| Sunday 25th April. South West Coastal Path - Exmouth to Sidmouth | ||
| The splendid weather gave fine views along the cliffs and a field of early purple orchids was much admired. The walk passed the start of the newly designated Jurassic Coast with its fine monument made from a selection of the rocks found on the way, set in date order. | ||
| Sunday 25th April. Cothelstone Hill | ||
| The shorter walk attracted 21 walkers and 5 dogs starting from just above Cothelstone Hill. Walking through woods full of forget-me-nots, red campion and bluebells and then into open country with fine views of the Blackdowns. Walking down to Ivyton Farm to a stream where the dogs enjoyed the opportunity of a drink. Then up through a small wood to gain the high ground again with views over Cushuish. The wild garlic in the wood was smelled long before it was encountered! The pleasant walk was enjoyed by all apart from some of the larger dogs who had to be carried over stiles that had strands of wire underneath them. | ||
| Friday 23rd
April. Wellington towards the monument. (photos
Roger Conway) Walk Stats:- 5.2 miles, Climbs 670ft |
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| 24 members left Wellington on a glorious St George's day evening and traversed the back lanes behind Wellington School, the Alma Mata of Jeffrey Archer & Keith Floyd amongst others, to pass the intriging house formed from a converted water tower (see picture). Across the Relief road and into the fields, where another walker joined us. Several muddy stiles and a stiff climb later saw us tantilisingly close to the Monument, but time did not permit that final push to the top (now I know how Everest climbers feel in similar circumstances!). A return route gave some magnificent views of the Vale of Taunton Deane, before 18 of the party retired to the Eight Bells for supper. Richard's first leading a great success. | ||
| Sunday 18th April. Robber's Bridge on Exmoor | ||
| Despite an unpromising weather forecast 18 Taunton Deane Ramblers met at Robber’s Bridge car park to sample one of the finest walks in their newly published walks book. Pessimists among the group togged up in full wet weather gear in anticipation of rain ahead on the exposed moorland. Taking the sunken path up to Stowey Common, the way led on to open fields dotted with some very newborn lambs. The group then headed for the access land before turning left into a wild and empty valley walking towards the ruined Larkbarrow settlement. Deer were spotted on the far side at a brief coffee break in the lee of a line of trees. So far no rain! Making for Alderman’s Barrow it was noted that several new posts had been erected in the last couple of months, one with a slightly different wording than in the book! Meeting a lone walker as the route crossed the Macmillan Way the tempting promise of the sight of golden plover back along the route he had come was resisted and the group made for Lucott Cross as the sun came out and with it splendid views across to Dunkery, the white church at Selworthy, Bossington Head and the Welsh coast. On past Lucott Farm, taking the diverted path to Hawkcombe Wood where the leader had planned a lunch stop which would have given shelter from the promised rain. Instead the spring sun filtered though pale green leaves. Continuing on down to the river, some crossing by the ford, others prudently taking the bridge, and then a delightful riverside walk ending with a stiff climb up to Hawkcombe Head with many in the group now in T shirts. The final descent to Weir Water and return to the cars in the afternoon sunshine proved that you should never put off a good walk because of the forecast! | ||
| Easter Sunday 11th April. Wye Valley | ||
| A more distant walk on
Easter Sunday had 14 ramblers tackling a splendid 16-mile
walk up the |
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| Easter Sunday 11th April. Brendon Hills. | ||
| A gentler walk on the
edge of the |
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| Friday 9th
April. Around Halse. (photos Roger Conway) Walk Stats:- 4.0miles, Climbs 282ft |
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| On the sunniest Good Friday for years, a bumper turnout of 38 walkers plus 4 hors de combat eagerly awaited the ‘off’. The route took us south across the fields, where we had a super panoramic view of the Quantocks, Blackdowns and Brendons, to cross the old A361 at Hillcommon. Through the Orchard and the fields to the River Tone where we turned West for a short distance before the return route northwards. Re-crossing the main road at Preston Bowyer, and up through Preston Farm, where the attention to cleanliness and tidiness is a credit to the owners. Descending from the crest of the hill we entered a tree lined gully to emerge beside an enchanting lake, complete with little islands for the ducks to nest on. We re-entered Halse via the Church Yard and completed our walk through the pretty main street to rejoin those who had patently waited for us. 26 members then enjoyed a ‘Pie & Pint’ supper. | ||
| Wednesday
7th April. Around Honiton (photos Roger Conway) Walk Stats:- 5.3miles, Climbs 681ft |
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| April is what it 'said on tin' and April is what we got - sunshine and showers. An elite band of 9 members started from the centre of Honiton up through the park to St Michaels church, with it's sloping floor and special chapel dedicated for the former pupils of All Hallows School. Out into the fields and lanes around Round Ball Hill to emerge alongside the A30 trunk road where the sign above was observed. The final route back to the car park was via some 'back lanes' and roads where an ancient Mickleburge waterwheel was spotted. | ||
| Sunday 4th April. Wellington to Halse. | ||
| Walking the footpaths connecting communities. Footpaths come in several different categories, ridgeway paths, old coffin routes across the moors, pilgrim trails across counties but the basic paths that we all know are those that connected communities, churches and farms. These were the paths that many of our forefathers, the agricultural labourers, took on their way to work, to church or to do their courting. Connect several of them together and you get the walk that 17 Taunton Deane Ramblers did on Sunday from Wellington, through Nynehead, Oake, Halse on to Fitzhead. The farms passed may have born the names of the original farmers who built them, Garnival, Blagrove, Webb, Preston, and Greedy. The walk went along the line of the old Grand Western Canal, which won't now be restored, and then crossed the line of the old railway that ran to Milverton and Wiveliscombe, that won't be restored either! The churches are still there though, at Nynehead, Oake, and Halse all with their web of footpaths. In the foothills of the Brendons the group had lunch beside a hedge just before Halse and could look back to the Blackdowns whilst admiring the Quantocks ahead glistening in the sun. The return path was on tracks still used by farmers but in a state of repair that today’s tractors can accept but which would not have been acceptable to yesterday's farmers (and has to be accepted by today's walkers). The finish was beside Wellington Church, which has overseen the changes in the countryside around it without changing much itself; satisfied after a good long walk through beautiful countryside, along ancient paths and without having to puff and pant up the hills. | ||
| Sunday 4th
April. Wellington to Sampford Arundel. (photos
Roger Conway) Walk Stats:- 5.1miles, Climbs 261ft |
 Retired, Mike still misses the
stimulating conversation at work |
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| 19 members met at Wellington Sports Centre, plus a dog, in glorious sunshine, soon to be deceived as the hail was upon us!! The blackened skies emptied twice, but of course, we hardy types kept on going. We were then rewarded with lovely sunshine for the rest of the walk and a bit of wind. We left the Sports Centre and went towards Rockwell Green across the basins, through the streets of Rockwell Green and followed the footpath over several stiles and gates, through a new housing estate, to Perry Farm, where it was rather muddy. It was deemed to be the leader's responsibility to allow the members to walk over her to prevent the others getting muddy!!! We then followed the footpath to White's Farm, just the other side of the A38, turning right into the village of Sampford Arundel, where we had a short drinks stop. There were good views over to the Monument and the Quantocks. The local dairy herd then followed us up the hill, making sure they were left alone, and progressed toward the Beambridge Hotel, along the railway line. We then went to Pinksmoor, Prowse's Mill, Westford, and a waterside path to the outskirts of Rockwell Green, across the railway line and back to the sports centre by 4.30pm. A couple of Canada geese were spotted en route, a lesser spotted warbler, and several robins. Sampford Arundel Church was the drinks stop, a very pretty 19th Century church, which was lovely. We also saw some attractively converted disused mills, a very varied and enjoyable walk. | ||
| Friday 2nd
April. Out from North Newton. (photos
Dave Orr) Walk Stats:- 4.7miles, Climbs 159ft |
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| The evening season proper got off to an excellent start when 16 members gathered at the Harvest Moon pub to take a route north across the fields towards Bridgwater before heading southeast to join the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal to return to North Newton for a delicious supper. As you would expect in this area there was plenty of wildlife to see, including a fox and a heron. | ||
Westford Mill & stream 
