Watnor one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Watnor here.

I have not walked this Slow Way but I agree with the previous reviewer. It is unusable in its current form because it uses roads and tracks through the private grounds of St Audries Park where there is no public right of way. A new version of this route is definitely needed!.

The start of the walk out of North Petherton is along minor roads with no pavement or verge for about1.7miles which is hard on the feet. There is then a further 0.3miles along a concrete farm drive. It is not that obvious where the path out of the farmyard is located. Once found there are then there are a couple of fields to cross to Goathurst which are also not signed but reasonably obvious on the ground. Where the path comes out at Goathurst the sign has fallen down and there was a car parked very close to the access so it could be difficult to spot from the other direction. There is then another 1.5miles on minor roads. The roads were not unsafe as such as the cars were not going very quick but they are fairly narrow roads with high hedges so you need to be alert. The path then goes through a holiday camp and was not signed as a right of way. There was no-one about when I went (mid March) and it was reasonably easy to pick up the path (which is signed Quantock Greenway). The path itself was extremely muddy as it is narrow, overhung with trees so slow to dry and used by horses as well as people. Thankfully it is only a short section but it was very slow going and slippery. The route then picks up a short section of quite busy B-road at Enmore. The 12th century church is lovely, as is the path next to it which is followed to Barford House. I did cross a maize field which was cut but looked as though it would have been difficult to cross when it was growing. You need to keep your eyes out for the stile near Barford House as it is not clearly signed. The path to Spaxton is also not well signed but was pretty well used so easy to spot on the ground
From Spaxton the route goes into a field and out through the farmyard. It is not signed and not easy to locate on the ground. (In fact, from here to Halsey Cross you would probably be better off just walking on the minor road). Walking past Spaxton’s lovely church you come to Peart Hall and the no-through-road is taken down to a house. The footpath is straight ahead, through a private garden and up a lovely sunken lane. At the top it is difficult to work out where the path through the field goes or where it comes out and it is not signed into the field in the other direction either. At Radlet Common the path appears to go into the garden of a house and out again. Luckily there was no-one home as I was wondering around their yard for ages trying to spot a path, to no avail. So I retraced my steps and followed the minor road. The path was not signed from the other end (through a farmyard) either. For the next path to Halseycross Farm, the sign was just visible in the hedge but the path was so overgrown I stayed on the road. Again, no sign at the farmyard at the other end of the path either. Things picked up at Halsey Cross itself. On crossing the B road there is a clear footpath over a field and into Jubilee Woods which are a delight. The footpath behind the houses at Nether Stowey is narrow but clear. The official route detours (shops and pubs) but if you don’t need to use any of these you could continue straight along South Lane to pick up Castle Hill and cut the corner.
Either way you want to follow Castle Street uphill (narrow between houses and wall in places). Continue downhill on the same minor road as the houses thin out. At the T-Junction turn left then, shortly after, there is a track on the right with the Coleridge Way symbol (Brown Quill). You follow the Coleridge Way from here to Holford. It is well signed in this direction but less so if walking in reverse. The footpath continues above the stream/bridleway and comes out behind a house. Turn right and walk up the lane to the top. Opposite is a gate into a field. Turn left in the field and walk to the top (Walfords’ Gibbet). Follow the minor road straight on for a while before a clear sign on the right. Follow and obvious bridleway through the woods to come out onto the moors (extensive views across to the Bristol Channel). At the cross of tracks turn right (the sign could be slightly misleading). At the top of the hill (large pile of stones) continue straight on and down into another wood. Pass the pond on its left and continue down. At the minor road turn left and walk along the road into Holford. Turn right at The Triangle. The official path takes you down to the main road and back up again. The only reason for doing this would be to visit the pub. Otherwise, cut the corner by turning left (signposted Car Park) and following the road past the green. When the road turns sharp right by a stone wall (Ancient Dog Pound), take the path on the left (still following Coleridge Way signs) and climb the long uphill onto the Quantock’s. There are a myriad of paths and tracks on the Quantock’s so navigate carefully. You drop down from Beacon Hill to Staple Plain car park and, just as you head out of the car park on the other side is a path that leads down to the A39 at West Quantock’s Head (it brings you right out next to The Windmill Pub)
The Slow Ways suggests going through St Audries Wedding Centre but there is no right of way on the map and I did not feel comfortable about investigating. There are a number of alternatives. Probably the most sensible would be to reverse the path from Holford that is suggested in the Watchet to Bridgwater Slow Way. However, if you did want to cross the Quantock’s (and they are beautiful) when you get to the main A39, turn left along a bit of verge then footpath through West Quantock’s Head. There is then a section with a very narrow verge so not the safest to a B-road on the right. There is also not much of a verge here. You could continue on this road to Doniford or you could turn off part way down at St Audries Bay Holiday Park and follow the road down into the park where you can pick up the South West Coast path to Doniford. At Doniford you drop down onto the beach (tide permitting), cross Helwell Bay and climb the steps onto the footpath round to Watchet.

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