight on to the gate for Hill Top Farm (near the highest point in the parish) where there is a clearing in the woods on the right, just before the gate. you should head along this clearing, passing a sign that states that there are permissive footpaths ahead by permission of the owners.
Keep on the track, which winds through the wood for nearly a mile: there are several footpaths leading off to the right and taking you deeper into the woods if you wish to explore further. Eventually the track becomes a path and then drops downhill until it meets a stile by the old quarry water table reservoir, leaves the woods and joins a public footpath leading across the railway via a foot crossing.
After crossing the railway (the quarry trains are quite slow so if you can’t see one you should be OK) keep slightly right across the field to a metal kissing gate and onto the road. Turn right along the road and follow it for half a mile past the church back into the middle of Wanstrow, opposite the start of this walk.
