It’s the weekend. You may have a quiet couple of days ahead with no plans. Or you may have friends coming over and are yet to decide how to entertain them. Well, if, like us, you enjoy exploring the local countryside then you’re sure to love these walks. And if, like us, no walk is complete without incorporating a local pub where cold beverages and yummy grub is on offer, then you’ll be even more pleasantly surprised by this list. Read on and get those weekend plans Locked Inn (pun intended. *See item 5 on list).

Wookey Hole Inn, Wookey Hole

Duration: 45 minutes each way (or 30 minutes if you return via the road)
Terrain: Pram-friendly with some hills
Type: This route has the benefit of being circular, or linear if you return the same way you came

The walk… For all you Wellsonians out there, this is a brilliant country pub walk that can be done without even getting in the car. A rare thing indeed. It’s also a walk that can be done with a pushchair (or a sling, depending on your preference). So top marks all round from us. Heading up from town, the walk takes you up Ash Lane and onto Milton Lane (where you’ll face the steepest incline of the route) before heading out of town and into the countryside with gorgeous views across Wells and beyond. You then follow a semi-sheltered path that runs alongside the Split Rock Quarry, uphill first and then switching to downhill as you start the descent into Wookey Hole village. The last 10 minutes or so of the walk is on road (Wells Road) so do take care if walking with a pram. It’s not too busy but you’re likely to meet a car or two. Wells Road merges with the High Street and you’ll see the pub on your right hand side. On the way back, you can choose to return via the same route or go the quicker way along the road (Wookey Hole Road) and follow the footpath all the way back into Wells.

The pub… The Wookey Hole Inn was owned by the guys that now run The Sheppey in Godney (another favourite of ours) so it’s got bundles of character. The roast dinners are delicious and it has a good varied menu. They welcome children with open arms – every table has a pot of pencils and a white paper tablecloth so they’re actively encouraged to get creative. There’s also a garden that is great in the summer (it’s on a slight hill but, as long as you’re keeping an eye on them, the kids can happily run around).

The Litton, in Litton village (near Chewton Mendip)

Duration: Around one hour
Terrain: Sling only as there are a number of stiles to navigate. Can get muddy in wet weather too.
Type: Circular walk

This is a firm favourite of ours. So much so that I’ve written a blog post dedicated solely to it. Fabulous pub with an even more fabulous circular walk that combines all (and more) of the must-see sights that every good country walk should include. What’s more, the pub has created a beautifully illustrated pocket map of the walk for its visitors to download or take as they explore the area – it would be rude not to combine the two. And you’ll certainly deserve that lunch when you’re done. Read more here.

The Railway Inn, Sandford, Winscombe

Duration: Various distances. The walk follows the old Strawberry Line railway so you can opt for a short amble or a longer walk, depending on your mood
Terrain: Flat and prammable – a mixture of grass, gravel and tarmac but it’s footpath or road all the way
Type: Linear

The walk… This one is around a 35 minute drive from Wells but is well worth the trip. The Railway Inn is owned by Thatchers Cider and sits on the site of the Thatchers orchards and factory. It’s also on the Strawberry Line, a disused railway line that runs through Mid-Somerset so walks from there are nice and flat. If you’re walking from the pub, turn right onto the road, walk for around 300m and there are two options: turning left onto the Strawberry Line takes you towards Winscombe and turning right takes you towards Congresbury. The Winscombe way is shorter and more direct (it takes just over an hour to reach the village) and the Congresbury route is a little more meandering, coming on and off the Strawberry Line a couple of times and incorporating a bit of quiet road walking too. Congresbury is around 13 miles away so it’s unlikely you’ll do the full route but you can walk for as long as you like and turn back anytime you’re ready. On this route, you get to stroll through some of the Thatchers orchards, which is pretty interesting, but (I must warn you) you also have to put up with the God-awful stench of a sewage plant as you turn off the first section of road and return to the Strawberry Line. Don’t worry though, the smell disappears as quickly as it arrives!

The pub… The Railway Inn itself is a lovely pub with a great outdoor space, complete with a wooden train (that the Little Big One loved playing in) and a large grassy area for running around in. There’s also a toilet outside with changing facilities, meaning you don’t have to tackle the busy pub and oodles of stairs if you need to get there quick!

The Talbot Inn/ The Walled Garden, Mells

Duration: As long or as short as you like 
Terrain: Flat
Type: Linear

The pub… Mells is a beautiful little village near Frome, about a 25 minute drive from Wells. Here, you have the option of dining pub-style at the Talbot Inn (it has a kids menu and a grassy area just off its outside courtyard where children can have a run around) or heading opposite into the more relaxed Walled Garden where you can have sandwiches, salads or pizza (from their very own pizza oven) while enjoying the tranquility of the beautiful gardens and nursery. There are an abundance of different seating areas to choose from (including a covered greenhouse area) but while there’s lots to see, there’s not a lot of space to let children loose. You can save that for the walk!

The walk… If you take a little amble through the village – past the post office and village store – and take the second left turn, you’ll discover a wonderful little woodland walk that follows the river. About 10 minutes into the woods, you’ll come across a waterfall and shallow area that is just perfect for paddling. It’s just beautiful! The path can take you all the way to Great Elm village if you’re in it for the long haul, or you can choose to walk as far as you like and turn back when you’re ready.

There are a few parking options in the village. We parked in the free car park adjacent to the recreation ground (there’s ample space) but there’s also limited parking at the Talbot Inn and, if you’re visiting the Walled Garden, you can park in the Mells Barn car park too.

The Lock Inn, Bradford on Avon

Duration: Multiple options
Terrain: Generally flat and prammable, although the canal path may get muddy in wet weather
Type: You can opt for a circular route or come back the way you came

The pub… We love visiting Bradford on Avon. We have close friends that live there and we got married there, so it holds a special place in our hearts. It also has a number of blooming great pubs and some lovely canal walks too. Our pub of choice is The Lock Inn, which has a lovely large beer garden (and a funky little dining area on a canal boat if you fancy something quirky). The food is homely and served in giant quantities (which is always a winner in our eyes). And it’s right on the canal so you can wave to passing narrow boats and watch the activity at the nearby lock that gives the pub its name. 

The walk: From The Lock Inn, you can walk around the picturesque town of Bradford on Avon or opt for a river and canal walk instead. There’s a lovely circular canal route that’s about 1.5 miles long. You can extend this walk to include some field paths too (this adds a further 1.5 miles onto the route and may make it trickier with a pram). The local council has created a very helpful guide to walking in Bradford on Avon which includes directions and maps to all of the above. You can download it here.