Day 7 of a 9-day walk through Somerset from Skilgate to Bitton. On Day 7 I walked from Cocklake to Compton Martin

1. A WALK THROUGH SOMERSET
Skilgate to Bitton, in easy 8- to 10-mile stages, on minor
roads and footpaths
John Downs with Indie
Day 7 of 9 – Cocklake to Compton Martin – 9.86 miles (15.86 km)
OS Explorer Map141
Somerset - Day 7 1
Cliff Road near King
Down Farm, above
Cheddar Gorge

2. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin - Overview of route
A slightly longer walk on minor roads and footpaths, crossing Draycott Moor and then traversing the Mendip Hills (max
altitude 261 metres) to arrive in Compton Martin near Chew Lake.
General directions : 1st leg – 4.5 miles Leave Cocklake heading east to Bartletts Bridge. Then cross river/drain and
head east along Nyland Drove past Nyland Hill, along Latches Lane and into Draycott – meeting A A371.
Cross the A371 and then Top Road. Follow the West Mendip Way up steep hill east past Batcombe Farm and Batcombe
Hollow. At top of hill join Middle Down Drove trackway north-east to cross B 3135 (Cliff Road coming from Cheddar Gorge).
2nd leg – 5.0 miles Take B3371 east to Kingsdown Farm and crossroads at B3134 (1 mile). Go straight over the B3134 past
Whitestone Farm and Harptree Wood and follow Highfield Lane down steep hill into Compton Martin and A368.
Somerset - Day 7 2

3. Set off from Cocklake at 11.59. A dry and sunny day. Altitude : 8 metres. Leave Cocklake heading east to Bartletts Bridge. Then
cross river/drain and head east along Nyland Drove past Nyland Hill, along Latches Lane and into Draycott – meeting A A371.
Elapsed time so far 1 hour 27 minutes. Altitude 41 metres. Cross first A371 and then briefly join Top Road. Follow West Mendip
Way up steep hill east past Batcombe Farm and Batcombe Hollow. At top of hill join Middle Down Drove trackway north-east to
cross B 3135 (Cliff Road @ altitude 216 metres coming from Cheddar Gorge). Highest point on trackway (255 metres) after 2
hours 39 minutes of walking. Elapsed time on joining B 3135 : 2 hours 54 minutes
Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin– First leg to B3135
Somerset - Day 7 3

4. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin- First leg to B3135
(Cliff Road)
Route taken from Cocklake up to Cliff Road above Cheddar Gorge
Somerset - Day 7 4

5. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin- First leg to B3135
(Cliff Road)
The road from Cocklake to Draycott, passing Nyland Hill and arriving
at the A371
Somerset - Day 7 5

6. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin- First leg to B3135
(Cliff Road)
The West Mendip Way footpath climbing up through Batcombe
Hollow to join the Middle Down Drove track heading north-east to Cliff
Road
Somerset - Day 7 6

7. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin- First leg to B3135
(Cliff Road)
View from Middle Down Drove track above Cliff Road looking towards
the white rocks near King Down Farm
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8. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin – Second leg from
B3135 to Compton Martin
Take B3371 east to Kingsdown Farm and climb steadily to crossroads at B3134. Go straight over the B3134 past Whitestown
Farm and Harptree Wood. Altitude 261 metres just after B 3134 and elapsed time 4 hours 21 minutes. Continue over cross
roads above The Wrangle and follow Highfield Lane down steep hill into Compton Martin and A368. Elapsed walking time 4
hours 21 minutes. Altitude at finish: 101 metres.
Somerset - Day 7 8

9. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin – Second leg from
B3135 to Compton Martin
Route taken from Cliff Road to Compton Martin
Somerset - Day 7 9

10. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin – Second leg from
B3135 to Compton Martin
Across the top of the Mendips on the B3371 past King Down Farm, crossing the
B3134 and another minor road to join Highfield Lane above Compton Martin
Somerset - Day 7 10

11. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin – Second leg from
B3135 to Compton Martin
Views over Chew Valley Lake while coming down Highfield Lane past The
Wrangle. Finish near the church in Compton Martin
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12. Day 7 – Cocklake to Compton Martin
Walk statistics (Garmin)
Somerset - Day 7 12