Bruton Circular or from Castle Cary (via Hauser and Wirth Somerset Gallery) Walk

This excursion is centred on the remote Somerset town of Bruton, with its honey-coloured stone-built cottages, a large dovecote on a mound overlooking the townscape and a fine selection of lunch and tea options. It leads through a scenic South Somerset landscape of narrow steep-sided valleys and coombes with some fast flowing streams and rivers, with the route dipping in and out of the Brue, Alham and Pitt valleys. From the rolling hilltops you get some far views across to the range forming the boundary with Wiltshire and Dorset, with the local landmark Alfred’s Tower, a folly, on top of it. The route leads close to the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and a short version of the walk leaves enough time for an extended visit to it and/or its fascinating bar and restaurant. The recommended lunch stop on the main walk is a very fine country inn in Batcombe.

As a Figure-of-Eight walk, you can walk the two loops in reverse order.
A shortcut in the morning, with lunch in Bruton, enables a longer visit to the Hauser & Wirth art gallery for an exhibition and/or for lunch or tea. This cuts 8.8 km/5.5 mi and 175m ascent, the resulting 16.2 km/10.1 mi walk is rated 4/10.
A shortcut towards the end, avoiding the final ascent up to Ridge Lane, cuts 1 km and 42m ascent.
An extension just before lunch, further up the narrow Alham Valley, adds 3.1 km/1.9 mi and 150m ascent.
An extension in the afternoon adds 2.9 km/1.8 mi with 95m ascent. Bus line 667 from Shepton Montague to Castle Cary enables a finish at The Montague Inn.
An alternative start from Castle Cary (one stop further along the same line, but with more frequent – and faster – train services) adds 3.9 km/2.5 mi and 88m ascent/descent.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Bruton and Castle Cary are outside the Network Southeast Railcard zone. Off-Peak returns for morning departures can be prohibitively expensive. Advance tickets are usually the better option. Take the earliest train you can.

The Three Horseshoes Inn Batcombe, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6HE (01749 326 147). The Horseshoes is located 8.9 km/5.5 mi into the walk.
Matt’s Kitchen 51 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AW (01749 812 027).
The Prickly Pear 45-49 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AW. The Castle is located 15.8 km/9.9 mi into the main walk and 7.0 km/4.4 mi into the shortened walk.
The Sun Inn 33 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AH (01749 813 493). The Sun is located 15.8 km/9.9 mi into the main walk and 7.0 km/4.4 mi into the shortened walk.
At the Chapel High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AE (01749 814 070). The Chapel is located 15.9 km/9.9 mi into the main walk and 7.1 km/4.4 mi into the shortened walk. The Chapel is a Grade II listed former chapel, and the restaurant puts a Mediterranean touch to British food.
The Old Pharmacy 3 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AB (01749 813 111). A wine bar, bistro & deli.
Briar 1 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AB (01749 813 030). A farm-to-table restaurant.
Blue Ball Bruton 1 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AB (01749 813 030).
Da Costa Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0NL (01749 467 880). Da Costa is located 350m off-route, 16.8 km/10.5 mi into the main walk and 8.0 km/5.0 mi into the shortened walk. An Italian restaurant named after Iwan Wirth’s maternal grandfather.
Roth Bar Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0NL (01749 814 700). The Roth Bar is located 350m off-route, 16.8 km/10.5 mi into the main walk and 8.0 km/5.0 mi into the shortened walk. It is named after one of the artists Hauser & Wirth are representing: German-born Swissman Dieter Roth. It includes a site-specific bar created by a team of relatives around his son and grandson, Björn and Oddur Roth.

The Montague Inn Shepton Montague, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8JW (01749 813 213). The Montague is located 21.5 km/13.4 mi into main walk (or 12.7 km/7.9 mi into the shortened walk) if following the afternoon extension, and a friendly gastro pub.
The Godminster Farm Shop Station Road, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0EH (01749 813 733). Godminster Farm has been certified organic since 1999 and is multi-award winning. The farm shop is passed just before turning up to the station and sells beautifully packaged, vintage organic Cheddar, handmade Brie, gourmet crackers, tangy chutney, infused vodka spirit & more, as well as serving hot drinks.
And all of the Bruton lunch options.

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Nov-25 Thomas G