Arlington Court Coombeshead valley walk
This walk through woodland and fields takes you to the top of Coombeshead for rewarding views across the wider estate, then down the valley, with different options for your route back to Arlington Court. Along the way, you'll pass a working Grade II listed farm and get a chance to spot Exmoor ponies and wild red deer.
Total steps: 7
Total steps: 7
Start point
Old Kitchen Tea-room, grid ref: SS611405
Step 1
From the tea-room, follow signs through the garden to the Carriage Museum. By the Granary Lodge building, look out for wooden signs with a pink arrow directing you to Coombeshead. Walk up the track past a wooden garage on your right and bear right through woodland to emerge next to the Sawmill building.
Step 2
Walk uphill with the Sawmill building on your left and follow the track as it narrows and goes past a farmyard entrance on your right. Do not enter the farmyard. Just after the farmyard you'll see a kissing gate to your right, set slightly back from the track, with a pink arrow directing you across the field along a stoned track.
Step 3
At Barton Court, go over the stile directly in front of you and follow the signs to take you across the next field, heading for the gate straight ahead. Go through the gate into a small band of woodland, before emerging back into the fields again. There may be cows or horses in these next few fields.
Step 4
Keeping the hedge on your left, walk through the first field following the pink markers. After you've passed through a gateway in the hedge, head diagonally to the right across the second field until you reach a gate that opens on to a farm track. Follow the track, making sure to close all the gates behind you, until you find yourself in the farmyard. This is Coombeshead Farm, managed by one of our tenant farmers.
Step 5
In the middle of the farmyard. you'll see a tall pink arrow directing you to the right. Follow this track around and uphill, passing an old millpond, and continue in the direction of another pink arrow pointing along the edge of the field.
Step 6
You should now be standing at a stile looking down a steep valley or coombe, where you may see some wild Exmoor ponies grazing. Follow the steep steps down the hill until you reach a gate into the woodland on your left.
Step 7
Follow the track downhill through the woods until you reach a junction of paths. From here you can choose to return by one of the other coloured walking routes. Following the green arrows is the shortest route back to Arlington Court and will take you uphill to the Carriage Museum. Following the blue arrows in reverse will take you along the valley to Tucker's Bridge. From there you can follow signs to the lake or Arlington Court, bringing you back on a longer but well-surfaced route.
End point
Arlington Court woodland, crossroad of paths, grid ref: SS614396
Trail map
More near here
Woodland and Cott Brake circular walk at Arlington Court
Walk through ancient woodland and climb the steep grassland of Cott Brake for views of the estate, its historic buildings and wildlife including red deer.
Arlington Court deer park circular walk
Keep your eyes peeled for red deer on this picturesque walk through ancient woodland, parts of the estate's wildlife reserve and alongside the lake.
Centenary walk at Arlington Court
Take a steep climb through woodlands and alongside the lake to enjoy stunning views of the house and parkland on our walk created to mark our centenary year.
Lake walk at Arlington Court
Enjoy the most popular and established walk around the designed landscape of Arlington Court, where you can get closer to nature at the bird hide and heronry.
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We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
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