Directions

1. From the White Hart make your way along the lane back in the direction of the A38. After 100 metres, just before a junction, look for  a public footpath signpost, heading uphill through a narrow gap in the hedge. It's a steep start to the walk, and a narrow path through vegetation that was already showing signs in May that it could become overgrown.
2. Through a gate, continue uphill to follow the path ahead, slightly right. It breaks out into woodland and eventually follows the boundary with fields, with views across to the hills on the other side of the valley - Shute Shelve.
3. Our goal along this path is to reach West Mendip Way - the main route that will take us up to Wavering Down and onward to Crook Peak. Beyond a gate, a route marker pointed to the right, which felt downhill to me - a shame after the height already gained - so I followed an established path a little to the left of the marker instead.
4. This eventually led me to a gate, and soon onto the West Mendip Way. Turn left to follow it!
5. The outward instructions from here are straightforward: continue uphill in a relatively straight line, following tracks through trees. You'll emerge onto an open area called Cross Plain, and see the open grassland heading uphill towards a trig point at Wavering Down.
6. First you'll pass a Farm Building - Hill Farm - and multiple signposts. We'll return to this point later to take one of those paths downhill through the ferns and trees. For now, continue on the established route uphill, with the wall on your right.
7. You soon reach Wavering Down, and then see the crest of Crook Peak ahead. It might look further away than it actually is!
8. Walking is easy from here with some reasonable ups and downs, and an easy clamber on the rocky outcrop of the peak itself, although easier if you circle it first.
9. Enjoy the view before the return journey, back via Wavering Down to the signposts at Hill Farm.
10. Along the way, you'll pass a stone memorial, and you may see National Trust signs asking us to consider that Adders may be basking in the sun, so please don't disturb them. OK!
11. Back at Hill Farm, note that one of the markers point towards Bourton Farm. The marker points in exactly the right direction, although the path to get there is a little curvy for the first 100 metres. As you head off roughly in the direction of the marker, look for a wooden post downhill in a line from the finger marker at Hill Farm. Just beyond it is a narrowing route downhill into woodland.
12. This path becomes quite steep which I imagined would be slippery when wet. It eventually emerges into a small meadow near to Bourton Farm, and leads down past a small barn, to a gate in front of the farm, through its gravel parking area.
13. Follow the lane as it turns downhill and soon look for footpath signs. Take the path up to a gate into fields. 
14. There may be livestock in the 2-3 fields to come. Continue straight until you eventually emerge into a disused quarry area. Continue to the second section of quarry, and look on your right hand side for a gate to leave the quarry area, down some steps.
15. This is the final section back towards the village. You'll eventually emerge onto Old Coach Road, where you can cross onto the pavement, turning left to walk through the village on your return to The White Hart.

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.