Length:
22.7 km (14.1 mi) [Longer Walks possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent:
456m
Net
Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours, Toughness: 7 out of 10 Take the 08.51 Penzance train from Paddington (Reading 09.15), change at Westbury onto the Weymouth train (10.03/10.27), arriving Bruton 10.47.
From
Ealing B’way there is the 08.37 to Reading with a tight connection (09.12/09.15)
or the earlier 08.11 train, but it’s probably best to go via Paddington
(08.23-08.31).
Return
trains:
21.19
–
change Westbury (21.41/21.58), arrives Paddington 23.37.
Buy
a Bruton (Somerset) return. Cheap Advance Tickets are not yet on sale though. Off
Peak Returns are £57.60 at full price…
Note:
Bruton is outside the Network Southeast, so Network
Railcard users should buy a
discounted Reading Return with the Railcard, and a separate Reading – Bruton
Day Return.
This
excursion is centred on the small remote Somerset town of Bruton, with its honey-coloured stone-built
cottages, a large dovecote on a mound overlooking the townscape and a fine
selection of tea options. It leads along the vigorous River Brue and through
bucolic pastures up to the wooded range forming the boundary between Wiltshire
and Somerset, with the dominant local landmark Alfred’s Tower, a folly, on top of
it. From there you drop down through enchanting woods to the heart of the Stourhead Estate at the source of the
River Stour, with its breath-taking 18th century landscaped garden
with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples (National Trust, ticketed
entry, although large parts of the garden and most notable buildings are
visible from the walk route).
After lunch at the estate pub or an NT restaurant you circle back past the large Palladian mansion with views, then through a U-shaped grassy valley (by the source of the river Stour) and up through hanging woods to continue high above the Brue Valley with fine far views across the South Somerset landscape.
Towards the end the route passes the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset with its fascinating bar and restaurant and an optional loop routes up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town.
The Don McCullin – The Stillness of Life exhibition at Hauser has been extended due to Covid and is still open…
After lunch at the estate pub or an NT restaurant you circle back past the large Palladian mansion with views, then through a U-shaped grassy valley (by the source of the river Stour) and up through hanging woods to continue high above the Brue Valley with fine far views across the South Somerset landscape.
Towards the end the route passes the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset with its fascinating bar and restaurant and an optional loop routes up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town.
The Don McCullin – The Stillness of Life exhibition at Hauser has been extended due to Covid and is still open…
Walk
Options:
An
out-and-back to the Bronze Age Bell Barrow site Jack’s Castle adds 550m.
A loop through the wooded Park Hill via its Iron Age hillfort site adds 900m.
A mid-afternoon loop through Walk Farm Hay Meadows, currently map-led, adds 1.6 km.
A loop at the end up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town past most tea places adds 1.5 km.
A loop through the wooded Park Hill via its Iron Age hillfort site adds 900m.
A mid-afternoon loop through Walk Farm Hay Meadows, currently map-led, adds 1.6 km.
A loop at the end up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town past most tea places adds 1.5 km.
Lunch:
The Spread Eagle Inn (11.0 km/6.8 mi, food
to 19.00) or The Stourhead Estate
Restaurant (11.4 km/7.1 mi, food to 16.00), both on the Stourhead Estate.
Tea: Plenty options,
including a Hauser & Wirth-managed pub just off route, 4.5 km from the end.
See the webpage or the pdf for details.
18 comments:
Network rail is not showing the 17.18 & 19.12....
Hi Pete. That is unfortunately true. At the moment, train companies are excelling themselves at thinning out the weekend schedules with only days to go... Posting amended. Still intent on going.
Mandatory dinner and drinks in Bruton, plus optional walk to Castle Cary to catch the London train from there (5 km, as per SWC 284)?
I believe that it should be possible to buy groupsave tickets for this journey which gives a similar discount as the network rail card. Given the limited choice of trains for the trip, it should not be problematic...Groupsave tickets can be purchased at the station for groups of 3 or more....Happy to meet those interested at the ticket office...
I'm going. Looking forward. Haven't been to Castle Cary for about 4 years.Gavin
I’m in for group save tickets ! Getting the late train back after dinner. What time would you like to rendezvous in the ticket office ?
Gabriella
Table for dinner booked At The Chapel. The two pubs on the main drag should also offer food, if their websites are to be believed.
Hi Thomas,
Ooh, the Chapel looks really nice. How many people have you reserved for - may I please bagsy a place at the table or should I book separately ? If so, what time ?
Gabriella
I already know of more people coming than I have booked for, so please book another table for - say - 18.30? We can then adjust bookings once in Bruton. Ta
I would like to join for meal. Also, I am travelling up tomorrow, Saturday and staying in the George in Castle Cary, Gavin
Yikes ! The Chapel is really busy on Sunday, I got the last 3 spaces in the entire restaurant that night. Which is in the Club Room at 18.45. Whichever two trekkers would care to join me there are very welcome.
Also, I've had no response from Stargazer or indeed anyone about the group save tickets, so I shall lurk in the ticket office from 08.20 onwards hoping to apprehend a fellow SWC traveller. If there are no takers I'll just buy a regular return at £57.50, but it would be nice to save a few quid if one can.
G
Hi,
Been away for a few days....yes, will definitely be at the ticket office about 8:20-30ish to buy a group ticket with whoever is there....I hope I can eat an evening meal....
Gabriella, I would like to join you at your Chapel table if that’s alright. I’m new to this walking club and looking forward to the adventure. -Alicea
Hi, Gabriella, I would like to join you at your Chapel table if there is still space.
I am new to this walking club and tomorrow is my first attempt!
I will drive rather than taking the train.
hope to see you!
Alice
Gabriella, can I grab the other seat at your table please?
Ranjna
13 off the train, 1 car driver, 1 overnighter, i.e. N=15 in w=sunny-with-a-breeze weather.
This was partly hard work, on account of a record numbers of stiles, many of them rickety, a similarly high count of electric fences and plenty of high-growth grassy meadows. Oh, and plenty of attentive cows.
But mainly we had a great day, with fine views, atmospheric woods, quiet hamlets, a lovely lunch in the courtyard of the Stourhead Estate pub, a very fine dinner At the Chapel, plus post dinner drinks downstairs.
Trains (so far) have been on time, the company has been great. Lovely day, all in.
And some did the stepping stones across The Brue twice, including in darkness...
So much for a jinxed walk report. The connecting train in Westbury was "seriously delayed" due to some joker in the Teignmouth area climbing onto a signal gantry. Why that needs to lead to a 3 1/2 delay, I shall never know. But here we are, at 01.17, departing from Westbury.
3 1/2 hours...
It was a really lovely walk and day out in the lovely weather with lovely people.
Very happy and pleasant first attempt!
Wish you all the best and hope to see you at other walks!
Alice
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