Description
This route follows an extremely straightforward route from Ilminster to Chard using the old railway line that used to run between them. The route forms part of SusTrans route 33 and takes in many World War 2 defences forming part of the Taunton Stop Line. The Stop Line was a continuous emplacement of tank traps, barriers and pill boxes in case of a Nazi invasion up along the south west peninsula of England.
The path is firm, largely tarmac, although it can be rough and muddy in places. The route is easy to follow, although there are a few diverging, almost parallel, paths in places to keep an eye on navigation. It is well walked by dog walkers, so there is very often someone to ask if unsure. It is lit at both ends for a short distance near the towns, but not along it's length. The route is usually completely clear, however there are a few gates along the way that can be closed across the path to allow farm access, in whcih case you will need to use the cattle grid protected access alongside. At least one of these gates only has a tall metal narrow cycle access structure with limited width. Having said that, I have never seen the gates across the path in many years.
The path moves through wooded areas, deep cuttings and beside farmland, with a highlight being the Chard sewage treatment plant halfway long! There are excellent interpretation panels for the World War 2 defences at points along the route and also a wildlife interpretation panel.
Both towns of Ilminster and Chard have local amenities including food and accomodation, although public transport is limited. There is a (fairly) regular bus route between Axmoinster and Taunton that serves both
This route follows an extremely straightforward route from Ilminster to Chard using the old railway line that used to run between them. The route forms part of SusTrans route 33 and takes in many World War 2 defences forming part of the Taunton Stop Line. The Stop Line was a continuous emplacement of tank traps, barriers and pill boxes in case of a Nazi invasion up along the south west peninsula of England.
The path is firm, largely tarmac, although it can be rough and muddy in places. The route is easy to follow, although there are a few diverging, almost parallel, paths in places to keep an eye on navigation. It is well walked by dog walkers, so there is very often someone to ask if unsure. It is lit at both ends for a short distance near the towns, but not along it's length. The route is usually completely clear, however there are a few gates along the way that can be closed across the path to allow farm access, in whcih case you will need to use the cattle grid protected access alongside. At least one of these gates only has a tall metal narrow cycle access structure with limited width. Having said that, I have never seen the gates across the path in many years.
The path moves through wooded areas, deep cuttings and beside farmland, with a highlight being the Chard sewage treatment plant halfway long! There are excellent interpretation panels for the World War 2 defences at points along the route and also a wildlife interpretation panel.
Both towns of Ilminster and Chard have local amenities including food and accomodation, although public transport is limited. There is a (fairly) regular bus route between Axmoinster and Taunton that serves both
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 2
Surveys
What is this route like?
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Grade 1Y based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
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Description | Note | ||
Grade 1: Entirely smooth and compacted surfaces. Access grade Y: Stile, step and obstacle free. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
Full grading description |
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Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
Narrowest part of path: no data
The steepest uphill gradient East: no data
The steepest uphill gradient West: no data
The steepest camber: no data
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Clear (1)
Successfully completed
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Recommended by an expert
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Terrain
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There is no data on how much of this route is on roads
There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night
100.0% of the route is paved (1)
There is no data on muddiness
There is no data on rough ground
There is no data on long grass
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1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Chard
Grid Ref
ST3223208587
Lat / Lon
50.87278° / -2.96450°
Easting / Northing
332,232E / 108,587N
What3Words
honeybees.joined.verifying
Ilminster
Grid Ref
ST3613814539
Lat / Lon
50.92675° / -2.91004°
Easting / Northing
336,138E / 114,539N
What3Words
extensive.compiled.clearcut
Chard | |
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Grid Ref | ST3223208587 |
Lat / Lon | 50.87278° / -2.96450° |
Easting / Northing | 332,232E / 108,587N |
What3Words | honeybees.joined.verifying |
Ilminster | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | ST3613814539 |
Lat / Lon | 50.92675° / -2.91004° |
Easting / Northing | 336,138E / 114,539N |
What3Words | extensive.compiled.clearcut |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Andrew Davies
03 Jul 2023Excellent and very pleasant route along a cycle way and well-signed path. Not for those who like scrambling up and down rocky or muddy hills, this is an easy flat walk through lovely countryside. I loved the bits of history along the way too.
Helen Gough
08 Jan 2022It's winter. It's south Somerset. It has rained almost every day for weeks. It's a mud bath out there. All I wanted was one walk where one step didn't feel like five from the effort of pulling your feet from the sinking earth. This route fits the bill perfectly.
Between the towns it follows an old railway line so is tarmac all the way, is virtually flat, and is suitable for wheels as well as walkers. It is also known as The Stop Line, which originally went from Burnham to Seaton and was fortified to prevent the German army from advancing through the country should they invade via the West Country. There are still concrete defences visible along the way, but it does make the West Country look like a limb that could be amputated if necessary. There are info boards along the way that tell of the wildlife and WWII history. At Donyatt Halt there is a platform and a monument to the evacuated children of the war. The Covid pandemic is bad, but at least you didn't have to send your children away to be brought up by unvetted strangers/ at least you didn't have to bring up the children of unvetted strangers.
This is a nice easy, short, flat walk. I got to Ilminster in no time. It's amazing how far you can go if you don't have to drag your feet from the mud with every step.
Well done Stop Line. You may have demoralised everyone who lived to the west of you, but you gave me my first clean walk of the winter, and my tri-coloured collie was still tri-coloured at the end of it. Result!.
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PhilthyOne
30 Nov 2021Good hard paths along length, cycleway tarmac near towns at both ends. One fairly busy country lane to cross, where cars move quite fast, but visibility is good. Easy to navigate route.
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