There is a shop at Blagdon which is open most of the time and one at West Harfleet (again open most of the time) and only a little over half way....

Neil Smith

It is, overall, a wonderful walk, easy to navigate and through interesting countryside with wide expansive views. I also encountered a blocked footpath on the approach to East Harptree (ST 57404 56822) - it was not possible to go straight through a field of sweetcorn. There are not many places suitable for taking a break along this walk - I didn't notice a single bench - apart from in the villages of East Harptree and Wookey Hole. And therein lies my biggest question about this walk - it is ~11km between East Harptree and Wookey so this route does not meet this aspect of the Slow Ways methodology....

panifex

Note that it often shares or closely parallels the route used by its sister Slow Way Bisrad (going between Bishop Sutton and Radstock). The only negatives are that the route is a little prone to annoying standing crop without clear paths through or good headlands round the edge of some fields in mid/late summer, especially just east of Bishop Sutton (home of my least favourite bean field which necessarily features in several Slow Ways going east out of the village!) and it is a bit of a boring (but also necessary) walk through Paulton....

Mockymock

A bit boring and trafficky walking along the main thoroughfare through Paulton and some sections of arable fields where you may well have to go around the edge, including my least favourite mega bean field west of Bishop Sutton, which can be a fight in midsummer....

Mockymock

A pleasant walk with no steep gradients. Route was easy to follow. Gates and stiles were mostly modern and well-maintained....

4rank

This route generally deserves more stars than the three I have given it and panifex’s alternative route out of Farmborough is really nice, but thanks to the propensity of some farmers to drill crops right up to the hedge and not maintain the footpath across their fields, I had two 500m instances of wrestling through mature crops of field beans sometimes up to my shoulders (I’m not tall) plus a field of wheat to wade through to boot, and this put a dampener on my enjoyment of this very decent Slow Way today. And though the locals clearly walk around the edge of one of these fields, it is still a right pain once the crop gets tall....

Mockymock

It is a great walk, along easy to navigate footpaths. The only problems I encountered were cows... Definitely a good Slow Way...

panifex

Approaching the village, the route begins its steady two-plus mile climb up the northern slope of the Mendip Hills through pastures, tracks and quiet lanes. Near the top, along a shady bridleway, the route joins the well-signed Monarch’s Way, which leads across the Mendip plateau, often through the big, square and sometimes stone-walled fields typical of the area, and elsewhere meanders along forestry tracks and through the interesting hummocky territory of the old lead mineries near Priddy. At the southern end of the plateau a stupendous view opens up suddenly in front of you and there is a steep, straight descent down wildflower-studded grasslands from the top of the Mendip scarp to the touristy village of Wookey Hole (of caves fame). Here the Slow Way takes the southerly route through the village to allow access to pubs and eateries but you could equally well carry on on the Monarch’s Way to the north if you want to avoid it at busy times....

Mockymock

2) The route takes a needlessly complicated and confusing route through Paulton...

panifex

The route from Clutton to Bishop Sutton is an alternative to that suggested in the slow way from Radstock to Bishop Norton along well used and easy to navigate footpaths....

panifex

I regularly walk from Radstock to Clutton, and this is pretty much the route I take, so I have no complaints for this section at all. The section from Clutton to Bishop Sutton, is also easy to walk and navigate - following the Three Peaks walk for most of the way....

panifex

The section between Clutton Hill and Clutton is not obvious and required some back-and-forthing. But not too bad if you keep your eyes peeled!...

Dommo

The first section to Chew Magna is absolutely stunning. Easy to follow route, gentle terrain. Highly recommend....

Dommo

This is a generally decent route through the rolling farmland and woodland of the eastern Chew Valley and riverside fields along the course of the River Chew. There is a pub at Stanton Wick which was busy on the fine weekend that I passed by, and the route heads on from there to dive into a little woody valley and up the other side just before crossing the busy A37 at a safe point with decent sight lines. From here on the route takes the pretty Two Rivers Way path for a couple of miles along the tree-lined course of the River Chew to the edge of Keynsham....

Mockymock

From Winford it uses the same start following the line of the brook through fields, but then continues directly on past a little reservoir into Chew Magna. Beyond the village it takes the path south along the valley of the River Chew (which can be muddy in places in winter) and crosses the road to join the well-surfaced footpath/cycle route along the shores of Chew Valley Lake....

Mockymock

A nice enough up-and-down walk through farmland in the lovely Chew Valley with some good views around the area. From the top of the hill, a quiet lane and bridleway leads straight back down again into Chew Magna. On this section there are a couple of 50m-ish stretches on faster roads without footways, one when crossing the Pagans Hill road to head towards Chillyhill Farm (what3words invents.flask.tunes) and the second on arrival into Chew Magna itself from the end of Chillyhill Lane (perform.overused.rates)....

Mockymock

A delightful route along the southern edge of the Chew Valley using easily navigable pathways between villages that are well-walked by the locals, with lovely views over Blagdon and Chew Valley lakes along the way. There is a pub in this village, and from there a short section of the Limestone Link path goes to West Harptree, which has another pub and a shop. The onward path from West Harptree goes round the southern end of Chew Valley Lake through a pretty area of low-lying pastureland with hedgerows full of mature oak trees....

Mockymock

This is a good route overall but includes an indirect and unnecessary road walk into Bishop Sutton, and it doesn't take the best route through the village of Compton Martin either. I will post an adjusted version and do a full review of that....

Mockymock

Lots to enjoy on this walk for walkers but mot suitable for wheels and route unclear in places. It has very pretty areas, it all felt very safe, we would happily walk it again and, I think, recommend it....

harptreemartins