nigel vile’s walk
MAP
OS Explorers 142/155
Distance
5½ miles
time
3 hours
terrain
Steep descents and ascents
Start
Hinton Charterhouse Church (GR 776583 or postcode BA2 7TL)
The village of hinton Charterhouse has interesting origins. When the Carthusian order of monks established a monastic settlement, it was always given the name ‘Charterhouse’ and the one in this locality was only the second such foundation in england. Little remains of the settlement but, glance through the hedge on the right in the second field on from Branch Road, and you will see the chapter house with its library in private grounds. Behind the hedge on the left are the remains of the monastery’s fish pond. That large mansion passed at the start of the walk is hinton house, a Grade Ii-listed building owned by Jake Dyson, son of Sir James. Much of the ongoing development is to do with the construction of a controversial heliport. Beyond hinton Charterhouse, the walk passes through hog Wood. Other than a plethora of warning signs placed by the hog Wood Archery Club warning of your impending doom if you stray from the path, these woods might seem unremarkable. But those shallow trenches on the right as you enter the wood are infantry trenches, while on the left as you exit the wood are deeper tank traps. This was part of Stop Line Green, defensive works designed to protect Bristol from German invasion during the last war – also known as Bristol Outer Defences. A long stony track descends into Midford, affording occasional views along the way. At one point there is a glimpse of Southstoke on the opposite hilltop, while further on is a view of Midford Castle and adjoining church. Midford itself will appear familiar to film enthusiasts. Many of the scenes in the 1953 film The Titfield Thunderbolt were filmed here, with the Somerset & Dorset Railway crossing the North Somerset Railway in the heart of the village with a pastoral backdrop of hillsides and valleys. One of these hills is followed uphill to Twinhoe, before a descent to the Wellow Brook and another ascent, this time back into hinton Charterhouse. It may be hard work, but the rewards are fine views across a landscape where the outlying hills of the Cotswolds meet those of the Mendips. There is also the prospect of rest and refreshment back in hinton Charterhouse, where the Stag Inn offers a large selection of sandwiches and baguettes as well as main meals, local ciders and real ales. equally tempting will be the Rose & Crown at the other end of the high Street, a Butcombe pub that dates from the late 18th century. Footnote: The pubs are closed on Monday lunchtimes; food is not served on Mondays.
Getting there
Coming from Bath on the B3110, turn left at the southern end of hinton Charterhouse into Green Lane. Park on the roadside on the left in 400 yards, just before a turning up to St John’s Church.
Start
Continue along Green Lane before taking the first left turn up to hinton Charterhouse Church. Walk directly ahead across the churchyard before bearing left in its far corner to a gate. Follow the path ahead across the grounds in front of hinton house to reach a gate and Branch Road. Cross to a gate opposite before crossing the field ahead, bearing right all the while, to a gate almost in the far corner of the field. Walk across the right edge of the next field – fishponds belonging to the hinton Monastery behind the hedge on the left – to reach a gate at the end of the field. Follow a short section of path to a gate and open field and bear left to walk up to a handgate at the end of the field at the entrance to hog Wood.
HOG WOOD
Follow the path through hog Wood to a gate, turn right and follow the edge of a field, hog Wood on the right, to a gate on the right in 200 yards. Beyond this gate, cross a field to a gate to the left of a thatched property in Pipehouse. Turn left and follow a track for one mile that eventually drops downhill to join the B3110. Turn right and walk into Midford and, having passed the hope & Anchor and passed under a railway viaduct, turn right up into the car park of the pub. Detour left to explore the former Midford Station – for the main walk, turn right and cross the railway viaduct. In 150 yards, pass through a gate on the right to join a lane. Turn left and follow this lane uphill for 600 yards before turning left along a lane into Lower Twinhoe.
LOWER twinhoe
Follow the lane through to Lower Twinhoe Cottage before continuing along a track for 100 yards to a junction. Follow the byway to the left downhill, pass under the former S&D Railway in 150 yards and continue downhill to a gateway in the bottom of the valley where the byway swings right. At this point, keep ahead and follow the left edge of a field for 200 yards along to a gate on the left and a bridge crossing Wellow Brook. Beyond this bridge, cross a small wooden bridge on the left over a stream, turn right and follow a woodland path for 150 yards to a gate. Follow a path ahead through a shallow valley across three fields. In ¾ mile, pass through a gate and, beyond some properties, follow a lane uphill to join the hinton Charterhouse to Wellow road by the Stag Inn. Turn left to the B3110, then right along to the Rose & Crown before turning left along Green Lane back to the church.