Somerset

Orchards, stiles and fields circular walk

Enjoy a wander through the heart of cider country at Tintinhull village in South Somerset, which dates back to the Saxon period, and discover historic orchards and medieval field systems.

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Total steps: 8

Start point

Tintinhull Garden National Trust car park, grid ref: ST503198

Step 1

From the car park entrance, cross the road and turn left along the pavement following the wall.

Step 2

On reaching the Crown and Victoria Inn, turn right and enter the orchard through the gate.

Step 3

Follow the direction of the public footpath sign through the orchard.

Step 4

When you get to a stile keep going along the hedgerow, and pass over a second stile. A little after the second stile, stop at the waymarked metal gate on the left.

Step 5

Enter through the gate following the waymarked footpath along the hedgerow.

Step 6

Before reaching a wooden kissing gate have a pit stop at another metal five-bar gate, which has views across the village to Montacute as well as St Michaels Hill. Go through the kissing gate and keep going onwards down the track that was once part of a drove.

Drove ways

Here you can see a drove used to access the common field systems of Tintinhull, established in the medieval period. The common field systems can still be seen in places as parallel ridges and furrows on the surface of modern fields. Look for these in the car park at the end of the walk. Major droving routes were also used to move livestock around, sometimes long distances, to local and regional markets. Pubs and inns that once stood on old drove ways may still carry the drover's name.

Step 7

When you get to the end of the track, go through the second wooden kissing gate and cross the road onto the pavement. Turn left and pass through Tintinhull village. Some of the houses on the right date back to the 16th and 17th century.

Step 8

At the triangle road junction, turn left and cross the road following the signs for Tintinhull Gardens. You should pass the Crown and Victoria Inn once more and arrive back at the car park.

Tintinhull House and Gardens

After completing your walk, you can visit Tintinhull House and Gardens. The house was built in 1630 for the Napper family, who rose in prominence in the village between the 16th and 18th century. They were closely associated with the local glove-making industry. As their wealth grew, they bought a number of properties, including Tintinhull Court and the Dower House. The house is surrounded by a contemporary garden created by Phyllis Reiss between 1933 and 1961, which complements the mellow ham stone and proportions of the house.

End point

Tintinhull Garden National Trust car park, grid ref: ST503198

Trail map

Farm Street, Tintinhull, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8PZ

01458224471

tintinhull@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Orchards, stiles and fields circular walk

Total steps: 8