On driving into Compton Martin, the small community with a normal church, roadside pub and tiny shop/Post Office appears to be like any other traditional village in Somerset - but it has a big story to tell.
We’re not talking about it being the birth place of hermit and miracle worker St Wulfric, or it being the filming location for comedy film The Festival starring Noel Fielding and Joe Thomas in 2018.
No, better than both of those. The village, well the local pub The Ring O’ Bells, is famous for two secret gigs, one performed by Coldplay in 2013, the other being Kyle Minogue in 2010. And there are more, Conor Maynard, Becky Hill and Chas ‘n’ Dave also appeared on that night with Coldplay.
It’s because the Butcombe Brewery pub was part owned by Miles Leonard, chairman of Parlophone, Coldplay’s record label - not bad!
So the pub seemed the perfect place to start and finish a short country walk from the village, crossing fields with horses, llamas and hedges lined with ripe blackberries.
When you finish, you can look forward to a drink, or food, at the charming pub. Although we were a bit surprised at the £17 bill for a large glass of Malbec and a pint of Butcombe Original.
Here’s a picture gallery of the walk:
1. Meadows
Reach Undertown Lane and you’ll face this steel gate with a kissing gate. Carry on through and follow the footpath down through the centre of the field toward a turn in the River Yeo. | Alex ROss
2. Llamas
After turning right at the end of the field and going over the River Yeo, take a left through a gate into another field where there are horses and llamas. | Alex Ross
3. Trackway (halfway)
From the llamas, pass Bickfield House Farm and continue straight, going through two large fields before coming to a track and turning left. You only need to walk down it 5min and you’ll come to this gate. | Alex Ross
4. Villace Lane
Now turn left onto Villace Lane. The route is shaded as you go through woodland and head back toward Compton Martin. | Alex Ross