Five West Mendip miles to 5 star pub

Directions

1. Follow the lane uphill in front of the pub – called The Batch – passing houses on the lane on either side. As the lane eventually levels out around a bend at the top, you’ll eventually see a barn in the field on your right. Beyond it there’s a distinct farm track to your right, leaving The Batch to follow Lyncombe Lane.
2. Follow this lane until you reach the first footpath downhill to the left (there’s a metal kissing gate into a field immediately opposite). Turn left down this footpath, which is Mapleton Lane. Leaving woodland and onto a grassy track with fields either side, this eventually joins the tarmacked Pylewell Lane at a farm outbuilding. Follow it up to the A38.
3. Follow the footpath left along the A38, and soon cross onto a lane past houses on either side. This is the village of Star (The Star Inn is a little further along from where you crossed). Beyond those houses a footpath leads you over a stile into a field. Follow this well-trod path towards the top end of the field on your left. You’ll see a gateway onto a track which will provide your exit.
4. The gate at the top of the track provides access to Shipham Road which you immediately cross, to follow Philfare Lane up to the hamlet of Rowberrow. You emerge from the lane at The Swan Inn.
5. Cross over to follow the village road to the right-hand side of the pub, called School Lane. Follow this until the road starts downhill and curves right with the woodland of Rowberrow Warren ahead.
6. At the bottom of the hill, you leave the road to head left over a small stream to follow a forestry commission path uphill to the right hand side of the house in this hollow known as Rowberrow Bottom (///lyricist.daily.overruns). The house has a little shed built into the hillside to the side of the house and you’ll be passing behind it.
7. The path rises steeply, rounding to the right into woodland, then onto a broader wooded track at the top. Bear left here. There’s evidence of forestry work around so pay heed to any warning signs and be prepared to adjust your route if needed.
8. Follow this broad track as it starts to head slightly downhill, and round to the right. You have a choice now to follow straight on, uphill on the wider path, or head down to your left along a path that resembles a stream bed. Go left.
9. You emerge from this section onto a forest path. Turn left to head slightly uphill. This is mountain biking country, so be prepared! This path gradually rises in a straight line. You’re underneath Dolebury Warren now, which you’ll conquer soon.
10. Eventually this path reaches the top, and offers a choice of straight on or left at a distinct, wide junction. Go left, and soon emerge from the woods to see the grassland leading up towards Dolebury Warren.
11. Go through the gate to start the ascent. All paths lead up to the old fort.
12. Once on the ramparts of the fort, head to the left hand side as you advance across the fort, to pick up a broad grass track down hill. This is one of the main routes up to the fort from below.
13. The path comes to a gate into a wooded track that takes you down towards the A38 that should be audible now. Follow it past houses, dropping down eventually to a footpath alongside the A38.
14. Turn right to follow the footpath until you see a tarmac lane across the road. This is Skinners Lane which leads you back to the sanctuary of The Crown.

Notes

Why is it called Dolebury Warren?

After the Iron Age hillfort at Dolebury fell out of military use, the entire site was turned into a large medieval rabbit warren — complete with warrener’s house, pillow mounds, and vermin traps.

There's evidence of these traps as you approach the fort in the shape of deep troughs in the ground.

The name “Warren” was added in the post‑medieval period, when rabbit farming became a profitable rural industry!

The best pub walks are meant to be shared.

If you’ve followed this route, found a better path, got lost, uncovered a standout pint somewhere else, or simply have a story to tell, I’d be delighted to hear from you.

This site is as much about shared discoveries as it is about the walks themselves.