Drove Road, Great and Marrow Hills walk
Walk along ancient trackways that humans have used for hundreds of years, while enjoying the stunning views and quiet beauty of this part of Somerset's Quantock Hills.
Total steps: 10
Total steps: 10
Start point
Crowcombe Park Gate car park, TA4 4AB. Grid ref: ST150375
Step 1
From the West Hill sign, follow the track in the direction of Triscombe Stone, as signposted.
Step 2
Roughly 230 yards (200 metres) from the start, go through the gate at the National Trust boundary and continue along the Drove Road. After another 430 yards (400 metres), the left-hand section of the track drops into a gully where numerous beech trees grow across the track as well as in the hedgebanks.
Step 3
Once through this copse, there are gates on the right. Go through the gates, navigate around the pond and proceed down Little Quantock Combe, keeping the beech hedgebank on your right. The slope downhill is moderately steep, with views over the vale below and onto the Brendon Hills and Exmoor beyond.
Step 4
As you approach the bottom of the combe there are double metal gates. Turn left up a steep slope before the gates and proceed along the path at the bottom of Great Hill. This path is a mix of steep and level sections. Look out for old hawthorn bushes, oak trees and foxgloves along this path.
Step 5
Continue along the path, keeping the stock fence on your right, until you reach a row of beech trees in a bank to your left. Go through the gate and continue on through Ladybird Wood, initially through oak, hawthorn, holly, elder and coppiced hazel and then into the conifer section with Wills Neck 420 yards (384 metres high) as the background.
Step 6
Emerging from the wood, bear left and head up Triscombe Combe. Notice the disused quarry to the left and the exposed roots of the beech trees in the bank. It's moderately steep at this point.
Step 7
About two thirds of the way up the combe, follow the track to the right, going diagonally up and across Marrow Hill, ignoring a subsequent fork to the left.
Step 8
Continue across Marrow Hill until you reach a stile between two beech trees. Go over the stile and head diagonally to the top corner of the field. There's a good view of the disused Triscombe quarry to your right.
Step 9
At Triscombe Stone proceed left along the Drove Road. Admire the ancient beech trees that form the avenue of this road.
Step 10
Pass through the National Trust boundary at these gates and continue along the road back to the start position. As well as the scene towards Exmoor to the left there are some good views of the combes of the Quantock Forest to the right as you walk back.
End point
Crowcombe Park Gate car park, TA4 4AB. Grid ref: ST150375
Trail map
More near here
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