Surviving the Reformation in Winsham and Wayford

1 At the foot of Winsham's main street turn left into Court Street, with a footpath sign for Wayford. The path becomes a track. Where another track crosses, keep ahead into a field, to pass to the right of Broadenham Farm with its handsome Hamstone porch. Follow waymarkers between the farm buildings to a lane. Turn right and follow the lane to Hey Farm. Waymarkers lead round to the right of the buildings. Ignore two tracks on the left as the main track bends to the right. Follow it through Ashcombe Farm - although the right of way diverts to the left, the track between the buildings is a permitted path. In another ½ mile (800m) you reach the parking area at the foot of Wayford Wood.

2 Go through a gate to a noticeboard with a map. Turn right, passing to the right of a wooden building, and go up the main path. With the wood edge visible above on the left, the path bends to the right; take a left fork to pass a bench, dated 1987, and date palms. The path crosses the top of the wood for 220yds (201m) then turns downhill again, eventually emerging down steps on to the track below the wood. Turn left for ¼ mile (400m) into Wayford. A golden manor house, a few stone cottages and a tiny church make up the village of Wayford, with just a single road leading out to the rest of the world. Keep ahead to the chapel, barely bigger than a room. In this small, undecorated space, you might feel God is sitting right beside you. (You can divert through the churchyard to rejoin the lane beyond.)

3 At the end of the village, at 'Give Way' markings, turn left up the steep and hedged Chard Lane. At the top of the hill, opposite a road designated 'Unsuitable for Motors', turn left through an unmarked gate. Take a faint green track out across the field, to a single oak tree where a hedge runs down to the right. Go past the oak and along the hedge behind to a gate into a farm track. After 100yds (91m) the track bends left: here climb a gate ahead and follow the hedge on your right to the field corner and a gate into a lane. Turn right for 220yds (201m) then left into a concrete farm track signposted for Chalkway. The track leads through Midnell Farm and then Lue Farm, where it passes through a large shed. After ¼ mile (400m) it joins a road.

4 Turn left, down into a gloomy wood of larches, and then right, over a cattle grid, on to a tarred track. This runs through parkland, to reach a lane. Turn left, down over a mossy bridge, over the crest of a hill, and down towards Winsham. Just above the village a stile on the left is signed for Back Street. Cross a field corner to pass to the left of some houses. Another stile leads into the village: turn downhill to reach the Bell Inn, but be sure to visit the church before you leave.