Image credit: Holly Barber
Walk Details
This is a great one mile, circular walk that takes you through the beautiful surrounds of Castle Neroche, a woodland in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset that is managed by Forestry England.
It’s a great walk for families – including your dog (although please be sure to clean up after them).
It’s located just a short distance from the A303 and there is free parking on site. It is uneven ground in the car park and, after wet weather, the puddles hide potholes so take care.
Due to steps on this route it is not suitable for wheelchair users. Care should be taken when walking up and down the slopes on the trail due to uneven surfaces and tree roots.
From the car park there is an information board about the history of the land. From here we follow the path amongst the trees and turn right to start our trail. After spells of wet weather, the path can get muddy so wellington boots are recommended.
The path starts to take us down the hillside. Please watch your step here. There are steps – but they are uneven in places. Make sure you pause every so often to just listen to the sound of the birdsong and the wind rustling the leaves of the trees. There are some beautiful moss covered trees along this section which makes them so soft and huggable (go on – go hug a tree!).
Continue along the path until you reach a junction with a wider path. Here we turn left and follow it. It’s a noticeably flatter path here. There are parts where the streams cross the path as they flow downhill – they are not deep and easy to step over. There are some open bodies of water at either side of the path.
We continue along this path until we reach a crossroad with a way marked sign post. Here we turn left and head up the hill. Take care as you step as there are exposed tree roots. You’ll also notice some clumps of stinging nettles – keep your distance from them to avoid getting stung!
In summer months there’s a beautiful display of Policeman’s helmet wild flowers on this section of the path – there’s a gentle hum from the bee’s who are busy nectar gathering from them.
On this section, on the left hand side, you may spot the legendary dragon of Neroche. Legend has it that a dragon once lived in here and would attack travellers on the road below, stealing and hoarding their treasures. Local villagers decided to fight back and dug a water channel from a nearby spring to flood the dragon’s lair. After the dragon was drowned, the villagers shared the treasures amongst themselves.
At the top of the hill you’ll find a bench and a view point out over the Blackdown Hills and towards the North Somerset coast. This is also where you’ll find the earthworks from the actual Castle that was once here.
When you’re ready – it’s a short distance, down a small slope and back to the car park
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Nearest Train (or tube) Station(s):
Taunton
