| Friday July 30th Bathpool, Gotton, Hestercombe & Cheddon Fitzpaine | ||
| The sun was shining, the evening was warm; an intermittent evening zephyr wafted across the Bathpool Inn car park. Thirty-two expectant ramblers gathered and while the leader sorted out the priority task, the ordering of the evening meal, his deputy regaled the group with details of the walk and antiquities that would be encountered on the way. Having completed the preliminaries, the walkers left the Bathpool Inn, crossed the Bridgwater/Taunton Canal swing bridge and continued in a westerly direction along the towpath to the boat mooring dock. Here they branched off and followed the footpath past Aginghill's Farm, through Goosenford and on to Gotten Farm. Along the way the group had an excellent view of the 19th century Gotton House that also contains some 17th century, beams. As they passed, our party was inspected by a herd of interested cows; perhaps their evening cabaret had started offering a viable alternative to munching meadow grass. The ramblers then turned onto Hestercombe road where they gained a superb view of the 18th century Hestercombe House built by Warre Bampfylde with its 19th century Victorian terrace and gardens created by Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jeckyll. The group turned off the road onto a footpath leading to Cheddon Fitzpain where they admired its magnificent Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the walkers found that she had received a nettle sting; the leader, expressing concern for the welfare of his charges, immediately offered to treat the offended area of skin with a dock leaf but the young lady delicately declined. Our gallant band entered the home stretch, passing through Nerrols Farm where they were welcomed by the lowing of this year's crop of young calves, and then reached the Canal which was followed in an easterly direction until their arrival back at the swing bridge. On the way a moorhen was seen rushing home to her family as dusk fell. The pace picked up and our weary walkers retired to the Bathpool Inn with thoughts of refreshing ale and hot food. The dining table was laid out in immaculate precision with wine glasses to the fore as obviously the Inn management realised they were catering for an elitist rambling group and there was a call for the leader to procure wine accordingly; but he declined to be drawn stating that this was outside his remit. An excellent meal was consumed and everybody eventually departed in high spirits. | ||
| Sunday
July 18th Selworthy & Allerford Walk Stats:- 5.6 miles, climbs 1562ft |
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| An array of raptors, lepidoptera, flora & fawna was the treat for the 16 members who set off from Selworthy village and with Les as our guide we had an expert to book as well. The weather was better than forecast and the first section was through the shelter of woods, but we soon emerged to open hillside where the early heather was a delight of purple and gold. Excellent visibility gave superb views to Dunkery and the whole of Porlock Bay, where the steamer Balmoral was plying her trade. Down the Coastal Path to the woods above Bossington and Allerford for some welcome shade and back to the Periwinkle Tea Rooms for a 'Gianormous' cream tea. | ||
| Friday July 16th Stoke St Gregory, Meare Green & Windmill Hill |
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< The real reason for the Friday Evening walks! |
| What a night!! The rain came down and yet 15 people still tramped their way through wet muddy fields and imagining the wonderful views of the wetlands (which we did eventually see as the weather dried up a little). The walk first followed a path across historic Sedge Moor then passed by P H Coate and Son at Mear Green Court which also has a Visitor Centre, crossed Cames Mead and then followed the River Tone for a short distance before going past a farm where there were new born calves, it had actually stopped drisseling by this time except one or two of us had very wet feet and squelched our way back along a series of field paths back to the pub where they served us all an excellent meal. | ||
| Wednesday
July 14th Clevedon & Walton Walk Stats:- 6.0 miles, climbs 768ft (photo Roger Conway) |
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| A welcome visit to the north of the county started with an overcast sky and a very grey sea and even the Victorian Pier (recently repaired and re-established) looked embarrased. The 15 members set off along the road towards Portishead until the Golf Course was reached. uo across the fairway and down through the wood to have a brief stop to look at Walton in Gordano church with its unusual painted barrel vault ceiling. Through a couple of fields of horses and back into the woods for a steep climb to Walton Common for a well deserved drink break. Across the common to descend towards the shore line and back to Clevedon along the Coast Path. As we walked the weather improved and glimpses of the Welsh Coast were seen. We reached our starting point in time to enjoy a cup of tea (some even had a cream tea) | ||
| Sunday July 11th. The Black Mountains | ||
| Sunday
July 11th East Lambrook & Kingsbury Episcopi Walk Stats:- 6.0 miles 'Click' picture for a larger copy of this photo of the Parrett at Kingsbury Episcopi > (photos Dave Orr) |
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| East Lambrook manor in South Somerset was the meeting point for Taunton Deane Ramblers on a warm and muggy Sunday on July 11th. Six of the group arrived late morning, to while away a few pleasant hours in the Margery Fish cottage garden, take in the painting exhibition in the converted granary loft, followed by lunch in the award-winning tearoom. After lunch another eight members arrived for the 6 mile afternoon walk, so that fourteen set off on this pleasant and mostly level walk through the lush meadows, picturesque villages and orchards that characterise this delightful part of Somerset. This walk is one of a collection of 16 superb walks found in the Somerset Walks booklet (priced £2-95p phone 490201). The ramblers walked north along part of the Parrett Trail to the pretty village of Kingsbury Episcopi, passing Gawbridge Mill on the way. From Kingsbury Episcopi, the group turned west and tackled a number of overgrown styles, before arriving at the bottom of Burrow Hill. On the way, fine views across the levels to Burton Pynsent monument and the eastern Quantocks were enjoyed. Some lively young cattle careering around, made crossing the field up to Burrow Hill quite an adventure. Thankful to leave the cattle behind, the walkers reached the top of the field to find that a tree had come down in the previous week's gales and lay across the stile (see photo above) . In future, walk leaders will be required to carry a chain saw! At the top of Burrow Hill, the ramblers rested up from their exertions. As well as taking in the panoramic 360 degree view, some tried out the swing hanging from the tree planted atop the hill. Many local landmarks could be picked out in the fine visibility, including Glastonbury Tor. A short walk downhill led to Pass Vale farm, home of the famous Somerset Royal apple brandy. Well worth a tasting visit on open days, but on a Sunday the group had to make do with a quick view of Fifi and Josephine, the French stills used to convert cider to brandy. By now the sun was very hot and walking south the walkers soon arrived back at East Lambrook. Sitting out in the garden nursery beneath the apple trees, the walkers tucked into a well deserved tea. The delicious home made cakes and clotted cream teas showing why a gold award was given. | ||
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| Friday
July 9th Blackdown from Pitminster Walk Stats:- 4.8 miles, climbs 738ft |
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| (photos Roger Conway) | Drinks stop by the Charcoal burner ^ |
^ Feltham Cottage |
| After a period of inclement weather it was a sunny evening that greeted the members as they set off from the Queens Arms. Out through the Churchyard and onto the fields that make up the foothills to the Blackdowns. Then a steady climb through the wood to emerge at the Corfe main road. A few metre along to turn into the lane to Feltham and past some picturesque cottages before regaining the fields for some wonderful views to the north and east. The return route was through the settlement of Old Combe and then the fields to return to the Queens Arms for supper. | ||
| Wednesday July 7th Langford Heathfiled & The Tone | ||
| Setting off in warm
sunshine, 18 Ramblers plus a dog soon
sighted a buzzard in a tree but quickly realised why,
there was a dead rabbit on the path, obviously half eaten.
The walk went around Langford Budville but on leaving the
village the rain started and the group decided to walk on
the road as the fields were overgrown and wet. This did
not deter a rabbit hopping up the road in front of us.
The path to Bindon House was also overgrown so that when
the group emerged most of them were soaked! Fortunately
the rain stopped and at the Langford Heathfield nature
reserve the walkers enjoyed the sight of about 12 ponies
and their foals that graze there. Many butterflies were
seen enjoying the sun and the walk ended as it began in
warm sunshine. |
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| Sunday
July 4th SWCP, Seatown to Abbotbury Walk Stats:- 12.0 miles, climbs 1,201ft (photos Ken Burgess) |
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'Click' picture for a larger copy of this photo |
| Restarting
from Seatown coast path walkers were, as was the case on
their last trip, immediately faced with a short but
demanding climb. This time it was the ascents of Ridge
Cliff and Thorncombe Beacon that got the day’s walk
of to a strenuous start. The descents to Eype and West
Bay were a welcome relief and a coffee break was enjoyed
before the ascents of East and Burton Cliffs completed
the days climbing and brought walkers to the start of
that incredible feature Chesil Bank. Although the rest of
the walking was generally over level ground just inland
from the beach the sections over loose gravel where boots
sink into the gravel was quite tiring. Lunch was enjoyed
on the shingle beach and despite the cool climate two
walkers ventured into the sea for what they said was an
invigorating dip. The others decided that the better
option was to accept their opinion. Walkers then
continued along the rear part of Chesil Bank passing the
thatched cottage that was once home to T E Lawrence
before arriving near Abbotsbury where a climb across the
strip lynchets took walkers to the ancient chapel of
Saint Catherine atop Abbotsbury Hill. From here there are
fine views over the village and over The Fleet to
Portland. Walkers descended into Abbotsbury to admire the
village and enjoy welcome refreshment before returning
home. The next section of the
South West Coast Path is from Abbotsbury to Weymouth on
Sunday 25th July and the major part of the
route is level walking just inland of The Fleet. |
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< Willow
Maypole Dancers at Kingsbury Episcopi (photo Roger Conway)
