Hitting the Deck at Henstridge

1 Walk down the hill and take the second entrance, up some steps, into the churchyard. Kington Magna's pond lies just below. The village looks out over the Blackmoor Vale to Henstridge, on the Somerset border.
Henstridge Airfield was on the valley floor over to the left. During the Second World War this huge airfield was built for training Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) pilots. Named HMS Dipper and commissioned in 1943, it covered 355 acres (144ha) and was provided with five runways. A distinctive feature was the 'dummy deck' runway, for learning how to land on aircraft carriers. For 3½ years the skies were filled with Fairey Fulmars and Barracudas, Supermarine Spitfires and Seafires and other aircraft, before the site was closed. Pitted fragments of the runways survive - they're mostly used for storing new cars, but one section continues as a private airfield.

2 Walk past the church and leave the bchurchyard via a wooden gate, heading down a grassy path through the field. Keep straight down and, at the bottom corner, go through a kissing gate into a road by Gilly Flower Cottage.

3 Bear right and the road soon cnarrows into a back lane. Reach a road and turn right. Where the road swings right keep straight ahead then turn sharp left at the fence, to walk along a gravel path. Go through a gate into a playing field and straight on through the kissing gate opposite. Turn right and follow the fence round, to pass through another kissing gate by a bungalow. A short track leads you to a road, Back Lane. Turn left and follow this down, passing the Old Rectory on your left. Cross the lane at the end and go through a gate. Bear slightly left across the field towards another gate. Go through this and turn left across the top corner, towards a stile in the hedgerow. Cross a pair of stiles and a footbridge, and head straight across the field towards the corner of a hedge. Go through a gate and turn right down the lane.

4 At Lower Farm turn left into a muddy field. Walk straight ahead and go through two gates to a road. Immediately turn right into a rutted green lane between hedges. Cross a stile at the end and head straight on, diagonally across the field, towards a gateway. Pass through and bear slightly right across the next field. Keep to the right of a tree and pass the end of a hedge to a gate.

5 Go through this and cross the A30 with care. Walk straight on, up Coking Lane. Go straight ahead through the farmyard and bear slightly right on the other side, crossing a sleeper footbridge to walk up the side of the hedge. Follow the hedge to the end and, where the field narrows, bear diagonally left to go through an overgrown gate in the corner. A few paces on, the next gate has collapsed - clamber over and keep ahead up the edge of the field. Turn left along the top of the field and go through a gate. Continue straight on and go through another gate. Turn right and follow the field edge. Just before the road there's a gap where you can get through on to the road (if it's impassable, keep round the field boundary to a gate).

6 Turn left and walk along the road towards Fifehead Magdalen. Opposite My Lady's Cottage go left through a squeeze gate in the hedge. Walk straight across the field, passing through a gap into a second field. Cross the stile into Fifehead Wood. Keep straight ahead on the broad path and cross a stile at the other side, by a gate.

7 Head diagonally left up the field to cross a stile in the hedge. Look left to see what's left of the airstrip at Henstridge pointing towards you. Continue towards the top left corner of the next field. In the corner cross the bridge and emerge on to the A30. Turn left for a couple of paces and cross over with care, going straight through the hedge to cross another bridge and stile into a field. Head slightly left across the field. Cross a footbridge and stile in the corner into another field. Keep left, go through a gate, then directly through the farmyard and down the straight farm road. At the end turn right up Chapel Hill, passing the Primitive Methodist chapel of 1851.

8 Turn left just after Horse Shoe Cottage and follow the road to Gilly Flower Cottage. Turn right through the kissing gate and retrace your steps up to the church. Pass an ancient yew then leave the churchyard via the top gate to return to your car.