| Sunday
June 27th Dinnington & The Fosseway Walk Stats:- 3.8 miles, climbs 203ft (photos Brenda Orr) |
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| Roger, having had to go off to a meeting, delegated leading the walk to Linda. She, knowing how quickly she forgets things, roped Brenda in to keep her on the straight and narrow. Despite this, having been sidetracked by fossil hunting, we managed to miss a turning. Having no bridge to return to, we ploughed on and, lo and behold, this is where we should be (in a roundabout fashion)! Gentle walking was enjoyed, with pleasant views, accompanied by little brown butterflies in the long grass and buzzards riding the thermals. A large broad bean field was a temptation and off went Miss Moppet but stiles on either side of a stream held us up long enough for her to be rounded up. At the next fossil field, Brenda was diverted but the rest of the party took the path down the ditch and pretended that she was not with us. We met up at the bottom of the hill, where we were making a big fuss of the miniature Shetland ponies to cover her arrival with a bagful of fossils. It was just spitting with rain at this stage, so we hurried back to the cars (or some, maybe to the pub) before getting wet. | ||
| Friday June 25th Staple Hill from Staple Fitzpaine | ||
 (photos Dave Orr)  |
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| On a pleasant sunny evening with a cool breeze, twenty-five Taunton Deane Ramblers met at Staple Fitzpaine for a Friday evening walk. Leaving the village past the Almshouses, the group strolled south-west up a lane, passing the Manor House and the parish church of St Peters with its impressive Tower and six bells. Leaving the lane, the group walked south-east to cross fields to Parsonage Lane. A steady uphill walk led the walkers to Mount Fancy farm just below Staple hill. Pausing in a gateway the group admired panoramic views across the moors and levels to the Mendip Hills, with Glastonbury Tor just visible. To the west the outline of the hill fort and keep at Castle Neroche could be picked out by the shape and pattern of the trees atop it. Turning west the ramblers walked through thick pine woods to meet up with Underhill Lane. A steady descent took the group through a meadow above UnderHill farm. with lovely views across the lush green Somerset landscape. The lane took the walkers back down to the village. Twenty-one of the group took the short drive to the Holman Clavel inn for a sociable end to a lovely summer's evening walk. | ||
| Wednesday
June 23rd Nynhead & The Grand Western Canal Walk Stats:- 2.75 miles, climbs 168ft (photos Roger Conway) |
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| After a morning of heavy rain it was an exclusive, and brave, party that set off on the south loop of the originally planned walk. 5 started and 5 finished, but did not do it all together (lost gloves, but that's another story). The walk started with a gentle road climb through 'The Hollow' before taking the track down to the route of the Grand Western Canal, which we followed westward past the River Tone Viaduct (see picture above) and the Nynehead lift, complete with a magnificent doe looking down on us from the top. We then continued along the canal through the woods, before turning north to re-cross the River Tone and reach Nynehead Court, where the party inspected the restored Ice House, the Box Garden and the covered walk to complete the circuit before the rains returned. | ||
| Friday 18th June. Trull, Poundisford & Kibbear | ||
| Intermittent sunshine
lit up Trull Church car park as 28 ramblers gradually
arrived; suddenly a black cloud hovered menacingly
overhead but thankfully moved on after threatening a
deluge. The leader dealt with the top priority of
the walk, which was to list the requirements of 24
diners, and then disappeared to make the appropriate
arrangements with the landlord of the Winchester Arms.
Meanwhile the deputy leader regaled the walkers with the
proposed route and items of interest that would be seen. The walk started from the 13th century All Saints Church in Trull with its 15th century stained glass windows and 16th century pulpit. It passed the Winchester Arms and then turned off towards the Bell House following Sherford stream towards the M5 motorway, which was crossed by means of a footbridge. Once across the motorway the group pushed on to Poundisford Park, which was formed by Henry of Blois Bishop of Winchester in the 13th century, and passed Poundisford Manor, a 16th century Tudor house, until the southern end of the Poundisford Pale was reached. On the way the walkers encountered cows with suckling calves and the herd cross Hereford bull keeping an eye on proceedings. At this point the walk turned around the Park Pale and branched off to Barton Grange, which was originally the summer residence of the Prior of Taunton until the Dissolution in the 16th century when it was sold to Humphrey Colles who built a mansion on the site. This unfortunately was mostly demolished in 1931 with only a little of the original incorporated in the present building. At this point the leader made an unconscious route diversion but it gave the group an opportunity to admire the apartments and studios in the grounds of the Grange.The ramblers pressed on through Poundisford village, across the motorway by road bridge and on through Kibbear until eventually Trull Church car park was reached. Our gallant band then retired to the Winchester Arms to enjoy delicious food, excellent ale and entertaining conversation. |
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| Sunday
June 13th SWCP, Seaton to Seatown Walk Stats:- 13.8 miles, climbs 2,838ft (photos Ken Burgess) |
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| Restarting
from the River Axe in Seaton the coast path walkers were
immediately faced with the climb up to the Axe Valley
Golf Club where the path briefly crosses part of the
course before joining the cliff top for views back over
Seaton to Beer Head and as far as Berry Head. Soon the
path enters the unique section of the coast path where it
follows the undercliff. This is the result of one of the
most celebrated landslips in Continuing on walkers
briefly passed through the village pausing to note that
in the past you would be transported for life if you in
any way damaged the bridge over the river. The long
ascent of |
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| Friday 12th
June. Around Monksilver Walk Stats:- 3.5 miles, climbs 732ft (photos Roger Conway) |
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| On a bright summer evening, Twenty eight Ramblers set off from the delightful village of Monksilver. A testing outward leg of over a mile at an upward gradient of 1 in 3 took us through the woods to claim the superb views across the Brendons to the West Somerset. The return route took us towards Nettlecombe Court before taking to fields and narrow roads to bring us back to Monksilver via the churchyard. 18 walkers then moved on to The Farmers Arms at Combe Florey to complete their evening with a meal and social chat. | ||
| Wednesday
2nd June. The Steart Peninsula Walk Stats:- 5.4 miles, climbs 56ft (+ up the tower) (photos Roger Conway) |
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An old wreck in the Parrett^ |
^An old wreck about to climb the tower |
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| Brilliant sunshine, but a stiff westerly breeze greeted the 18 walkers as they set off along the beach (with the sea just visible in the far distance) We then crossed the road at 'Sheep Dip' to take to the fields to meet the Parrett Trail on the edge of the river at North Clyst. North East along the bank and then onto the Drove road to reach within 100 metres of the Car Park before turning East to visit the Observation Tower over the Nature Reserve. The final stage back to the Car Park was via the beach top path. | ||
