| Wednesday
28th January. Orchard Portman (photo
Roger Conway) Walk Stats:- 4.4miles, Climbs 279ft, Highest Point 295ft, Lowest Point 75ft |
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| Sunday 25th
January. Kingston St Mary & Cothelstone (photos
Dave Orr) walk stats:- 6.6miles |
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| Wednesday 21st January. Out from Creech (photos Roger Conway) |  |
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| A full carpark at the Riverside Inn told the story that this was a popular walk. The route started along the Taunton & Bridgwater Canal tow path, under the motorway, over the accommodation bridge and back the otherside and then through the meadows to 'North End'. Up through Worthy Lane and across the golf course to emerge at the canal again at Charlton Lane and the final leg along the canal back to Creech St Michael. | ||
| Sunday 18th January. Around North Curry | ||
| The
sunny weather tempted a large group to walk round North
Curry. Setting off from the church towards Moredon, along
the ridge to Stoke St Gregory, there were splendid views
of the flooded meadows shining in the sun, which already
had attracted large flocks of birds. Passing through
Coate’s Willows and Wetlands Centre with rust
coloured withies standing to dry in the sun, the way led
down to West Sedgemoor. Above the flooded levels the
Burton Pynsent monument stood lit by the late afternoon
sun but the droves were muddy and most of the walkers’
were concentrating on keeping upright in surprisingly
slippery conditions. Many took up an invitation to tea at
the leader’s house near the end of the walk, while
others decided to press on to the village. |
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| Wednesday
14th January. Around Appley & Kittisford (photos
Roger Conway) Tony feeding 'Ned' > |
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Dave, the intrepid explorer ^ |
| Winter walking is always popular and on a day when a forecast of heavy rain might have kept members away, 21 of us were well prepared as we set off from The Globe Inn (after a smashing lunch there first) through the meadows that were well and truely water sodden down to the gates of Cothay Manor. Up the hill and left onto the route of the old Grand Western Canal produced debates about the likelyhood of it reopening. Back to the 'water' meadows and across the River Tone to a steadily climb through farmland to eventually arrive at the Tone Bridge in Kittisford. A bit of road work through the hamlet and passing it's 13th century Church, and another wet field before the final leg back to The Globe, alas by now shut! The weather was kind to us with virtually no rain on the route, which meant that we were able to enjoy the superb views of the foothill to the Brendons and also across to the Blackdowns. | ||
| Sunday 11th January. Post Christmas Walk | ||
| Wet and
watery walking |
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| Saturday 10th January. Footpath working Party | ||
| a small group got together for some path clearance near Halse. A short stretch by a stream had almost completely disappeared under a couple of seasons’ bramble growth obscuring both the way and a small bridge. Many hands make light work and in a couple of hours the vegetation was cut back and new posts with a handrail erected to guide walkers over the bridge. Retiring to the New Inn in Halse they enjoyed some excellent roast potatoes, sandwiches and a roaring woodburning stove. | ||
| Wednesday 7th January. Around Hawkridge (photos Roger Conway) |
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| With a desperate weather forecast it was a surprisingly large group (27 members) that took the grand circle of Hawkridge Reservoir. A mixture of terrains taking in tarmac roads, cindered paths, pastures, private gardens and an overstocked field that concluded with a foot of slurry at the gate. As there was a bit of a chill in the air the walk was conducted at a brisk pace in order to keep us warm. Unfortunately the beautiful church at Spaxton was locked so the group were unable to enjoy the inside. As the photos show, this is the lowest January level of water in the reservoir that any of the party could remember. The less righteous of the party retired to The Pines Cafe for tea and cake. Hmm, this is becoming a regular feature on Wenesdays! | ||
| Sunday 4th January. Blackdowns: Castle Neroche, Curland, Staple Fitzpaine & Corfe | ||
| 19 Taunton Deane Ramblers met at the Priors Park picnic site on the Blackdown Hills for a 12-mile walk on a dry and sometimes sunny day. Going over Staple Hill past Four Trees the Somerset Levels were blanketed in fog with the hills of the Quantocks sticking out like islands in a sea of mist. After recent rain the going was muddy and slowed the group, particularly on the long uphill climb from Woodram to the top of Adcombe Hill. Lunch was taken on a bridge beside a stream near Staple Fitzpaine. and after the break they encountered a worried dog owner whose German shepherd had gone missing. Shortly after the dog came bounding up and owner and dog were re-united! A slightly longer walk in difficult conditions underfoot meant a tired group returned to the cars and were rewarded with mince pies. | ||
| Thursday 1st January. North Coast of Exmoor (photos Dave Orr) |
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| Resolution on New Year's Day! Twelve Taunton Deane Ramblers met up on the northern coast of Exmoor by Countisbury, for a 12 mile coastal and moorland walk on a blustery New Years' Day, guaranteed to clear any post-revelry heads. Setting off on to Foreland head, some of the group braved the exposed cliff path down to the lighthouse to then rejoin the other walkers on the SW Coast path. Following the coastline east high above the Bristol Channel for several miles, the walkers turned inland and took the steep permissive path up WinGate Combe, to come out by the 50AD Roman Fortlet on Old Burrow Hill. At this point four ramblers from the half day walk met up with the main group. After pausing at County Gate for a picnic lunch, the group now sixteen strong, set off on the path west above the East Lyn river heading towards Brendon. Dropping down to the river at Brendon, the walkers followed the course of the rushing waters of the river through the bare winter woodland of ancient, sessile oaks. At Watersmeet the waterfall was admired during a brief drinks stop. Returning upriver on the opposite bank, the group turned north to trek back steeply uphill through Trilly Woods to the start point. After the walk, nine of the group took refreshment at the walker, dog and even dirty boot-friendly Sandpiper Inn at Countisbury. | ||
| Walk Stats:- Distance - 11.5 miles. Total climbs - 2,188 ft. Highest point - 1,056 ft. lowest point - 118ft. |
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