Hemyock to Wellington Monument

Approximate Time: 1¾hrs

Distance: 5½ mile/ 9km

Type of Walk: The walk is moderate, following a mix of quiet lanes, woodland tracks, open farmland, and the long steady ascent toward Wellington Monument, with some muddy, uneven, or rutted stretches after wet weather. Expect narrow hedge‑lined paths, livestock‑grazed fields, sustained climbing, and occasionally exposed sections on higher ground.

Please Note: Parts of this route involve walking along busy roads; please take care. Although the majority of the route is dog friendly, you may wish to put your dog on a lead for their safety along some parts.

Parking:

There is a layby at Lower Millhayes at the start of the route where you can park your car. Parking is limited and may require on-street parking instead.

Directions:

1. From Lower Millhayes, go up some steps and past a children's play area into Higher Millhayes; go left, then take the footpath on the right going between a house and a bungalow. Walk straight uphill across two fields keeping close to the right hand bank. Cross over a stile into a third field (the very wet ground here is due to a springline) then straight ahead to another stile and on to a main road.  Turn left and, after 100 metres, take the first lane on the right.
2. Continue along the lane for 1km until it turns sharp right. Take the footpath on the left and continue straight ahead for a further 1.5km. This is a lovely, level stretch going through fields and woods with views across to Blackdown Common, and, towards the end, a glimpse of the Wellington Monument towering over the trees. The footpath ends at a stile onto the main road. This is the ridgeway: an ancient route along the northern edge of the Blackdown Hills. It is now a fast road, so look out for traffic!
3. Turn left and go 0.5km to a stile with a footpath sign on the right (this is in a thick hedge and quite easy to miss, but it comes just after a gated track on the left. If you reach a bridleway on the right, then you have gone too far). Take the footpath across a field to a line of trees, then follow the trees uphill to the Monument. You are now standing on the northern scarp of the Blackdown Hills looking out over Taunton Vale to the Quantocks and Exmoor beyond.
4. To continue the walk, retrace your steps back to the main road, turn right and walk 0.5km to a cross roads where the main road turns sharp right. Take the lane on the left signposted Culmstock.
5. After 1km take the first lane on the left which goes downhill for 0.5km. Just before Goodhall's farm on the right, take the footpath on the left, which goes down a grassy track to some old stone barns, over a small stream and into a field on the right. Follow the obvious path across two fields and an orchard and onto a lane. Turn right and walk to a T-junction. Turn left (signposted Hemyock) to another T-junction. Turn right (this is a busy road, so beware of traffic) and then second left into Lower Millhayes.

With thanks to the Blackdown Hills AONB for this route