Staple Plain walk
Somerset
This walking trail takes you down through broadleaf woodland, into a bracken-filled combe and up to the top of Beacon Hill for views across the Quantock Hills and beyond. Continue through lowland heathland, listening and looking out for red deer, skylark and Dartford warbler in this wildlife-rich environment.
Near to
Fyne CourtStart point
Staple Plain car park, grid ref: ST116410Trail information
*Varied terrain with steep slope and some steps. For further details, see section marked Terrain.
**Steep slope, steps and uneven terrain. For further details, see section marked Access.
***Dogs should be kept under close control, and on short leads from March-July. For further details, see section marked Facilities.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Staple Plain car park, grid ref: ST116410
Stage 1
Head towards the car park entrance, then go left past a wooden gate and fence to a track in the corner of the car park which is waymarked down into Weacombe Combe. The track heads steeply down at first, alongside woodland.
Stage 2
Follow the track down until it joins a path running along the bottom of Weacombe Combe. Turn left and follow this path up the combe, keeping the stream on your right. About half of the way up, the path crosses the stream. Cross over and continue to follow the path up the combe.
Stage 3
At the top of the combe (on the opposite side where several tracks meet) is Bicknoller Post. From here, on a clear day, you can see over to Minehead and Dunkery Beacon in Exmoor. Turn left at these tracks and follow it away from the two hawthorn trees either side of the track, with Bicknoller Post behind you on the right.
Stage 4
When the track splits keep right and then continue walking straight on. Keep walking up the stony tracks in roughly a straight (northerly) direction.
Stage 5
Head over the crossroads and walk roughly 218yd (200m), where you will see a grassy track leading off to the left.
Stage 6
Follow this path up a gentle slope to the triangulation point; a concrete trig point.
Stage 7
Once at the trig point stop to take in the views: Wales, Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel, Weston-Super-Mare, Brean Down, Bridgwater Bay, Quantock Common, Exmoor and Minehead can all be seen from here.
Stage 8
The trig point is sited on a mound of stones (a cairn) with another a few metres away and a path just to the left of it. Head down this path until you reach the car park. While going down this path you'll pass through heathland of varying different ages, which attracts a range of wildlife, and also some bracken covered areas.
End point
Staple Plain car park, grid ref: ST116410
Trail map
Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey | © Staple Plain walk
More near here
Woodland Hill circular walk
A short walk through mixed woodland and nearby heathland that is a haven for native wildlife and has evidence of early human settlement.
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A 3.5-mile walk around some of the quiet and scenic parts of Somerset's Quantock Hills, taking in ancient trackways used by humans for centuries.
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