14k Run Over Stowey: Scenic Trails at Great Wood & The Drove

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 13.7km loop through Over Stowey and The Quantock Hills offers a quintessential English trail running experience, combining moderate elevation with diverse terrain. Runners will navigate well-maintained forest tracks within Great Wood before tackling a steady ascent of 210 meters to reach the higher ground. The highlight of the route is the stretch along The Drove Road and the wide, open paths leading through the vibrant heather of Black Hill. Expect a mix of soft woodland floor and firmer gravel paths; while the route is "hilly" (rated 3), the climbs are rewarding, providing sweeping views of the Somerset landscape that make every bit of effort worthwhile.

Deeply rooted in ancient history, The Drove Road is an evocative trail lined with majestic beech and silver birch trees that have stood as silent witnesses to centuries of travel. This area of The Quantocks was the first in England to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) back in 1956, and it’s easy to see why. As you run past the historic landmarks of Over Stowey, you’re following in the footsteps of Romantic poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, who frequently roamed these very hills for inspiration. The blend of deep forest density and the exposed, wild beauty of the moorland summits offers a sense of rugged isolation just a short distance from the local car parks.