Join Us for the Somer Valley Walking Festival 2025!
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or simply enjoy a gentle stroll, the festival offers something for everyone. Explore a diverse programme of guided walks and nature-based activities, from peaceful woodland trails to more challenging hikes, all highlighting the breath taking landscapes, rich heritage, and vibrant wildlife of the Somer Valley.
Prefer to explore at your own pace? Don’t miss the Westfield Heritage Trails and the immersive Somer Valley Audio Trails perfect for solo adventurers.
Saturday 13th September schedule:
10:30 – 12:00 Paulton Woodland Walk
Leaving from The Hub Community Library, 1-2 Hill Court,
High St, Paulton BS39 7QG | Leader – Anne
This scenic circular walk begins in Paulton, a historic former coal mining village, and leads westward into the tranquil surroundings of Greyfield Woods near High Littleton. The route meanders through ancient woodland, offering glimpses of local wildlife and peaceful glades, before looping back to Paulton.
11:00 – 12:30 Nordic Walking Taster
Midsomer Norton Town Park
This Nordic Walking Taster is an introductory session providing a foundation for Nordic walking, fitness and wellbeing, all tailored to your individual needs. You’ll be learning in a group setting with walk leader Maxine, a qualified Nordic Walking Instructor.
16:30 – 18:30 Fantastic Fungi and Nature Walk
Haydon Batch, meeting at the Que Club entrance off Kilmersdon Rd
Join us for a fun and educational adventure at Haydon Batch. This event is perfect for beginners who want to learn more about mushrooms and fungi with the fantastic Steve England.
19:30 – 21:30 Bat Walk – Night Flyers of the Somer Valley
Taking place in Waterside Valley, Meeting outside St Nicholas’s Church, Church St, Radstock
Leader – Steve England
Starting with a brief talk about bat ecology and conservation we will head into Waterside Valley for a gentle stroll around the meadows and along the river looking and listening out for different bat species. We will use bat detectors to pick up the bats echolocations and work out what species we have recorded.
Sunday Walks start at 10 a.m. from Timsbury Conygre Hall and end back at the Conygre Hall for Tea, Coffee and Cake. All walks will have spaces for walk-ins on the day!
Sunday 14th September Somer Valley – Walking Festival – A4 – Print Readyschedule:
Timsbury Valley Circuit Walk (Stroller walk – 3.6 miles)
A gentle rise out of Timsbury quickly takes you to high ground above the village and traditional farming surroundings where you walk past Farmborough Common and through the Lammas Fields. As you walk towards Priston pheasants and partridge run freely through the elephant grass and hedges. On the edge of Priston emerge onto the top of the valley where a fine standing stone commemorates the life of a local farmer. Return along (perhaps) one of the most popular walks for the residents of Timsbury. The tranquil valley with a babbling brook is home for sheep, ducks and pheasants. Rise up the hill into Northfield area of the village and return to the hall for a refreshing cuppa and cake.
Tracks Through Time: Timsbury’s Industrial & Natural Heritage (short walk – 6 miles)
An opportunity to discover the industrial heritage of the area whilst enjoying the natural landscape. From Conygre Hall, the route passes established houses in the village built when Timsbury was a hive of mining activity. Once into the fields the views open up as far as the Harptree escarpment. A descent into the Cam Valley finds you at the once busy Somersetshire Coal Canal; now a haven for nature. Expect to see swans, ducks, coots and moorhens. Along the old tow path to Radford enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of an established and popular camp site. Continue along the route of The Limestone Link to Camertons nature reserve, once a blackened coal heap, now heavily wooded. Leaving the history of the coal mining behind delve into the world of farming whilst walking at your own pace uphill to the top of Tunley Hill where once a Roman hill fort was situated to take advantage of the vast panorama. Return to Timsbury again passing old village cottages before enjoying the company of the group over tea and cake.
The Priston Loop: From Hill Forts to Hamlets (Medium walk – 7.5 miles)
Your very experienced walk leader and back marker are delighted to show you the natural beauty of the Conygre Valley north east of Timsbury. On your route out of Timsbury you will gently climb towards Tunley and the Roman hill fort at Tunley Hill from where far reaching views towards the Mendips can be had. Turning north you will drop into the popular walking valley between Timsbury and Priston with a babbling brook and easy walking to Priston where an oversized cockerel crowns the church tower! Leaving Priston you will walk the fields to Inglesbatch, a small rural hamlet and start your return to Timsbury by walking through Priston Mill, part of the Newton Park estate. The mill was once powered by an enormous waterwheel, grinding corn which was baked locally as bread. Today it is a sought after wedding venue. Following lanes you will skirt Priston via Long Wood and Lammas Field. The Lammas field sits south of Farmborough Common and has historical ties to Christian celebrations of harvesting the first corn. Slip gently into Timsbury and back to the Conygre Hall for refreshments and a relaxed chat.
Coal, Canals & Country Vistas: A Journey Through the Cam Valley (long walk – 10.8 miles)
This walk takes you south of Timsbury into a landscape shaped by coal mining, now engulfed in nature. Much of your route will have been walked by men, women and children on their way to work the pits and farms. Almost immediately on leaving Timsbury the vista opens towards the south west. The farmland provides an undulating walk to Somerset Coal Canal. You take a lesser walked path up out of the Cam Valley through a conservation area. Over the hill the route follows an avenue of trees to Clandown where you will hear about the unusual guest of The Lamb Inn. From Clandown start your walk back to the hall via fields and Camerton Court. Re-join the Limestone Link before climbing out of the valley through Lower Conygre batch. View a new vine yard and admire the impressive period house, ‘Parishes’ before reaching your well deserved tea and cake refreshments.
11:00 – 12:00 Tai Chi Taster
Bruce will be teaching the ‘Ba Men’ (which translates as 8 Gates). This is a short sequence of 8 moves which train the basic principles or energies of Tai Chi.
The moves of the Ba Men are fairly easy to learn – at the start, as one learns the movements the practice is gentle, opening the joints, building a more connected body etc but it can also be practised in a way that’s much harder and while one is still moving slowly it provides much more of a workout – so it can be tailored to the needs of those attending without the need to teach different things to different people.
11:30 – 12:30 Nordic Walking Taster
This Nordic Walking Taster is an introductory session providing a foundation for Nordic walking, fitness and well-being, all tailored to your individual needs. You’ll be learning in a group setting with walk leader Maxine, a qualified Nordic Walking Instructor.
12:45 – 13:15 Seated Strength and Mobility Class
Discover a fun and supportive way to gently build strength and coordination. Maxine will lead this exercise class that has been expertly developed to help you improve your flexibility, aerobic health, balance, and strength, all from the comfort of a seated position.
13:30 Timsbury Valley Circuit Walk (about 3.6 miles)
Repeat of the morning walk
15:00 – 17:00 Super Pirates Family Festival
Get ready for a whirlwind of energy, laughter, and unforgettable play! The Super Pirates Family Festival creates a vibrant world of adventure, led by a dynamic crew of playworkers, actors, and dancers. From mad games and wild discos to circus fun, crafts, and inflatable ring chaos, it’s a joyful explosion of creativity and freedom. Designed to spark imagination and confidence, every child leaves feeling like a boss. Come play, explore, and be awesome!
Tea, Coffee, Cake and refreshments will be available from the kitchen
