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Bruton Circular via Stourhead walk

Through quiet South Somerset pastures and across a wooded ridge past Alfred's Tower folly and through the beautifully landscaped Stourhead Estate

Circular Somerset

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sun, 17-Jul-22 Sunday Walk - Bruton Circular (via Stourhead) [Somerset Trip] 17 very warm day with some breeze
Sun, 30-Aug-20 Sunday Walk - Undulating Somerset: Bruton Circular via Stourhead (2nd attempt after an earlier lockdown-cancellation) [New Walk] 15 sunny with a breeze
Sun, 03-May-20 Sunday Walk - Bruton (Somerset) Circular via Stourhead [Third Update 18/04/20: walk now cancelled]
Thomas G
Length: 22.7 km (14.1 mi) [Longer Walks possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 490m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¾ hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
From Westbury and Frome, take the Weymouth train at 10.22/10.32, arrives Bruton 10.43.
From Castle Cary, take the London Waterloo train at 10.07, arrives Bruton 10.12 (and start walking or wait).
From London, take the 08.51 Penzance train from Paddington (09.18 Reading), change at Westbury (10.00/10.22), arrives 10.43.
Return trains to Castle Cary: 17.20 (via Westbury), 18.58, 19.12 (via Westbury), 21.59.
Return trains to Frome/Westbury: 17.20, 19.12, 21.19.
Return trains to London (change in Westbury): 17.20 (long wait), 19.12, 21.19.
This excursion is centred on the small 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 tea options. It leads along the vigorous River Brue and through bucolic pastures up to the wooded range forming the boundary between Wiltshire and Somerset, with the dominant local landmark Alfred’s Tower, a folly, on top of it. From there you drop down through enchanting woods to the heart of the Stourhead Estate at the source of the River Stour, with its breath-taking 18th century landscaped garden with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples (National Trust, ticketed entry, although large parts of the garden and most notable buildings are visible from the walk route).
After lunch at the estate pub or an NT restaurant you circle back past the large Palladian mansion with views, then through a U-shaped grassy valley (by the source of the river Stour) and up through hanging woods to continue high above the Brue Valley with fine far views across the South Somerset landscape.
Towards the end the route passes the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset with its fascinating bar and restaurant, and an optional loop routes up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town.
Walk Options:
An out-and-back to the Bronze Age Bell Barrow site Jack’s Castle adds 550m.
A loop through the wooded Park Hill and via its Iron Age hillfort site adds 900m.
A loop at the end up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town past most tea places adds 1.5 km.
Lunch: The Spread Eagle Inn (11.0 km/6.8 mi, food to 19.00) or The Stourhead Estate Restaurant (11.4 km/7.1 mi, food to 16.00), both on the Stourhead Estate.
Tea: Plenty options, including a Hauser & Wirth-managed pub just off route, 4.5 km from the end. See the webpage or the pdf for details.
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.342
  • 16-Jul-22

    All the people already in the area will start no later than whenever the train from Castle Cary arrives (10.12 if on time).

  • 17-Jul-22

    The same walkers as yesterday out today, only that 13 of those partook in driving close to, or all the way to, the Stourhead Estate and doing only a part of the route, namely the core. Some added the ticketed house and garden, others then walked back to Bruton, the majority of the 13 seem to later have gone to lunch in Zeals, and then partly driving back to Bruton for a quick visit to Hauser & Wirth.

    As for the others: 3 walked the whole route, 1 walked from his accommodation in North Brewham. The 3 passed Alfred's Tower at noon, and were pleasantly surprised by the presence of a new refreshment kiosk/trailer. Cue an affogato and ice cream stop. Later we had lunch at The Spreadeagle at Stourhead, where we bumped into North Brewham man, as well as some of the car drivers.

    Back in Bruton at 5, where we bumped into another gaggle of SWCers at Hauser & Wirth.

    17.18 train for all trainies returning today.

    Some overgrowth in the pm, especially around stiles and gates, unfortunately. We did survive...

    Temperatures topped out at 28 degrees, mostly with a breeze, not really much of one though mid-afternnon, making for pleasant to strenuous walking weather.

    17 on a very warm day with some breeze

  • 17-Jul-22

    No Bruton return train w/o serious delays, it seems: heat-related speed restrictions and emergency services attending a situation at Twyford Station meant we arrived 40mins late at Paddington, where the Circle/H&C lines were in scheduled closure and the Bakerloo was closed due to an incident. Off to Lancaster Gate then, which was closed due to staff shortages...

Thomas G
Length: 22.7 km (14.1 mi) [Longer Walks possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 456m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours, Toughness: 7 out of 10

Take the 08.51 Penzance train from Paddington (Reading 09.15), change at Westbury onto the Weymouth train (10.03/10.27), arriving Bruton 10.47.
From Ealing B’way there is the 08.37 to Reading with a tight connection (09.12/09.15) or the earlier 08.11 train, but it’s probably best to go via Paddington (08.23-08.31).
Return trains:
17.18 – change Bath Spa (18.03/18.13), arrives Paddington 19.38;
19.12 – change Westbury (19.33/19.54), arrives Paddington 21.09;
21.19 – change Westbury (21.41/21.58), arrives Paddington 23.37.
Buy a Bruton (Somerset) return. Cheap Advance Tickets are not yet on sale though. Off Peak Returns are £57.60 at full price…
Note: Bruton is outside the Network Southeast, so Network Railcard users should buy a discounted Reading Return with the Railcard, and a separate Reading – Bruton Day Return.
This excursion is centred on the small 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 tea options. It leads along the vigorous River Brue and through bucolic pastures up to the wooded range forming the boundary between Wiltshire and Somerset, with the dominant local landmark Alfred’s Tower, a folly, on top of it. From there you drop down through enchanting woods to the heart of the Stourhead Estate at the source of the River Stour, with its breath-taking 18th century landscaped garden with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples (National Trust, ticketed entry, although large parts of the garden and most notable buildings are visible from the walk route).
After lunch at the estate pub or an NT restaurant you circle back past the large Palladian mansion with views, then through a U-shaped grassy valley (by the source of the river Stour) and up through hanging woods to continue high above the Brue Valley with fine far views across the South Somerset landscape.
Towards the end the route passes the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset with its fascinating bar and restaurant and an optional loop routes up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town.
The Don McCullin – The Stillness of Life exhibition at Hauser has been extended due to Covid and is still open…
Walk Options:
An out-and-back to the Bronze Age Bell Barrow site Jack’s Castle adds 550m.
A loop through the wooded Park Hill via its Iron Age hillfort site adds 900m.
A mid-afternoon loop through Walk Farm Hay Meadows, currently map-led, adds 1.6 km.
A loop at the end up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town past most tea places adds 1.5 km.
Lunch: The Spread Eagle Inn (11.0 km/6.8 mi, food to 19.00) or The Stourhead Estate Restaurant (11.4 km/7.1 mi, food to 16.00), both on the Stourhead Estate.
Tea: Plenty options, including a Hauser & Wirth-managed pub just off route, 4.5 km from the end. See the webpage or the pdf for details.
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.342
  • 24-Aug-20

    Network rail is not showing the 17.18 & 19.12....

  • 24-Aug-20

    Hi Pete. That is unfortunately true. At the moment, train companies are excelling themselves at thinning out the weekend schedules with only days to go... Posting amended. Still intent on going.

    Mandatory dinner and drinks in Bruton, plus optional walk to Castle Cary to catch the London train from there (5 km, as per SWC 284)?

  • 25-Aug-20

    I believe that it should be possible to buy groupsave tickets for this journey which gives a similar discount as the network rail card. Given the limited choice of trains for the trip, it should not be problematic...Groupsave tickets can be purchased at the station for groups of 3 or more....Happy to meet those interested at the ticket office...

  • 26-Aug-20

    I'm going. Looking forward. Haven't been to Castle Cary for about 4 years.Gavin

  • Anonymous
    27-Aug-20

    I’m in for group save tickets ! Getting the late train back after dinner. What time would you like to rendezvous in the ticket office ?

    Gabriella

  • 27-Aug-20

    Table for dinner booked At The Chapel. The two pubs on the main drag should also offer food, if their websites are to be believed.

  • Gabriella Palmano
    27-Aug-20

    Hi Thomas,

    Ooh, the Chapel looks really nice. How many people have you reserved for - may I please bagsy a place at the table or should I book separately ? If so, what time ?

    Gabriella

  • 27-Aug-20

    I already know of more people coming than I have booked for, so please book another table for - say - 18.30? We can then adjust bookings once in Bruton. Ta

  • Gavin
    28-Aug-20

    I would like to join for meal. Also, I am travelling up tomorrow, Saturday and staying in the George in Castle Cary, Gavin

  • Gabriella
    28-Aug-20

    Yikes ! The Chapel is really busy on Sunday, I got the last 3 spaces in the entire restaurant that night. Which is in the Club Room at 18.45. Whichever two trekkers would care to join me there are very welcome.

    Also, I've had no response from Stargazer or indeed anyone about the group save tickets, so I shall lurk in the ticket office from 08.20 onwards hoping to apprehend a fellow SWC traveller. If there are no takers I'll just buy a regular return at £57.50, but it would be nice to save a few quid if one can.

    G

  • 28-Aug-20

    Hi,

    Been away for a few days....yes, will definitely be at the ticket office about 8:20-30ish to buy a group ticket with whoever is there....I hope I can eat an evening meal....

  • Anonymous
    29-Aug-20

    Gabriella, I would like to join you at your Chapel table if that’s alright. I’m new to this walking club and looking forward to the adventure. -Alicea

  • Anonymous
    29-Aug-20

    Hi, Gabriella, I would like to join you at your Chapel table if there is still space.

    I am new to this walking club and tomorrow is my first attempt!

    I will drive rather than taking the train.

    hope to see you!

    Alice

  • Anonymous
    30-Aug-20

    Gabriella, can I grab the other seat at your table please?

    Ranjna

  • 30-Aug-20

    13 off the train, 1 car driver, 1 overnighter, i.e. 15 in sunny with a breeze weather.

    This was partly hard work, on account of a record numbers of stiles, many of them rickety, a similarly high count of electric fences and plenty of high-growth grassy meadows. Oh, and plenty of attentive cows.

    But mainly we had a great day, with fine views, atmospheric woods, quiet hamlets, a lovely lunch in the courtyard of the Stourhead Estate pub, a very fine dinner At the Chapel, plus post dinner drinks downstairs.

    Trains (so far) have been on time, the company has been great. Lovely day, all in.

    And some did the stepping stones across The Brue twice, including in darkness...

  • 31-Aug-20

    So much for a jinxed walk report. The connecting train in Westbury was "seriously delayed" due to some joker in the Teignmouth area climbing onto a signal gantry. Why that needs to lead to a 3 1/2 delay, I shall never know. But here we are, at 01.17, departing from Westbury.

  • 31-Aug-20

    3 1/2 hours...

  • Anonymous
    31-Aug-20

    It was a really lovely walk and day out in the lovely weather with lovely people.

    Very happy and pleasant first attempt!

    Wish you all the best and hope to see you at other walks!

    Alice

Thomas G
Covid-19 Pandemic:

Third Update 18/04/20
As the UK lockdown has now been extended until 7 May at least, this walk has now been cancelled, but it will be my first candidate for a Sunday posting once access to the countryside is open again. As mentioned below, train tickets booked before 23 March will be fully reimbursed by GWR, check here: https://www.gwr.com/safety

Second Update 06/04/20
As this walk – unlike the long weekend or week-long trips to Wales or Scotland – does not involve accommodation, I’ll wait until closer to the scheduled walk date to decide whether to postpone it to a date a few weeks or months down the line. Great Western Railway meanwhile have enabled cost-free changes or even cancellations of existing bookings, incl. Advance Tickets booked before 23 March. For details see here: https://www.gwr.com/safety
Update 20/03/20
If you have booked Advance train tickets for this walk: Great Western Railway have today relaxed their rules and are now saying "You can also amend Advance tickets to an alternative future date without having to pay an admin fee". A re-scheduling of this walk to a later date would therefore be an option, should government advice nearer the time suggest that restrictions on movements will be relaxed later in the year.

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Length: 22.7 km (14.1 mi) [Longer Walks possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 456m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours, Toughness: 7 out of 10
Take the 08.51 Plymouth train from Paddington (Reading 09.15), change Westbury onto the Weymouth train (10.03/10.21), arrives Bruton 10.44.
From Ealing B’way there is the 08.35 to Reading with a tight connection (09.11/09.15) or the earlier 08.11 train, but it’s probably best to go via P’ton (08.23-08.35)?
Return trains:
17.18 – change Bath Spa (18.03/18.13), arrives Paddington 19.39;
19.11 – change Westbury (19.32/19.54), arrives Paddington 21.10;
21.16 – change Westbury (21.38/21.58), arrives Paddington 23.35.
Buy a Bruton (Somerset) return. Cheap Advance Tickets are not yet on sale though.
Note: Bruton is outside the Network Southeast, so Network Railcard users should buy a discounted Reading Return with the Railcard, and a separate Reading – Bruton Day Return.
This excursion is centred on the small 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 tea options. It leads along the vigorous River Brue and through bucolic pastures up to the wooded range forming the boundary between Wiltshire and Somerset, with the dominant local landmark Alfred’s Tower, a folly, on top of it. From there you drop down through enchanting woods to the heart of the Stourhead Estate at the source of the River Stour, with its breath-taking 18th century landscaped garden with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples (National Trust, ticketed entry, although large parts of the garden and most notable buildings are visible from the walk route).
After lunch at the estate pub or an NT restaurant you circle back past the large Palladian mansion with views, then through a U-shaped grassy valley (by the source of the river Stour) and up through hanging woods to continue high above the Brue Valley with fine far views across the South Somerset landscape.
Towards the end the route passes the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth Somerset with its fascinating bar and restaurant and an optional loop routes up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town.
The main exhibition at Hauser on the day of the walk (closes at 17.00) is: Don McCullin – The Stillness of Life
Walk Options:
An out-and-back to the Bronze Age Bell Barrow site Jack’s Castle adds 550m.
A loop through the wooded Park Hill via its Iron Age hillfort site adds 900m.
A mid-afternoon loop through Walk Farm Hay Meadows, currently map-led, adds 1.6 km.
A loop at the end up to Bruton’s dovecote and through town past most tea places adds 1.5 km.
Lunch: The Spread Eagle Inn (11.0 km/6.8 mi, food to 16.00) or The Stourhead Estate Restaurant (11.4 km/7.1 mi, food to 15.00), both on the Stourhead Estate.
Tea: Plenty options, including a Hauser & Wirth-managed pub just off route, 4.5 km from the end. See the webpage or the pdf for details.
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.342
This slot swapped with Stargazer who had swapped with Mr. M Tiger, ultimately against my slot on 26 April… (are you keeping up?)
  • pia rainey
    21-Mar-20

    Be careful when you are buying rail tickets now and try to change dates on existing advance singles as part of a return ticket. I had bought a return with two different tickets: one off peak single [out for £50] and one advance single [return for £35] to Glasgow and back for a now cancelled HF holiday. The off peak single is refundable but the advance single is not. You cannot change this combined ticket online so have to ring. Also, if you cancel one ticket, they will cancel both, so you are left with nothing.

    It started with being no 98 on the waiting list. It then proceeded even stranger once I spoke to an operator. He said he could refund me the the advance single , since I was such a good customer, provided I bought another off peak refundable single for a min of £22 but he would/could not say how much. He was then going to refund all three tickets (the off peak single at £50, the advance single at 335 and the newly bought off peak single for an unknown price. I said I did not trust it (implying him) and gracefully thanked him for the offer. I wonder wether he was being honest and super helpful or running a scam on the back of trainline.com In the end I took my refund for the off peak single of £50 and cut my loss on advance single of £35. Even changing the date on that one to a May date would hardly be helpful because single tickets tend to be as expensive as returns with no special deals. I am also not sure if the SWC is running in May so it seems better to start a new return all over with a totally refundable fare rather than a non-refundable one.

    A cautionary tale.