Connect Chard with Slow Ways
We’re creating a network of walking routes that connect all of Britain’s towns, cities and national parks
more walks and reviews are needed to fully connect Chard to the verified network. Can you give a hike and help?
Give a hike!Help connect Chard
Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.
Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.
Give a hike and help get a for every one of Chard’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Chard from further afield
Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Axminster—Chard
|
Axmcha one |
|
3 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 13km/8mi | Ascent 281m | Descent 195m | ||
Chard—Beaminster
|
Chabea one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 24km/15mi | Ascent 542m | Descent 488m | ||
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Chard—Beaminster
|
Chabea two |
|
3 X |
|
Review me | Distance 22km/14mi | Ascent 492m | Descent 543m | ||
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Chard—Crewkerne
|
Chacre one |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 15km/10mi | Ascent 366m | Descent 330m | ||
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Chard—Crewkerne
|
Chacre two |
|
3 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 16km/10mi | Ascent 353m | Descent 392m | ||
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Chard—Ilminster
|
Chailm one |
|
|
4 X |
|
Review me | Distance 10km/6mi | Ascent 115m | Descent 51m | |
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Chard—Ilminster
|
Chailm two |
|
1 Y |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 9km/6mi | Ascent 95m | Descent 28m | ||
Hemyock—Chard
|
Hemcha one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 25km/15mi | Ascent 508m | Descent 533m | ||
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Hemyock—Chard
|
Hemcha two |
|
3 X |
|
Review me | Distance 23km/14mi | Ascent 515m | Descent 543m | ||
Honiton—Chard
|
Honcha one |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 23km/14mi | Ascent 674m | Descent 673m | |
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Honiton—Chard
|
Honcha two |
|
4 X |
|
Review me | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent 622m | Descent 621m |
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Chard and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Collective progress
68% of Chard’s six route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
11/11
9/11
7/11
3/11
6 people have contributed to Chard’s Slow Ways
2 people have pledged to walk and review a route
8 people have surveyed a route in Chard
154km out of 202km have been walked and reviewed
276km of reviews have been shared in Chard
Latest Updates
The route makes it look like you can merge onto the Stop Line, a disused railway, but you have to cross the bridge then turn right and right again to get to the line. There are 2 sections of this route that use the Stop Line, which is a shared cycle/footpath. At other times of the year, there are probably more views, but at the moment the fields are planted with corn, and it's really tall right now....
Helen Gough
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....
Andrew Davies
Most of the route was clear and pleasant, especially just outside Axminster along the river....
Andrew Davies
We walked from Crewkerne to Axminster, and this route worked perfectly. I'd certainly recommended it!...
pilea
I'm keen to walk from Crewkerne to Honiton.... so will come back and use it again for that! Thank you Helen!!!...
pilea
other than the advice to take a stick or some secateurs to cut back the nettles that a blocking the path in a few pinch points....
danravenellison
Some people will not like all the lanes (there's a lot of lane walking), but I enjoy walking them......
danravenellison
From Oatens Farm to Combe St Nicholas the route is entirely on quiet hedgerow lined lanes. From Combe St Nicholas the route is more varied using tracks, footpaths and very narrow quiet lanes....
Helen Gough
I walked from Chard to Honiton and really enjoyed this route....
Helen Gough
Also there are parts where the plotting is inaccurate, not by a lot, but enough to get you the wrong side of a hedgerow and have to again retrace your steps. I have uploaded HonCha2, which avoids wasting energy!...
Helen Gough
In fact the whole walk was quiet, very little traffic or people noise once outside the towns of Chard and Axminster. There was one field where that wasn't possible, and I walked round the edge which was a bit overgrown....
Helen Gough
This is a great route that crosses Dorset AONB, but has fantastic views leaving Chard as well. There were 2 minor points, firstly leaving Chard on Chardstock Lane, the route cuts the corner by going through a field, but when I walked it there were crops across it....
Helen Gough
Venues Track is waterlogged and only passable in wellies, and even then is unpleasant. Use ChaCre2 which avoids these problems....
Helen Gough
If you follow this spectacular walk you'll find far reaching views to rival any in those more well known places. There is a section with "Beware of the Bull" signs written in blood red, which is a little off putting, but there was no sign of the bull when I went....
Helen Gough
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. 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. 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....
Helen Gough
Good 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....
PhilthyOne
What's interesting is that there is a more direct route following this old railway line for the whole length, that is part of SusTrans route 33....
PhilthyOne
Route follows a mix of farmland paths and permissive access along the old Ilminster to Chard railway line. Easily followed, but map will be required. Long sections of tarmac as well as paths over farmland, which can be muddy....
PhilthyOne
If you prefer not to walk along the roadway, you have a good map and the weather is good, then the route continuing straight on from Chardstock Church via Burridge common into Chard is a nice walk. You can rejoin the Slow Ways route at Bounds lane and enjoy the fantastic views over Chard....
Hilary Willoughby

Chard’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
ST3223208587
Lat / Lon
50.87278° / -2.96450°
Easting / Northing
332,232E / 108,587N
what3words
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Chard and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Facilities
Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Chard's meeting point
Public toilet
Wheelchair accessible toilet
Supermarket or convenience shop
Restaurant, cafe or pub
Accommodation
Accommodation for under £50 a night
Campsite
Bothy
Free wifi
Mobility scooter hire
Off-road wheelchair hire
Disabled Parking
Train station
Bus stop
Ferry
Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town
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