Liberty Trail
A 28-mile long-distance walk in Dorset and Somerset following a route taken by West Country followers of the Monmouth Pitchfork Rebellion of 1685. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: ST 479 173
Distance: 28 miles (45 km)
Time: 10–14 hours
Duration: 1–2 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
116 Lyme Regis and Bridport
128 Taunton, Blackdown Hills, Wellington and Ilminster
129 Yeovil and Sherborne
Summary
The Liberty Trail long-distance footpath starts at Hamdon Hill Country Park in Somerset and finishes at Lyme Regis in Dorset. It follows the footsteps of villagers from the region as they made their way to join the Protestant Monmouth Rebellion at Lyme in 1685. It also links the Leland Trail with the South West Coast Path. Beginning at one of the largest Iron Age hillforts in Europe on Hamdon Hill, the route visits West Chinnock, Haselbury Plucknett, Misterton, Wayford, Winsham, Forde Abbey, Thorncombe, and Lambert’s Castle Hill Fort before arriving in Lyme Regis. During its course, the Liberty Trail meets and shares sections with other long-distance footpaths, including the Monarch’s Way, River Parrett Trail, Jubilee Trail, and Wessex Ridgeway.