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Compton Dundon and Combe Hill Wood

4.97 miles (8 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk explores the area around the Somerset village of Compton Dundon.
On the way you'll visit The Hood Monument and Combe Hill Woods before a climb to Dundon Beacon where you can enjoy some fine views over the area.
The walk starts in the village and heads north to The Hood Monument. The hilltop monument is something of a local landmark and sits atop windmill hill. There's some fine views to Glastonbury Tor from this historic spot.
From here you head south east to Combe Hill Wood. Here you can enjoy miles of peaceful woodland trail through Great Breach Wood and Copley Wood. From the high points in the woods there are some lovely views over the surrounding countryside.
The route then heads west toward Dundon where you can climb to the Iron Age Hillfort at Dundon Beacon. The area is a nature reserve with some lovely flora and fauna to look out for.

Postcode

TA11 6PR - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Combe Hill Wood OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Combe Hill Wood Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Compton Dundon

  • Somerton - This attractive Somerset based town has a fine 17th century market square and some outstanding architecture to enjoy
  • Lytes Cary - Visit this National Trust owned manor house and enjoy walks around the grounds and the surrounding countryside
  • River Parret Trail - Follow the River Parrett from the source in Chedington in Dorset to the mouth in Bridgwater Bay, Somerset.
    The route first heads to Langport passing Haselbury and the 16th century English Heritage owned Muchelney Abbey
  • Burrow Mump - This walk climbs this small hill overlooking the village of Burrowbridge in the Somerset Levels
  • Glastonbury Canal - Follow the Glastonbury Canal through the Somerset Levels on this waterside walk through the Avalon Marshes
  • Glastonbury Tor - This popular walk takes you from the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey to the summit of the iconic Glastonbury Tor
  • Ham Wall - Ham Wall Nature Reserve is part of the Avalon Marshes in the beautiful Somerset Levels
  • Shapwick Heath - Explore this lovely nature reserve in the Somerset's Levels
  • Bridgewater Canal - This easy cycle ride takes you along a section of the Bridgewater Canal from Pennington Flash to Marshland Bridge, via Leigh
  • Cheddar Gorge - This is a circular walk around the magnificent Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
  • Westhay Moor - This walk visits the Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve on the Somerset Levels.
  • Street Somerset - This pretty Somerset based village is a great place from which to explore the nearby Polden Hills and Mendip Hills

Pubs/Cafes

Back in the village you can enjoy some post exercise rest and refreshment at The Castlebrook Inn. There pub has a nice garden area and there is also a large conservatory restaurant towards the rear. They serve good quality food and can be found at postcode TA11 6PR for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The woodland trails on the route are ideal for dog walking. The Castlebrook Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The woods are located just to the north of the noteworthy town of Somerton. You can enjoy some wonderful historic buildings, riverside walks along the River Cary and visit one of the local highlights at the National Trust's Lytes Cary manor.
To the north lies Street where you can enjoy walks along the Polden Way through the Polden Hills.

Photos

Compton Street, Compton Dundon - geograph.org.uk - 81373

Compton Street, Compton Dundon

Woodland walks - geograph.org.uk - 563324

Woodland walks. Combe Hill is private land, but the landlord, together with the Forestry Commission, manage a delightful wood, with information boards and waymarked paths.

View towards Compton Dundon - geograph.org.uk - 892230

View towards Compton Dundon

Carved Seat above Compton Dundon - geograph.org.uk - 892237

Carved Seat above Compton Dundon

From Meadway Hall looking up to Dundon Hill - geograph.org.uk - 759730

From Meadway Hall looking up to Dundon Hill. The hill fort at the top dates to 700 BC. An excavation in 1916 found pottery and flints here, but the fort has been damaged by quarrying.

Looking towards Dundon Beacon from Collard Hill. - geograph.org.uk - 2267037

Looking towards Dundon Beacon from Collard Hill.

Looking up to the Admiral Hood memorial - geograph.org.uk - 759783

From Compton Street looking up to the Admiral Hood memorial on Windmill Hill

The Hood Monument in Autumn (geograph 4693956)

The Hood Monument in Autumn. The monument celebrates Admiral Sir Samuel Hood. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It was completed in 1831 to a design by Henry Goodridge.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Combe Hill Wood.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)