Somerset is renowned for its apple orchards and a walk through them is always a pleasure. The best time to go is when the apple blossom is in flower which is usually in May. There are orchards across the county many of which have footpaths passing through them. So, if you can’t get to East Lambrook to do this walk it is likely that you will be able to do a similar walk through orchards local to you
The route:
1. This walk starts in Kingsbury Episcopi on the Somerset Levels. It passes through the middle of the village going by the ancient old village lockup. It continues across fields to Stembridge where it enters the apple orchards and passes through them to East Lambrook. A detour off the main road through the village takes the route past the church and on to East Lambrook Bridge. The banks of the Lambrook stream are then followed to the confluence with the Parrett. The final part of the walk follows the Parrett Trail back to Kingsbury Episcopi
Turn left out of the car park and follow the road to the Triangle. Turn right, pass the old village lockup on the left and continue to merge with a road joining from the left. Pass Norton Drove and a short distance ahead veer left onto a footpath. Follow the path into a field, pass a path joining from the left and go on to cross a stile. Veer left and cross a field to exit over a stile.
2. Turn left. In approximately 200 yards turn right onto a path. Follow onwards continuing where the path becomes a track. Pass a track on the left and go on to a gate. Turn left in front of the gate onto a track. Cross a stile into a field and go on to cross a stile on the right by a building. Follow the short path into a road and continue ahead to the road in Stembridge.
3. Turn right. At the junction turn left and at the T-junction turn right. After passing “Homeleigh” on the left turn left onto a footpath and on through a gate into an orchard. Go to the far left-hand corner, pass through a gate, cross a footbridge, pass through another gate, and turn right into an orchard. Keeping to the right pass through two orchards and at the end cross a stile. Keep to the left. At the far corner cross a stile, turn right, and shortly left over a bridge. Keep right, In the far corner turn right over a footbridge and through a gate. Turn left and follow the path and track out into the road at East Lambrook.
4. Cross into the road opposite. Keep right at the junction. Turn first right and next left. Pass East Lambrook Church on the left and at the junction turn left. Reach a T-junction turn right over East Lambrook bridge and left through a gate into a field. Keep alongside the stream and follow it to reach and cross a footbridge on the left. Turn right and shortly veer right to gain the Parrett riverbank. Continue alongside the river and out into the road at Gawbridge.
5. Turn right, pass Gawbridge Mill on the right and go on to a junction on the left. Turn left and almost immediately right over a stile and bridge onto a path. Go ahead into a field. Keep to the right and go on to reach and cross a stile. Still in the same direction cross a field and on through gates to join the bank of the river Parrett on the right. Continue ahead through fields alongside the river until reaching and crossing a weir where the path turns away from the river. Follow the path to reach Church Street in Kingsbury Episcopi. Turn left and at the T-junction turn right and follow the road back to the car park.
Distance: 5.1 Miles, 8.2 Km.
Ascent: 108 ft.
Time: 2 ½ hours
