| Friday
29th June 2007. Around Ash Priors (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 4½ miles 502ft of climb |
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| In spite of traffic problems between Taunton and Bishop's Lydeard, 15 members made it in time to take advange of improving weather for this favourite walk. Engineering skills were called upon to clear pathways to stiles, and the chatter of members rang through the valleys. Back to The Bell for supper where 2 other members joined us. | ||
| Sunday 24th June 2007. Exmoor & Exe Valley Way | ||
| Despite the forecast
of extreme weather 6 members set out optimistically from
Dulverton in warm but damp conditions. The long
climb up to reach the moor made for rising body
temperatures so a very welcome drinks stop was taken
whilst enjoying the panoramic views towards Winsford and
Kennisham. House martins swooped and dived all
round and a fox was spotted stalking a hare although at
our approach they both ran off. At the turn
towards Mounsey Hill Gate the skies looked ominous and
sure enough the rain set in although fortunately not for
long and the sun was out by the time the group began the
descent to Tarr Steps. Lunch was eaten in the
sunshine near the bridge surrounded by chaffinches eager
for crumbs. As is nearly always the case after lunch
there was a hill to climb and after crossing Tarr Steps
the steep ascent to Parsonage Farm began. The route
then turned to follow the |
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| Sunday 24th June 2007. Nutcombe Bottom, Bat's Castle & Withycombe Scruffets | ||
| The sky was overcast
with grey cloud and there was no wind; it had stopped
raining, (the gods were smiling down upon us). Nine
walkers and three dogs (namely Daisy, Megan and Archie)
congregated in Nutcombe Bottom where our leader welcomed
them and gave them a preview of the coming walk
highlighting the places of interest to be seen along the
way. The walkers left the car park and started climbing through the woods to Bonniton Gate and then out into open-county on Gallax Hill where a prehistoric Iron Age settlement was sited although it was covered with bracken. As the group moved on up the hill to Bat’s Castle, the sun came out and anoraks were removed; this was an Iron Age hill fort dating back to the 6th century BC and here one could identify the outer defences of wall and ditch around the fort. They stopped to admire the view of the Bristol Channel with Steep Holm and Flat Holm clearly visible on the left and the Welsh coastline (the promised land) in the background. On the way whortleberries were found ready for harvesting and our merry band collected them as an addition to Sunday lunch. The walk continued through Withycombe Gate, out of the wood, up Withycombe hill and descended to Higher Dumbledeer where the clouds again came down obliterating the sun and the temperature dropped noticeably. The group went on to Gupworthy Farm with Withycombe Scruffets to the south; this is an area ancient semi-natural woodland which was used for timber coppicing, a practice that existed as long ago as 4000BC, and for the production of charcoal for iron smelting during the 18-19th centuries. From Gupworthy Farm the group re-entered the forest eventually emerging on to fields leading to Broadwood Farm where they saw six deer in an adjacent field cropping grass but when they picked up our scent they drifted away. From Broadwood Farm the walkers crossed a stream via two wooden bridges and eventually reached Broadwood Lane where there is a Douglas fir tree reputed to be the tallest tree in England in 1993 at 57 metres. One of our young ladies insisted that she would find it on her own and after a few stabs at it was successful, (perhaps the plaque in front of it helped). Our happy band left Broadwood Lane and returned to Nutcombe Bottom pleasantly tired but content just beating the rain starting to fall from the gathering dark clouds above. |
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| Friday
22nd June 2007. Around Kingston St Mary (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 3½ miles 246ft of climb |
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| It must have been a surprise for early drinkers to arrive at The Swan in Kingston to find the car park full, yet no one in the bar. That is because the party of 30 walkers had set off before official opening time. Bright evening sunshine bathed the group as we crossed the fields towards Tetton House and circled back past the enclosed reservoir, down the drive to take a short road section through Stairfoot to turn across the fields again to emerge opposite the front door of the pub - how convenient! | ||
| Sunday 17th June 2007. 2 Counties
Way (part 4). Halberton to Bickleigh (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 7 miles 264ft of climb |
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| Continuing along the Grand Western Canal we were delighted to meet up with the Horse drawn Barge that takes a regular 2½ hour round trip cruise from Tiverton. The group also paused to read the memorial plaque to the crew of an RAF plane that crashed into the canal. There were plenty of people about including fishermen and we arrived at Tiverton Canal basin after passing though houses that line the banks. We stopped to have ice-creams before dropping down through the streets and paths to be alongside the River Exe. A little roadwork through the trees past Collipriest to return to the fields and the woods that line the Exe (bottom right) and were surprised to find a herd of Highland Short Horn Cattle (bottom left). In was on this leg that the leader suffered the igmony of falling in the mud and had to be rescued by 3 strong members. Emerging by the old railway station at Bickleigh to find the minibus (and driver) waiting to take us home. We are now half way through the walk. |
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| Sunday 10th June 2007. Kingston
Deverill, Great Bottom & Mere (photo Ken Burgess) |
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| The trip to Wiltshire saw the group walking on chalk downlands rather than the usual venues on Exmoor and the Quantocks. Starting from the Domesday village of Kingston Deverill from opposite its church dedicated to Saint Andrew which originated in 1099 walkers headed west towards Truncombe Wood before turning south. A brief halt was made near Rodmead Hill to watch as the local gliding club took to the air. The ridge walk above White Sheet Down gave distant views with the National Trust’s property at Stourhead and King Alfred’s Tower being clearly visible. A stop for refreshment was made near White Sheet Hill so that the distant views to the south could be enjoyed. Continuing south alongside Great Bottom the path descended to the outskirts of Mere and lunch was taken on the castle ramparts. After a pleasant walk through the town a path lead up to overlook Chetcombe, Aucombe and Ashfield Bottoms with their many ancient field systems or stryp lynchets. There followed a length of ancient roadway with interesting mileposts with roman numerals and distances from London and Sarum. After reaching Chaddenwick Furze walkers turned to the north descending through another area of open access before the short ascent of King’s Hill and the return to Kingston Deverill | ||
| Friday
8th June 2007. Longaller & Roughmoor (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 4.1 miles 128ft of climb |
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| On a glorious summer evening 26 walkers set off on a figure of eight circuit of the lush farmland to the west of Taunton. The outward route followed the River Tone - seeing the bank scouring caused by drainage works in the adjoining 'Park & Ride' site and crossing the old bridge at Netherclay (above right) as well as visiting the 'Ramblers' bench in the Community Woodland (above left). The return started close to the railway at Norton Fitzwarren and back through the 'P&R' to see the wildlife lagoon (right) and the Frieze Hill Community Orchard. Supper was taken at the home of the Chairman, where the members enjoyed their meal in the late evening sunshine. A collection in memory of Tom Robson realised over £56 for St Margaret's Somerset Hospice. |
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| Wednesday
6th June 2007. Stonegallows, Sweethay & Comeytrowe (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 4¾ miles 298ft of climb |
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(clockwise from top left) Bill has another option if his boots don't fit; The "aah" moment; 'The corn is as high as Mike Whitmore's eye'; The tea party |
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| Sunny day, excellent company, lovely walk, smashing tea and cakes at Tony & Christine's - enough said. The donation collection in memory of Tom Robson realised over £20 for St Margaret's Somerset Hospice. | ||
| Sunday 3rd June 2007. 2 Counties Way
(part 3). Burlescombe to Halberton (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 6¾ miles 122ft of climb |
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| The walk, Burlescombe to Halberton, is the easiest section of the 2CW and was entirely along the tow path of the Grand Western Canal and about as flat as a walk can be. But it certainly was not boring, with a huge range of wildlife and flora to be seen. The Dog Roses were spectacular and occurred for the whole length of the walk and 3 pairs of swans with cygnets gave opportunities for those 'aarrr' moments. Swallows swooped and dived and a couple of lucky members at the front of the group spotted a kingfisher. |
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| (top)
dredger (middle) swan & cygnet (bottom) Ayshford Chapel & swing bridge at Halberton |
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| Friday
1st June 2007. Poundisford, Cotlake Hill & Sherford (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 4½ miles 221ft of climb |
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