Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm
From the first flowers of the springtime through to the colours of the autumn leaves, a visit to Folly Farm at any time of the year is always rewarding. Come to Folly Farm and see for yourself!
"The view from the top of Round Hill is magical - you feel as airborne as the buzzards hovering overhead!"
Roll over the numbers for descriptions
Map © GeoPerspectives
- 1
- From the entrance car park at the top of Folly Lane (beside the large welcome sign) walk up the track that takes you through the main farm gate and along a hedgerow lined with tall dead elms, a perfect habitat for insects.
- 2
- As the track bends to the right, turn left through the hedge and into the first plantation of the walk. Follow the woodland path until it bends to the right and leads you through an old established hedgerow that is now within the growing wood. Continue on until you come out into a large open ride - either open the gate or climb the ladder stile to your left which takes you into the cattle pasture. Cross this field heading towards Round Hill, which rises up in front of you. Through a kissing gate follow the path to the left, slowly rising round to the back of the hill and eventually to the summit. There are great views from here - on a clear day you can see the Mendip Hills, Chew Valley and over to the southern slopes of Dundry.
- 3
- Follow the crest of the hill back towards Folly Wood. Pass through the kissing gate and on entering another plantation bear right, following the wide ride through the wood. Before reaching the gate, turn right again, with the small conifer plantation on your left and leave the wood via the large deer gate. Turn left and then right, following the path that takes you through another kissing gate and into an open field. Turn left and follow the hedge to the end of the field. After you pass through another gate you find yourself within the most flower rich grasslands of the farm, in summer you’ll see drifts of purple devil’s-bit scabious and black knapweed.
- 4
- Continue along the ridge with the slope to your right, an area recently restored to grassland from dense scrub. Pass the cottages on your left until the path divides - you should bear right. At the top of the hill you can look across the farm to the buildings with the backdrop of Chew Valley Lake. Follow the path down the hill, gently bearing right and then left alongside the scrub of the woodland edge that remains on your right until you cross a small culvert, pass through the bottom of another field and reach the kissing gate of the Access for All Trail.
- 5
- Turn right and following this surfaced path along the edge of Folly Wood, firstly passing over a small brook and then the badger watching platform to your left. Pass under the glade of hornbeam trees and before crossing the bridge turn right and down a flight of steps that take you over another stream and into the main part of Folly Wood. At the end of this path you enter another smaller plantation. Turn right at the junction heading back up the hill, and then after 25m turn left and head towards the kissing gate. Passing through this, head across the grazed field and after crossing an open gate you will see the high deer fence of the first plantation on your left. Return back to the entrance of the farm by retracing your steps through the new woodland and down the track.
- P
- Car Park
- Key
- New Access Route
- Access For All Trail
- Public Footpath
What will I see?
The meadows are of a type rare now in Britain. Unspoilt by pesticides and fertilisers, in summer they are brimming with flowers such as betony, ox-eye daisy and heath spotted orchid. In late summer, they are covered with drifts of black knapweed and devil's-bit scabious.
Find out more about the wildlife at Folly Farm
How to get to folly farm
We encourage visitors to use environmentally friendly forms of transport wherever possible. Most of our reserves are easily accessible by bicycle, with many close to the National Cycle Network. Click here to view a location map of the reserve on the National Cycle Network website.
If you are driving:
Travelling southwards from Bristol on the A37 travel through Pensford. At the Chelwood roundabout turn right onto the A368 towards Bishop Sutton. After about 2 miles go past the turning to Chew Magna and take the next small turning on your left very shortly after, just before reaching Stowey.
Or travel by bus from Bristol to Bishop Sutton (nos 673, 674, 675) or to Clutton no 376.
