Weltau one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

I walked from Wellington to Taunton on a sunny day, but at the end of a week of rain and that made sections of this route a bit tricky. The worst part was Hamlands Lane, but it wasn't overgrown as mentioned in previous reviews. It was mostly decent, there were just 2 parts where a stream had flooded the track. Options were jump, climb, or get wet feet (wellies would have worked fine).
As mentioned in the other reviews, crops were planted over paths and several fields had no signs. However, although I slipped and slided along the route, it was mostly fine, not boggy, and after dry weather would be an easy walk. It's mostly flat, and I thought it was a lovely, peaceful and green route into Taunton.
On the day I walked, a footbridge in Taunton was closed for safety reasons, but the next bridge was very close.

I walked this route in the Wellington-Taunton direction. Mostly a lovely flat route which follows the well waymarked West Deane Way from Bradford to Taunton . The vast majority of the route is on footpaths away from traffic and crossing beautiful countryside. Between Bradford and Wellington, Hamland Lane is muddy and overgrown in places but passable and a couple fields can be a bit tricky to navigate. You can return to your start point using the 22/22A bus. All in all a lovely route.

I enjoyed this route, although I did walk it from Taunton to Wellington after a long spell of dry weather. Much of the route follows the West Deane Way and is a lovely walk, pleasant and traffic free of getting away from the city centre. Despite the dry conditions Hamlands Lane had muddy sections and was somewhat overgrown. It is an enclosed track so presumably rarely dries out. I did have to cross a ploughed field on a non-reinstated footpath to access the lane. Otherwise a good walk.

The route was pleasant and easy to follow coming out of Wellington and after Bradford on Tone, but between Ham and Bradford on Tone, there were no waymarkers. It was not possible to cross a field planted with crops. You need to go round the southern side of the field where the ground is uneven and the path was difficult to follow as it crossed into a neighbouring field. This also had to be crossed to reach a farm track.
The surfaces varied from tarmac, stony tracks and very muddy and wet tracks. Some people might find some of the uneven and slippery surfaces off putting.
There were steps leaving Wellington, but there were plenty of other alley ways to use through the housing estate. There were a few gates, stiles and a narrow bridge.
The route after you cross Silk Mills in Taunton is acceptable and pleasant, but in Winter crossing Longrun Meadow using the given route is not always possible due to severe flooding. I would recommend in this case diverting in the following way: Cross Netherclay Community Woodland diagonally, going onto the road by the bridge, turn left along the footpath by the side of Tytherleigh House, cross Silk Mills and then enter Longrun Meadow and follow the path to the right. Keep Castle School on your right and follow the cycle/foot path down towards Tescos, turn left and then after a small bridge turn right and you will rejoin the existing route.
Bradford On Tone has a pub and a small shop.

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