Staple Fitzpaine Herepath Trail
| Published: 18th July 2008 14:13 |
New walking and riding route in the Blackdown Hills
There is now a new way to enjoy the wooded landscape of the Blackdown Hills on foot or horseback - without having to contend with busy roads!
The Staple Fitzpaine Herepath Trail is a 22 km (13.5 mile) circular multi-use trail that has been developed by the Neroche Scheme, using money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is the first of three connected off-road routes planned for the northern ridge of the Blackdown Hills area.
The Herepath passes through the Forestry Commission woodlands around Staple Hill, Castle Neroche, Bickenhall, Thurlbear and Wych Lodge.
A spectacular and secret landscape
The Herepath takes in some wonderful scenery, wildlife and local history. The views across Taunton Deane from Castle Neroche are spectacular, while the intimate forest glades, fields and bracken slopes along the rest of the route make for a very varied experience. The forest has recently been opened up, with long vistas through areas which were under dense conifers only a couple of years ago. Light grazing with Longhorn cattle is being introduced into this open forest landscape, to help create the conditions for wildlife to thrive.
Alive with wildlife
The trail passes through ancient woodland and beside flower-rich meadows, alive with wildlife. Rare butterflies patrol along the woodland rides and in clearings, buzzards soar overhead, and roe deer watch from the shadows. There are ancient oaks in the fields, and orchids in the glades. Some of the best places for wildflowers are the marshy pastures on Britty Common, which contain weird insectivorous sundew plants, and the rich glades at Wych Lodge, with pyramidal orchids and bee orchids aplenty.
A treasure trove of history
The Herepath passes through the historic Portman Estate, which contained deer parks used by the nobility in medieval times, and to which many of the older buildings in the area once belonged. Castle Neroche itself is an Ancient Monument, having originally been an Iron Age fortification, later occupied by Robert Count of Mortain after the Norman Conquest in 1067. Meanwhile the woodland nature reserve at Thurlbear has been coppiced for firewood almost continuously since at least the fifteenth century.
Where to park, and where to stop for a drink or a meal
From Taunton, the best places from which to start the Herepath are the FC car park at Castle Neroche, or the new car park on Staple Hill. Horseriders can arrange to leave hose boxes at any of several farms around the route - see website for details.
Either the Farmers Inn at West Hatch, or the Greyhound at Staple Fitzpaine, offer ideal stopping off points after your walk or ride.
Public transport
The 99 service operated by Cooks Buses runs from Taunton to Chard via Staple Fitzpaine, Monday to Saturday, several times a day. For example, you can catch the bus from outside the Bingo Club on Castle Way, Taunton at 10.10 on a Saturday morning, and arrive at Castle Neroche Farm (a few minutes walk from the FC car park) at 10.30. A return bus passes Castle Neroche several times during the day, with the last bus being at 16.30, arriving back in Taunton at 16.50. For full details see www.travelinesw.com/
Trail maps and other information
Trail maps, click for more details
A trail map and more information can be downloaded from www.nerochescheme.org/ This includes details of where to park, and horse box parking locations.
Parts (but not all) of the trail are suitable for mountain bike riders. A colour coded map can be downloaded from the website showing the best sections for bikes.
For further information please contact the Neroche Office on 01823 680846.
Feature and photos submitted by Gavin Saunders, Project manager of the Neroche Scheme Organisation
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