Herepath trails
Easy Access to the Hills
People with limited mobility can now enjoy exploring the beautiful countryside of the Blackdown Hills on a new easy access trail.
The Neroche Scheme has developed the 1 km circular trail, at Staple Hill on the Blackdown Hills. The trail has been built to enable people of all abilities to experience and enjoy the landscape of the Neroche area.
Local resident Mrs Ould, who uses a wheelchair and her carer Mrs Farley were the first people to officially try out the new trail. Mrs Ould said: “There are so few parts of the Blackdown Hills that are easily accessible by wheelchair so its real joy to be able to come to Staple Hill to have a picnic with my family and enjoy the amazing views”.
The trail has been designed and built to national ‘all ability’ access standards so it is easy for everyone to use including those with limited mobility. The two new viewpoints have picnic benches and seating and the kissing gates are big enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are also no steep gradients and the compacted path surface makes pushing wheelchairs and pushchairs easy.
As part of wider Neroche Scheme habitat improvement work that has been carried out we have been able to open up some spectacular new views across the Vale of Taunton. On a clear day you can see all the way to Wales.
The trail starts from Staple Hill Forestry Commission car park, on the Blackdown Hills above Staple Fitzpaine. From Taunton, take the B3170 through Corfe then turn left at the crossroads at the top of the hill. Staple Hill car park is 1.5 miles on the left and is signed from the road.
Please note that the entrance to Staple Hill car park has a height restriction barrier. If you wish to bring a vehicle over 2.1m high, contact the office and we will arrange for the barrier to be unlocked.
