Connect Ilminster 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 Ilminster to the verified network. Can you give a hike and help?
Give a hike!Ilminster
Somerset
Slow Ways linking Ilminster and Chard, Crewkerne, Hemyock, Langport, South Petherton, Taunton, Wellington, Somerset
England / Somerset / Ilminster
Ilminster’s seven Slow Ways are 54% checked
Help connect Ilminster
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 Ilminster’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Ilminster from further afield
Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
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Chard—Ilminster
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Chailm one |
|
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4 X |
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Review me | Distance 10km/6mi | Ascent 115m | Descent 51m | |
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Chard—Ilminster
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Chailm two |
|
1 Y |
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Enjoy me | Distance 9km/6mi | Ascent 95m | Descent 28m | ||
Hemyock—Ilminster
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Hemilm one |
|
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U U |
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Double check | Distance 26km/16mi | Ascent 480m | Descent 576m | |
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Hemyock—Ilminster
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Hemilm two |
|
4 X |
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Review me | Distance 27km/17mi | Ascent 506m | Descent 601m | ||
Ilminster—Crewkerne
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Ilmcre one |
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U U |
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Double check | Distance 11km/7mi | Ascent 190m | Descent 217m | |
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Ilminster—Crewkerne
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Ilmcre two |
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3 X |
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Verify me | Distance 12km/8mi | Ascent 229m | Descent 256m | ||
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Ilminster—Langport
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Ilmlan one |
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3 X |
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Review me | Distance 19km/11mi | Ascent 208m | Descent 168m | ||
Ilminster—South Petherton
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Ilmsou one |
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U U |
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Double check | Distance 9km/6mi | Ascent 115m | Descent 110m | |
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Ilminster—South Petherton
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Ilmsou two |
|
U U |
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Verify me | Distance 11km/7mi | Ascent 162m | Descent 166m | ||
Taunton—Ilminster
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Tauilm one |
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U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 24km/15mi | Ascent 291m | Descent 267m | ||
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Wellington, Somerset—Ilminster
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Welilm one |
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U U |
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Double check | Distance 31km/19mi | Ascent 632m | Descent 600m | |
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Wellington, Somerset—Ilminster
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Welilm two |
|
4 X |
|
Review me | Distance 32km/20mi | Ascent 742m | Descent 775m |
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Ilminster 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
63% of Ilminster’s seven route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
12/12
11/12
6/12
1/12
4 people have contributed to Ilminster’s Slow Ways
2 people have pledged to walk and review a route
7 people have surveyed a route in Ilminster
197km out of 221km have been walked and reviewed
258km of reviews have been shared in Ilminster
Latest Updates
A good route - takes in a lot of scenic villages and vistas, minimal time on roads (and those short stretches that are included aren't very busy). One current issue with the route - which has been reported to the council on 14 Aug 24 is the area adjacent to Poples Well/Grintley lane - where the footpath has not been maintained. Depending on how long the council take to get to this section (may be some time from experience) it is possibly worth ignoring the off road section and continuing along the lane....
William Pannell
After that I had to cross fields of sweetcorn, where unfortunately it was shortly before harvest and the crop was thick and towering over me. I walked the field edge path, which wasn't great, there isn't really a path and the crop is planted almost to the hedgerow. Some of the paths on the map have disappeared, so I stuck to the forestry commission tracks, but they don't connect well with the other plantations, so following this route, when you get to locked gates at a water/drainage station look right for a narrow path through the woodland. After this path, you have to cross the B3170, and go through a gate to the next plantation. Look right and follow a firm narrow path that leads you uphill and then to a proper track. I couldn't work out where the path was, until I realised the path was a stream. The crops will be gone soon, so those fields will be easy to cross most of the time....
Helen Gough
Helen Gough added Welilm two, a new walk from Wellington, Somerset to Ilminster
Walk this routeThe 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
When the houses are built I'm sure there will be a way through, but right now it's fenced off, and looks like it will be for months, if not years. I know there isn't a bridge across the M5 on the byway, and I'm 90% sure there isn't an underpass. I don't like either option, but I think Ford Street isn't as busy as Junction 26....
Helen Gough
I walked from Ilminster as far as Seavington St Michael where I turned off to camp at Lopen Head. The first part, once you have left Ilminster, is along lanes and through the woods, and is very pleasant. But I lost the route around the Knott Oak dairy and ended up wading through wild overgrown fields - check your map against the footpaths very carefully!...
Andrew Davies
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
I saw that a lot of the route was over footpaths across farmland, none of them part of a recognised trail, and I was prepared for a battle with crops, livestock and overgrown paths. There were a couple of places where crops were across the path, but in the first case (at Stockbridge) there was a path around the field edge, and the second time it was easy to walk through the crops without damaging them. I would advise a map and/or GPS to find the exits, some are easy to walk past....
Helen Gough
I really enjoyed parts of this walk, but there were also a couple of sections that made me swear loudly (sorry universe). My first problem was at Bolham Farm where I had to walk through a field of cows. I threw my dog over the gate, and jumped over myself, swearing loudly the whole time. I was in a foul mood by now, but immediately after this, the route follows a ridge top walk with really lovely views of rolling green countryside. Parts of this section were tricky without signage through the farms. The best news is that this section is very short, just a few yards and after this there really aren't any serious problems. I really enjoyed walking through Jan Hobbs Nature Reserve, which gave shade and wildlife after several miles of lanes. All in all, it's a good walk, with some really great highlights, just be prepared!...
Helen Gough
Firstly at the Hemyock the route is plotted along field boundaries, not rights of way. Secondly it has a stretch of walking along the A303 where there is no path....
Helen Gough
Helen Gough added Hemilm two, a new walk from Hemyock to Ilminster
Walk this routeHelen Gough added Ilmsou two, a new walk from Ilminster to South Petherton
Walk this routeThe footpath that then leads away from the road is a dead-end, as it leads to a boggy wood where the footbridge across is has collapsed. Also the footpath from Seavington St Michael to Frogmary Green has been changed, and this route is blocked by hedgerow. Use Ilmsou 2 which avoids these problems...
Helen Gough
Mostly a nice walk, in winter there are muddy, but passable sections....
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
Helen Gough added Ilmcre two, a new walk from Ilminster to Crewkerne
Walk this routeRoute is fine apart from the way in/out of Ilminster which involves a mile of road walking, on a B road where there is no path. Use IlmCre two instead...
Helen Gough
Decent route between Crewkerne and Ilminster via Hinton St George using footpaths and quiet lanes. Coming into Ilminster you go through a field with horses behind electric fences, and for some reason the land owner has put a barrier across the path....
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
Slow Ways added Ilmcre one, a new walk from Ilminster to Crewkerne
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Ilmlan one, a new walk from Ilminster to Langport
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Ilmsou one, a new walk from Ilminster to South Petherton
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Welilm one, a new walk from Wellington, Somerset to Ilminster
Walk this route
Ilminster’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
ST3613814539
Lat / Lon
50.92675° / -2.91004°
Easting / Northing
336,138E / 114,539N
what3words
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Ilminster 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 Ilminster'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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