Merriott walks

Species-rich limestone and marshy meadows beside River Yarty.

Species rich hay meadow. To see the reserve at its best visit between April and mid-July before the annual hay cut.

If you want beaches, cliffs, woodlands and meadows and a walk that will test your fitness, this is the one for you.

A mosaic of calcareous grassland, scrub, ancient oak woodland, secondary woodland and conifer plantation on Dundon Hill. The top of Dundon Hill features significant archaeological remains with a hill fort, Bronze Age round barrow and ancient quarry.

This linear Dorset walk follows the South West Coast Path from Charmouth to Seatown. The coastal scenery on this part of the Jurassic Coast is dramatic and the walk includes the highest point on the Dorest Coast at Golden Cap.

Unimproved neutral grassland and a small copse. The site has open access via rights of way from Butleigh. Please keep to the edges of the field until the hay has been cut.

The walk follows the Corton Ridge and offers great views across the Somerset Levels and the Dorset Hills. It has great historic significance as Cadbury Castle is reputed to be Camelot King Arthur's Castle. You also cross the ancient medieval village of Whitcombe. It's an up and downer and can be boggy in wet weather. As an incentive there are two great pubs you can call in at!

A gentle meander alongside Blackbrook and around pleasant Hamilton Gault Park. The stream is a traffic-free route for wildlife in and out of the town, including otters and water voles. Come out on a summer evening and watch bats flying above your head catching insects.

A pleasant route of reasonable distance, taking in a beautiful stretch of Taunton’s crowning glory the River Tone, and a quiet tract of the Bridgwater and Taunton canal. Wildlife abounds.

A circular walk giving beautiful views over the surrounding countryside of rolling hills and meadows.

Take in a lively stretch of the River Tone, a new wildlife mural, and the Mill Stream running through Goodland Gardens. Visit by day you’ll see Little Egrets hunting for fish, and at dusk, you might be joined by bats who are out hunting for their supper.

Circular, family-fun story trail 1.5km riverside walk.

Easy walk with a short climb to St Catherine's Chapel, which is based on a small hill. At the top, it offers a nice 360° viewpoint.

A Dorset walk that explores the pleasant landscape to the east of the pretty village of Abbotsbury. The ropute includes a section of the South West Coast path including a potion along the shores of West Fleet, the lagoon behind Chesil Beach.

Westhay Moor is north of the village of Westhay in Somerset. The car park is just off the road to Godney, at the junction with Daggs Lane Drove. A National Cycle Network route runs along a disused railway line, just south of Westhay village.

A thoroughly pleasant and not very arduous walk from Evercreech to Chesterblade, then to Batcombe and back along the River Alham. There are quite a few hills but none of them are very long and the total ascent of the walk is surprisingly modest.

A circular walk around Hawkridge Reservoir with opportunities for some bird watching. Then through mixed woodland and across high pasture with views across to the Mendips and Glastonbury Tor. The mile extension takes in a renovated limekiln and a viewpoint on Hawkridge Common.

A circular walk through the newly created Steart Marshes along well made pathways, with an optional extension to the breach in the former sea defences on the River Parrett.

This walk is intended as the return leg to the central section of the East Mendip Way from Shepton Mallet to Cranmore Tower and is originally published on the East Mendip Way Facebook page.