Valley villages
Beckington to Lullington
Beckington is altogether a better place following the construction of its bypass in 1989, before which date the A36 literally passed through the heart of the village. The village pub, the Woolpack, tells of medieval times when the wool trade flourished in the area. This was a coaching inn that dates from 1581 and, to quote from its website, is ‘rich in both history and character’.
Also certain to catch the eye is St george’s church, pictured, with, according to one writer, ‘the most ambitious norman tower of any Somerset Parish church, big, broad, prominent and vigorously decorated at the bell-stage’. There is also a castle, although it rather resembles a grand historic house, that is today used as offices by Systems engineering and Assessment.
A walk through the Frome Valley, whose waters powered local woollen mills in a former age, brings us to Lullington, passing gloucester Lodge along the way. This castellated lodge, a grade ii-listed building, stands at one of the entrances to the orchardleigh estate and dates from the early 19th century.
Lullington itself is quintessentially england, with picturesque cottages overlooking a small green with its restored village pump. overlooking the scene is the former village school and All Saints church, a grade i-listed building with a south aisle that dates back to 1280.
Beyond Lullington, the walk clips a corner of the orchardleigh estate, formerly the ancestral home of the Duckworth family, whose origins can be traced back to Lancashire. today the estate is a noted golf course with the mansion being used as a wedding venue.
The estate also has a charming island church, where the poet Sir Henry newbolt is buried, as well as a vast lake, stables and a coach house and various lodges. orchardleigh has another claim to fame, as it featured in both the 2009 tv series The Queen as well as a 1987 episode of Miss Marple entitled 4.50 from Paddington.
Pleasant field paths bring the walk back through the Frome Valley to Beckington, where the aforementioned Woolpack will no doubt prove an irresistible attraction. The menu features all of the usual pub classics, as well as a decent selection of pies that includes beef and ale, and braised lamb hotpot pie. For vegetarians, there is a tempting lentil cottage pie, topped with truffled cauliflower mash and served with seasonal vegetables
and vegan gravy.
Getting there
■ Leave the A36 by the Beckington Services roundabout and follow the unclassified road into Beckington village. Drive down to, and park in the vicinity of, the Woolpack Inn.
■ 1. From the Woolpack, walk up the Bath Road in Beckington, passing Beckington Motors, before turning left in 250 yards into Mill Lane. In 300 yards, veer left on to a public footpath where a private road goes off on the right. Follow what is a track along to a field and continue on this track across a hillside field to a stile and enclosed path. At the end of this path, pass through gates and, ignoring a path on the left signposted ‘Beckington Loop’, cross a field to a stile opposite. Walk through an area of woodland to a gate before continuing on a wide grassy path to a driveway leading to a workshop. Cross this driveway to a stile and follow a Tarmac path alongside a conifer hedge. Where this driveway bears right, keep ahead to a stile, enter a field and walk across to a gateway in its far right corner. Walk across the field ahead to a stile opposite and a footbridge across the River Frome.
■ 2. Cross the river and bear right to a stile and lane in the far corner of the field. Follow this lane to the right around to the castellated Gloucester Lodge and walk ahead into the hamlet of Lullington. As you enter Lullington by Middle Thatch, turn left down a cul-desac lane. In 100 yards, towards the bottom of this lane, turn right to a gate, walk ahead to another gate and follow a path ahead towards the Orchardleigh Estate. In 100 yards, turn left and follow a path down to an estate road. Cross this road and follow a faint path opposite. At a marker post in 150 yards, turn left and follow a path that drops down to a stile and lane.
■ 3. Cross to a stile opposite and bear right to a footbridge over the Frome. Having crossed the river, follow the line of the fence ahead, keeping the fence to the left. Pass through a gate in the corner of the field and walk uphill along the left edges of two fields. At the top of the climb, follow a grassy path to the left alongside a hedgerow for ¼ mile before following a metalled lane for 600 yards through to the Frome Road in