5 top picks for outdoor walks around South Somerset & West Dorset
Getting out and about in your local area is a great way to stay engaged, active and happy as you get older. Here are few our favourite places to head.
Sutton Bingham Reservoir, near Yeovil
Sutton Bingham Reservoir comes highly recommended for a peaceful stroll across a wildflower meadow next to the reservoir. There are great views across the water, and it is an ideal place to note butterflies such as Small Skipper and Marble White. The bird life is active too, with Pochard, Coot and Tufted Duck in abundance. It is home to Sutton Bingham Sailing Club; a dreary day can be lifted by the bright sails traversing the water. From the north side of the reservoir, you can join the well-trodden Monarch’s Way walking route which takes you through East Coker (T.S Eliot’s place of rest) and onto Yeovil Country Park.
Bracketts Coppice, near Corscombe, West Dorset
If you love wildlife, this is the place for you. Bracketts Coppice is a delightful tranquil nature reserve that contains multiple habitats including woodland, pasture, meadows, and a stream. You can find dormice, otters, and woodpeckers here. What stands out about this Coppice is its wildness and sense of being unspoilt and untrampled. The bluebells are reported to be stunning – so well worth a visit in springtime for that shimmering blue vista. There are plenty of woodland birds to sing you a tune as you stroll, and in the summer the wildflowers are spectacular. One word of warning, if visiting in the winter months, be sure to take a sturdy pair of wellies. Follow this link for directions.
Ham Hill Country Park, Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Amazing views, historic landscape, diverse walks, dog friendly and a relaxed pub that is open all day. What’s not to like – there’s something for everyone at Ham Hill. This park covers a huge expanse of land (almost 400 acres), that includes fields, woodlands, and bubbling streams. It’s perfect for a family outing of different generations; you can choose easily accessible walks for the less sure footed. Or if a more challenging hike is on the agenda, then there are plenty of options to pursue that too. Ham Hill is centred on an Iron Age hill fort (the largest of its kind in Great Britain) and the views from the ancient monument at the top stretch spectacularly across the Somerset Levels. All the local houses have been built in the golden hamstone that has been quarried from Ham Hill for centuries; so not only is this site fabulous for walking it is also a treasure trove for geologists. Enjoy. Access from here.
Old Castle Walk, Sherborne
Old Castle is a romantic ruin from the 12th Century that was built as the fortified palace of Roger de Caen the Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of England. Situated on top of a small hill, in the summer months, it is the perfect spot for a picnic to enjoy the views across to the new castle and the pretty town of Sherborne. There is an official walking route around the moat of the castle, which provides a sense of historical perspective. For a longer walk, you could make your way towards the new castle; the walk encompasses waterside paths alongside a 50-acre lake, woodland trails and beautiful landscaped grounds with specimen trees, herbaceous borders and sweeping lawns. With this walk you will absorb a satisfying blend of the noble heritage of the area.
Ninesprings, Yeovil Country Park
Ninesprings is one of the five areas that makes up Yeovil Country Park. It is the most popular and accessible area of the park, being just a short distance from Yeovil town centre. It makes our list of top picks due to convenience, facilities (toilets, café, children’s playpark) and interesting network of footpaths that can transport you from the hustle and bustle of the high street within moments.
Water is a dominating feature of this park; explore the waterfalls and streams of the secluded Valley Gardens, or you can amble by the lake feeding the ducks, and then join the Riverside area that hugs the River Yeo. If you are looking for a walk in a safe, stimulating environment, then Ninesprings comes highly recommended by us.
At Home Instead we are big advocates of walking because it is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active and become healthier. It is also an activity that can be enjoyed by many older people, who may struggle with more strenuous physical exercise. A short walk can make a big difference to someone who finds it hard leave their home. Our care professionals help people to be able to achieve this.
If you would like to find out more about our home care services in Yeovil, Sherborne and Bridport then please get in touch on 01935 577030.
Areas We Serve
Yeovil, Bridport, Sherborne, Crewkerne, Weston, Martock, Somerton, Langport, Eastfield, Castle Cary, Bruton, South Petherton, Beaminster, Milborne Port and surrounding areas.
DT6 3, TA18 7, TA12 6, BA22 9, TA14 6, DT6 6, TA11 7, TA11 6, BA21 3, DT9 6, DT6 5, TA10 0, BA22 8, BA7 7, DT9 5, DT6 4, DT2 0, BA21 4, TA17 8, DT8 3, BA22 7, TA10 9, TA13 5, BA10 0, BA9 8, TA15 6, DT9 3, BA20 2, BA21 5, BA20 1, TA16 5, DT9 4, TA18 8
Office Address: Somerset Yeovil Innovation Centre, Barracks Close,
Copse Road, Yeovil,
Somerset – BA22 8RN
Phone: 01935 577030