Walk 1: around Brent Knoll
village in Somerset
 Allow One Hour.
This is an easy walk along flat streets
and flat countryside except for walking over a railway bridge and some stiles. Use ordinary
walking shoes unless the ground is very wet.
Start from the Red Cow Inn in the centre
of the village.
 1. Walk northwards along Brent Street
keeping the slopes of Brent Knoll on your right. You will pass a variety of
period and modernised farm houses. Ones to look out for are: Park Farm on
your left, painted in lemon and Easternview cottage on your left. This
shows a sun dial on its south facing red bricked wall. A little further on
your right you will see the Old Manor now tastefully modernised, also in a
lemon colour. Beyond the Old Manor is the large, red bricked West Croft Farm
which produces local cider. Visits to this farm are encouraged by the owner.
Turn left at the
junction towards Berrow.
2.
Walk
about two hundred yards and take the left
turn into Crooked Lane by the
Hawthorns Bed and Breakfast Guest House sign. 
3.
Follow this lane past the
Hawthorns Bed and Breakfast Guest House and you
will see a view to your left of the long rising ground of the Knoll with its
wood covered slopes and the Parish Church just peeping over the top. Horses
and Donkeys are often to be seen in the paddock, horse riding being a common past time
in this area.
4. The lane moves round to the right and
up to the railway bridge which crosses
the London to the West Country
railway line.
 5.
Past the bridge on your left you will see a large pond, the
result of excavations when the bridge was built in the 19th century. It is a
popular pond for course fishermen and is often home to a family of swans.
From the bridge you will see the slim and elegant Burnham on Sea Lighthouse
ahead to the west and the beginnings of Berrow slightly to the right.
Turning round a view may be gained of the southern environs of Weston Super
Mare and the long wood covered ridge which is part of the Knoll.
6. Beyond the bridge the road
turns to the left and crosses a rhyne.
Many rhynes criss-cross this area and were built long ago and were very
successful in draining this low lying land. The banks are a favourite haunt of
herons. The lane now turns right towards Burnham on Sea whose outskirts are less
than a mile away. 
7.Turn left, climb the stile and walk towards the
railway line.
8. There is a crossing point here but please beware of the trains by looking and
listening.
9. Walk
across two fields with a stile in between keeping the rhyne immediately on your
right. In summer many types of
dragon flies can be seen in this environment. Much of the village may be
seen on your left with fields of maize on your right.
10. Continue along a raised bank
which
moves round to the left into a wooded walkway in which may be seen a variety
of trees and bushes including hawthorn, sloe, ash and blackberry. This path
emerges into Body's Lane.
11.
At this point one can enjoy a favourite view
of the Methodist Chapel in the foreground, the Parish Church behind,
surrounded by woods which stretch up towards the summit of Brent Knoll.
12. On
the left may be seen the splendid walled garden of Ivyclad Hall. The house
was built on slightly rising ground during the reign of Queen Anne and is
one of the oldest in the village.
13. Turn left onto Brent Street again
where on the right you will see the white building of Nightingale Farm. This
area is a favourite haunt of children in autumn as they search for conkers
from the many horse chestnut trees. Continue along the Brent Street, past
another modernised house, Kennett House and past Laurel Avenue on your left.
On your right is the entrance to Croft House, then comes a variety of post
war houses which will lead you back to your starting point of the Red Cow.
Choose another walk
or return to home | 
