(In fact, turning from Nynehead Road onto the footpath in the opposite direction would take you to the remains of the historic Nynehead Boat Lift, which I had visited a few years earlier.) It split into two parallel paths for a short distance where the aqueduct over the River Tone was. It left the line of the canal and crossed fields to a quiet road, which it then followed, including a light-controlled level crossing, and over the line of the canal again, almost into the village of Bradford-on-Tone, at 40% through the route, where there was a pub, and a little shop open in the mornings only. The route continued following the West Deane Way, along the north west bank of the River Tone for some distance through fields. Near Norton Fitzwarren the route crossed the middle of a couple of fields where the path was kept free of crops, maybe because we were following the line of the canal once again....

Mary Oz

I walked a new version of WelTau a week ago, and attempted to use the footbridge over the Tone that I think Helen referred to, in the centre of Taunton, and it has now been totally removed! It is now necessary to follow an alternative, such as my on-the-hoof suggestion I used for WelTau Two. Therefore I need to fail WelTau One for access....

Mary Oz

This route takes some care to navigate and an OS map or a good digital equivalent is recommended....

John Scott

I soon found myself passing Follyfoot Strawberry Farm/Agri Fruit, which was interesting, although at the start I had to negotiate a puddle with stepping stones and a stile, to get to the correct path, which was not entirely clear on the route plot. My friend had joined me at the pub to walk into Taunton and we both enjoyed the rest of the route, although we struggled getting her dog past some of the stiles we encountered. Unfortunately, the footpath swingbridge we needed to walk across to the towpath had been closed for repairs for the last six months....

Mary Oz

It is almost all off road bar a couple of miles of lane walking between Stoke St Gregory and Stathe which is necessary to get around a closed level crossing that has blocked the old route across the fields. Just before the path reaches the road and a bridge crossing, there is a private house and garden on the rampart and the path angles down a scruffy embankment into the field behind it to reach the gate to the road. The route then crosses the river over a narrow road bridge without a footway (quietish little road though) and continues a short way along the opposite bank before taking a grassy drove (passing a couple of fields full of willow whips - a distinctively local crop) towards the ridge ahead. The route follows along the ridge for a while, with some wide views to enjoy before it passes through the grounds of a willow-themed visitor attraction complete with wicker dinosaurs and a cafe before crossing the road and edging round some fields towards Stoke St Gregory. It is a bit of a dull walk along lanes from there to Stathe, heading eventually gently downhill to cross the River Parrett over a bridge. From here the Slow Way follows the River Parrett Trail between the river and a flood channel....

Mockymock

A good four stars is my overall verdict but along the way I’d give Taunton to Ham four stars; Ham to North Curry three stars ; North Curry to Stoke St Gregory five stars; Stoke St Gregory to Stathe, three stars and Stathe to Langport, five stars. From the centre of Taunton the route heads up the main street as far as the bridge over the River Tone where it turns off to follow the river. At Creech, the route crosses over, via village roads, to the good towpath of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and follows it for a kilometre or so before crossing the mainline railway on a footpath over the rails, and heading back over fields to cross the Tone again at Ham. Stoke St Gregory has a community pub which is now the village hall/cafe/shop. Eventually the road leads gently down to the end of the ridge and the Slow Way crosses the River Parrett at Stathe to pick up the River Parrett Trail for the rest of the way. Finally, the route passes under a low railway viaduct and arrives into Langport, a small town that has spent much of its history servicing river traffic and trying to keep its feet dry. Langport is on a bus route that goes between Taunton and Yeovil on weekdays and there is a little bus between there and Bridgwater a few times a day Monday to Saturday....

Mockymock

Finally, in Taunton, the route takes the lower, unpaved path on the southern side of the river Tone to the edge of town (see third photo) which, while a nice walk, is a narrow path more prone to mud and flooding when there is a better, higher-lying cycle route with a good surface on the northern bank of the river....

Mockymock

I went to look at it on foot from the Ashill side and couldn’t even get into the field adjacent to the road through a boggy, nettle filled green lane, so doubt anyone uses the footpath into there any more, and when I drove along the A358 itself there was no sign of any path infrastructure on either side of the carriageway. And, to be honest, I don’t think you’d want to cross this fast, very busy link road between the M5 and the A303 here anyway! This route needs a rethink....

Mockymock

A good walk, used it to get to Glastonbury on a multi day long hike. Would recomend...

Oli Sturdy

I walked this route from Taunton to Bishops Lidyeard. There are then enclosed pathways which take you out onto Staplegrove Road, which is again paved. There is a short section at the top end of Staplegrove Road where if coming from Taunton direction before getting to the junction with Manor Road turn left through the Children's play area and diagonally across on to Manor Road....

Tim Ryan

I walked this route from Taunton to Bishops Lidyeard. There are then enclosed pathways which take you out onto Staplegrove Road, which is again paved. There is a short section at the top end of Staplegrove Road where if coming from Taunton direction before getting to the junction with Manor Road turn left through the Children's play area and diagonally across on to Manor Road....

Tim Ryan

I walked from Bishops Lydeard to Taunton and enjoyed the route. The second diversion is the field between Higher Yarde Farm and Burlands Farm....

Helen Gough

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....

Helen Gough

Reading the other reviews, it may be more tricky in the warmer months when there's more growth in the crops, but for us it was easy-sailing....

danravenellison

Had lunch in the churchyard at North Petherton and the church offer free tea and coffee for visitors to help themselves to inside....

Dan B - Slow Ways

Pleasant route mostly on footpaths and through fields....

Charles Hedley

Mostly a lovely flat route which follows the well waymarked West Deane Way from Bradford to Taunton....

Charles Hedley

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....

Tim Ryan

The footpath across the field at Shearson Farm was impossible to follow as the oilseed rape crop has grown and is simply impassable....

Tim Ryan

That part of the walk was accurate, very scenic and accessible for dogs but not wheeled transport....

jwol

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....

jwol

Pleasant flat walk out of Taunton along the river and canal. Pleasant walk over fields/stiles through West Monkton....

Julie Sutton

Unfortunately there is a temporary closure of the footpath to repair 2 bridges close to Norton Fitzwarren allotments....

Julie Sutton

Overall the route is very pleasant with much of the walk on tracks and footpaths. Particularly enjoyable is at the start of the route which takes you up out of Bishops Lydeard where you can enjoy lovely views of The Quantocks....

jwol