Walk 4: Edward’s Bridge & Bow Brook

3.3 miles / 5.3 km (approx  1¼ - 1¾  hours)

Map Walk Four

A lovely, short walk across farmland with an interesting stroll alongside mill races and through a privately run animal sanctuary (Thistledown Meadows).  Deer can often be seen bounding through the fields, woodpeckers heard hammering on trees together with many other mammals and birds.

The walk could be finished off with a visit to one of the two pubs near the end of the route.  Lovely in Spring when birds and mammals are busy feeding their young.

Churchill Mill

1. From the Village Hall go down Church Lane towards the school, L into School Lane then R into Chapel Lane.  Take the footpath L where the road bends R into Owl’s End Lane.
2. After the gate follow the footpath R, round the edge of the field, past the pond then R, over the stile in the corner then straight along the R of the field to Peopleton Road.
3. Cross the road and follow the Bridleway on the R of the field, into the next field.  After approximately 200m turn L across the field (the track is not always apparent), towards a small gate in the hedge opposite.  Turn R at the hedge and follow the waymarker, walking along the edge of the field to the gate onto Edward’s Lane.
4. Turn R and follow the track to Edward’s Bridge and cross Bow Brook.  Follow the footpath along the field edge, go R through the wide gate, cross the track and through the gate into the field opposite.
5. Follow the Bridleway on the R of the field, L round a corner and through the second gate R.  Follow the Bridleway across along the R of the field, through the gate opposite at the far end and turn R to join a track.  Go through the gate at the end of the track and along the L side of the field, through the gate and down the slope and over a cattle- grid.
6. Turn R before the car park and follow the footpath alongside the ditch – mill-race – Bow Brook.  Please try not to disturb the wildlife.  Ducks, swans, moorhens and other birds and mammals nest in this area.  If you are very lucky you may see a kingfisher.
7. Follow the footpath through two small fields, keeping close to the brook, past greyhound pens and fishing pond and over more stiles and through the yard at Thistledown Meadows animal sanctuary to the A422.
8. Turn R on the main road, walk past Bant's public house and Peopleton Road to the car park by The Oak public house.  (The bulk of this road-walking is avoidable by taking the footpath on the R shortly after Bow Brook and following the footpaths as they zig-zag up the hillside back to the village.)
9. Turn R opposite to The Oak car park and over a stile to the right, straight up the slope towards Holy Oak Farm and through the gate at the top of this field.
10. Turn L and head towards a gate into the car park and back to the Village Hall. 

Follow this link to download a PDF of the route with sketch map: Walk Four Route

 © Hilary Williams