{"id":869,"date":"2018-02-28T13:42:18","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T13:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebestofexmoor.co.uk\/blog\/?p=869"},"modified":"2022-11-26T18:26:36","modified_gmt":"2022-11-26T18:26:36","slug":"dunster-circular-walk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebestofexmoor.co.uk\/blog\/dunster-circular-walk\/","title":{"rendered":"Circular Walk | Dunster | 2 Hour Walk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dunster Circular Walk<\/h2>\n

There are a number of tracks and paths extending from Dunster into the expanse of the Crown Estate and surrounding land. Walk along Dunster High Steet, past the castle then bare left down Mill Lane. You should find yourself approaching Gallox Bridge (as shown in the title image). Beyond this, at the base of the hill, is a large mounted map showing you the lay of the land. From here, you can follow any of the various tracks, or perhaps the route as described below.<\/p>\n

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Highlights: The Yarn Market, Dunster High Street, Dunster Castle, Dunster Working Watermill, Gallox Bridge, view over Avill valley, Bats Castle, views over Exmoor and Bristol Channel, ancient byway, Dunster Dovecot, Dunster church and gardens, Tithe Barn
\nStart Grid ref: SS 993 438
\nDistance: 4.3 miles, circular
\nHeight gained\/lost: 260 metres. A moderate walk, gaining height to enjoy excellent views both inland and out to sea.
\nHigh Point: 205 metres
\nLow Point: 28 metres
\nToilets: at start car park, Dunster Castle
\nEating places: in Dunster only
\nTime required: excluding stops: 2 hours<\/p>\n

Route directions: The grid references are given should you like to follow the route on an Ordnance Survey map.<\/p>\n

1, SS 993 438
\nThis walk starts at the main car park in Dunster, called Dunster Steep car park. From this car park walk up to\u00a0the National Park Centre, continuing along the road\u00a0ahead, being aware of the traffic. Follow the road round\u00a0to the left into the High Street. Pass the Yarn Market and continue towards the traffic lights.<\/p>\n

2, SS 991 436, 0.2 miles
\nNow continue ahead uphill towards the Castle soon bearing right downhill, leaving the Castle on your left. Pass through the gates and turn left along the main road, West Street. Shortly turn left down Mill Lane towards the Working Watermill. Cross the stream bridge\u00a0with the mill leat now on your left. Shortly turn right\u00a0along Mill Gardens. The watermill is just ahead if you\u00a0want to visit it first, then returning to Mill Gardens.<\/p>\n

3, SS 989 432, 0.5 miles
\nPass through the barrier at the end of Mill Gardens and bear left along the road to reach Gallox Bridge, a delightful pack-horse bridge over the River Avill. Cross the bridge and keep ahead on the track past houses on your right.<\/p>\n

4, SS 989 430, 0.6 miles
\nNow keep to the main track that bears slightly right, so ignoring the path on the left\u00a0through the kissing gate and the path to the right and\u00a0level. This track now climbs gently and quite straight through woodland.<\/p>\n

5, SS 985 429, 0.9 miles
\nAfter a while ignore the track that bears off to the left uphill, instead keeping on the main track still climbing\u00a0gently. A little further on ignore the path that bears off to the right downhill, instead keeping on the main track as it now bears round to the left. Look for the wonderful roots and mosses on the banks. At the top of the climb the track goes to the left. At this point just go over to your right to an excellent viewpoint over the River Avill\u00a0valley, looking towards Timberscombe and Wootton Courtenay.<\/p>\n

6, SS 981 427, 1.2 miles
\nReturn to the main path, now effectively going straight\u00a0ahead from here. Shortly take the next path that goes hard back to the left. Follow this uphill and then follow it round to the right through the gap.<\/p>\n

7, SS 983 427, 1.4 miles
\nNow ignore the path to the left instead going straight ahead on the path uphill through the trees to emerge
\nout of the woods on the top of Gallax Hill. On your right is an old Roman settlement with the earthworks still
\nquite obvious. Continue ahead on the grass path.<\/p>\n

8, SS 985 424, 1.7 miles
\nAs the path loses a bit of height, ignore the path to the\u00a0left, continuing ahead uphill again to reach Bats Castle,\u00a0another Roman settlement. The path goes through the middle of this one, giving wonderful all-round views.\u00a0On leaving it keep on the path ahead towards the\u00a0woods, ignoring the paths off either side. Pass through\u00a0the woods ahead to reach a bridle gate by a gate.\u00a0Ignore the path to the left.<\/p>\n

9, SS 993 418, 2.4 miles
\nPass through the bridle gate and turn left along this\u00a0ancient byway. Follow it as it loses height beside the\u00a0old bank on your left with old beech trees that would\u00a0have once been planted as a hedge. After a little while\u00a0pass the gate to a reservoir on your left and a little\u00a0further on when this track turns right, turn left here to a\u00a0gate, signed to Dunster<\/p>\n

10, SS 998 426, 3.0 miles
\nPass through a plantation of ancient oak trees, keeping ahead with the Castle to your right. Keep on this path as it now loses height to a\u00a0kissing gate by a gate.<\/p>\n

Continue descending straight ahead, ignoring a path on the left, to a wooden kissing gate which accesses a minor road.<\/p>\n

11, SS 989 430, 3.6 miles
\nPass through this and turn right, back past the houses to Gallox Bridge. Bear right by the car park along Mill Gardens, bearing left along Mill Lane back to West\u00a0Street.<\/p>\n

12, SS 989 434, 3.8 miles
\nTurn right along the main road and opposite the gates to the castle, instead of returning that way, cross over to
\ngo along St Georges Street opposite. Follow it as it winds right and left to reach the school.<\/p>\n

13, SS 989 436, 4.0 miles
\nBy the school, turn right along Priory Green, passing by the lych-gate to the church, passing through an old
\nbrick arch to reach the Dovecot on the left and the church gardens on the right. Continue ahead to pass
\nthe restored tithe barn on the right. Continue along this\u00a0road following it round to the right near the end to go
\nahead to the main road and the National Park Centre\u00a0and car park.<\/p>\n

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\"dunster\"dunster<\/p>\n

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Other posts you may be interested in;<\/h2>\n
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