| Wednesday 31st March. Ham Hill & the Chinnocks (photos Roger Conway) |
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| Walk Stats:- 6.75miles, Climbs 965ft |
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| Starting from a car park with stunning views, it was evident from the start that this was going to be an excellent walk. The late winter sunshine added to the experience as we dropped sharply down to Little Norton with it's water mill and water fall. Through the wood around Chiselborough Hill and onto the lush farmland to our drinks stop overlooking the village of East Chinnock. The restart took up to the top of the hill and around the now landscaped former LA tip at Odcombe to the 'secret' valley below High Wood. Up the otherside (who said that Somerset was flat?) and down again into Hocker's Valley before the final climb to the top of Ham Hill. The final leg took us through the old quarry workings and back to the car park, where the 18 tired but content members thanked the leader for a super afternoon. | ||
| Sunday 28th March. Exmoor, Hurlstone Point, Selworthy Beacon, Tivington & Huntscott. | ||
| On a Sunday with pale grey skies 14 Taunton Deane Ramblers assembled at Horner village car park on Exmoor. The first part of the walk across fields to Allerford was accompanied by the the sound and sight of ewes and young lambs. Crossing the A39 the group headed up through woods towards Bossington. A welcome stop at a newly replaced seat afforded great views across Porlock Bay . Then a steady climb up to the old abandoned look-out point at Hurlestone Point and a pause to enjoy the panoramic view across to Wales. The first challenge of the day followed with a sometimes tricky negotiation of the rock strewn, narrow and steep Coast Path to gain an upper path that led inland. Warmed and breathless after the climb, lunch on a grassy bank amongst gorse bushes seemed a good idea, with the additional splendid views across to the Welsh coast. Once over Selworthy Beacon the group descended to re-cross the A39 and make their way through the attractive hamlets of Tivington and Huntscott. A beautiful meadow full of wild daffodils and early fritillaries were admired .The walk ended with a final undulating path that borders the edge of Dunkery and the sight of the newly re-opened tea rooms at Horner was a delight for many of the thirsty ramblers. | ||
| Sunday 28th March. Triscombe, Wills Neck & Bagborough. (photos Roger Conway). |
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| Walk Stats:- 5miles, Climbs 1056ft |
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History
lesson at the Triscombe Stone ^ < post walk tea party |
| The skies were full with leaden clouds but it was still with just a hint of rain in the air. Seventeen ramblers gathered at the quarry car park just above the Blue Ball Inn in Triscombe. The leader haranged the gathering highlighting aspects of the walk to come but noticed a growing restlessness when suddenly there was a shout from the back, "It's time to go." The game was afoot. Our gallant band thrust up Triscombe Combe at break neck speed reaching Triscombe Stone where it stopped to regroup. The leader eulogised on the Triscombe Stone stating that it was once a place for the inhabitants of the surrounding district to congregate and trade; it was also a blue stone from the mountains of Pembrokeshire (obviously a prehistoric Welsh export initiative). The group pressed on to Will's Neck, the highest point on the Quantocks (1,260 ft), there being no higher hill directly East to the North Sea. There was an excellent view of the channel with Flat and Steep Holm in the foreground and the Welsh coast in the distance. Having suitably refreshed themselves, the walkers progressed along the Quantock ridge, through Bagborough Wood and down to West Bagborough. On the way a magnificent view of Bagborough House, the early 18th century home of the Pophams, afforded itself across the fields. On arrival in West Bagborough, the group passed the 16th century Rising Sun Inn and went on to St Panchras Church first mentioned in 1278. Here there was a large host of golden daffodils, some beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the very slight breeze but no lake could be found. (Perhaps Wordsworth formulated his poetry composition from this very scene). Our valiant troop continued on to Rock Farm and then back to Triscombe admiring this year's crop of lambs and watching with interest as two Somerset Railway steam trains passed each other at Crowcombe station going in opposite directions. The walk finished at the quarry car park where the leader invited his weary comrades to join him for tea at the Stable Cottage Tea Room. At the mention of tea, eyes lit up and the pace quickened. | ||
| Friday 26th March. Wellington. |
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Walk Stats:- 0.7 miles, Climbs 16ft |
| On a mild late winter evening, and fortified by an excellent supper, chez Fionna, 8 hardy members started the Friday evening season with a brief stroll in the Riverside area of Wellington, before returning to the supper party for more food and silly games. | ||
| Sunday 21st March. Out from Stogumber. (photo Dave Orr). |
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< rain, wot rain |
| Twenty-one
members met at the pretty village
of Stogumber for a 5 mile half-day walk on Mothering
Sunday. Tempted out after lunch by a lovely sunny
drive past the Quantock Hills, the walk started
with hail and rain showers sweeping in. Walking
south, the skies darkened behind the walkers
and the shelter of a barn at Preston was reached,
just as a torrential storm with painfully large
hailstones beat down on hooded heads, testing the
resolve of the group. With murmurs of dissent and talk of
turning back, the walkers were persuaded to wait out the
storm in the lee of the barn and were distracted
from their discomfort by the new
lambs, warm and dry amongst the hay inside. After a ten minute
wait, the rain and hail diminished, then stopped. By
the time Hartrow Manor, the half-way mark had been
passed, the group found blue skies unfurling behind
the receding storm clouds and finally welcome
sunshine. With the air washed clean, the walkers
enjoyed crisp views of the southern flanks of the
Quantock Hills to the east and Willets Tower peeping
above the woods to the west. The blue skies and sunshine
were enjoyed for the remainder of the afternoon, as
the ramblers walked down to Higher Vexford, past fields
of gambolling new lambs, before turning north to head
back to Stogumber. The traditional post walk tea was
taken at the welcoming White Horse village inn, with
hearty portions of homemade puddings replacing the
usual cake. |
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| Wednesday 17th March. Brendon Hills from Luxborough | ||
| Nine members plus a
dog set off from Luxborough along the river to Churchtown
on a mild and bright afternoon and after a brief visit to
the 12th century church there were a couple of
steep climbs up to Withycombe Common, stopping at the
trig point for splendid views over to Dunkery. After some
level walking it was all downhill via Druids Combe wood
to the cars. |
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| Sunday 14th March. Wiveliscombe & Okehampton Quarry. (photo Roger Conway). |
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Walk
Stats:- 4.9 miles, Climbs 558ft < emerging at the top of the quarry |
| The morning rain did not put off the 29 walkers who set out around this popular and well know route. A mixture of village passages, open fields, country lanes and farm yards not to mention the heart pumping climb up to the top of the quarry. The usual Tea party afterward. | ||
| Wednesday 10th March. Around Creech & Knapp. (photos Roger Conway). |
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| A chill in the air, but the sky was bright when 28 members set off along the Canal towards Bridgwater. A sharp turn south to cross the main Paddington to Penzance main line and then the River Tone into Ham. In the next stage across the fields to Knapp we saw a small herd of Roe Deer and the lucky few at the front had the sight of 2 of them prancing across the adjoining fields. Down through the Hamlet of Knapp to reach the river bank near Ham Wharf and the suspension bridge to the private island. The return to Creech was along the river bank. | ||
| Sunday 7th March. The Quantocks from Hawkridge. | ||
| 16 walkers setting off from Hawkridge
Reservoir on a woodland path to Aisholt before crossing
fields and rising steeply to the edge of the Quantocks.
The clear cold day provided good views and, in the lea of
the woods, it was warm and springlike. Tree felling at
Great Wood had left an unsightly area along the ridge but
new trees had already been planted. Dropping down through
Cockercombe Castle via a steep path to the Forestry
Office the group met a solitary pony. Darkening clouds
over the Channel brought a shower of rain, followed by
sun with the end of a rainbow spotted in a nearby field.
A short climb along a woodland track brought the party
back in sight of the reservoir and it was remarked how
well the water levels have recovered after the drought of
last summer. |
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| Sunday 7th March. The North Coast & the Quantocks. | ||
| Some 20 members set out from East Quantock Head on a dry Sunday and followed path, road and track to Perry Farm, climbing up towards Perry Combe Plantation and then following the Quantock Greenway past Smiths Combe and on past the Alfoxton Hotel towards Holford. Dodging a brief hailstorm as they entered Broadwood, they stopped for a picnic lunch, but missed the wild daffodils that they had hoped to see nearby. Continuing over the A39 to Hilltop Lane the group picked up the footpath again to join the well-marked permissive path to reach the cliff top by the Range Quadrant Hut. The tide was out and the unusual rock formations were clearly visible. Pressing on towards Kilve they took a well-earned stop at the Chantry Tea Rooms where the group helped celebrate a pending birthday with tea and cake. A gentle amble, dodging another brief hailstorm, bought the group back to the start. | ||
| Wednesday 3rd March. Around Sampford Peverell. (photos Roger Conway). |
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| Walk Stats:- 5.5 miles, Climbs 528ft | Shall we walk or go back to the pub? |
Ripe for conversion ^ |
| What a difference a (few) days make. Joined by 24 members the walk leaders pondered the perennial question. Why is it that whenever a walk is checked out in glorious sunshine with clear views it is odds on that the walk itself will be in rain or generally poor visibility? Such were the conditions last Wednesday for the ramble that started from the Sampford Peverell car park (or the Globe Inn for those who came early to sample their delicious lunch). Setting out to the north of the Grand Western Canal it always looked as if it was going to pour with rain but in fact it never did. Passing the church, the route then turned down into Boobery before entering into the fields that flank this old village; then under the bypass and through the pastures to Whitnage where a small herd of roe deer did their best to distract the party off the correct route. The views walking between Whitnage and Uplowman did not exist so the party had to suffice with the descriptions of what the two leaders had seen three days before. From Uplowman the way went around Paullet Hill before following the road down to Battens Bridge. A final walk along the canal, full of ducks, coots and moorhen and a swan wanting to be fed, led back to the starting point. | ||
