Wednesday 31st May 2006 Around Ham Hill & St Michael's Hill |
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Sunday 21st May. Creech, Ham & Knapp (photos Gill Robson) advance of the locals > |
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| After steady rainfall for most of the morning I was hoping that no-one would be foolhardy enough to turn up for my walk! However, after dutifully turning up at the start point I found four eager walkers awaiting. We couldn't believe our luck when, just five minutes from the departure time, the sun broke through and we were rewarded with an enjoyable walk with just a spattering of rain towards the end. The route took us along the canal, across the railway line and river to Ham where we saw a glorious display of wisteria. Passing the suspension bridge we headed towards a wooded hill, passing through a field of cattle en route (I was ever so brave!) This brought us to Knapp and from there we dropped down to New Barn Farm and circled back to Ham, returning to Creech via the riverside, feeling very self righteous that we had been the only ones to brave the elements and get away with it! | ||
Sunday 21st May. Taunton Castle to Langaller (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 5.2 miles 147ft of climb |
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| The morning started wet and just got wetter! The leader was hoping that no-one would want to go out on such a day, but after dutifully turning up at the start point there were four keen walkers awaiting. We set off through the Castle grounds and along the River Tone for a short way before cutting around the back lanes and paths by the Castle Stream to reach the weir at French Weir and then through the park to join the path by the Weirfield Nature Reserve and to walk alondside the River to Roughmoor. Over Silk Mills Road and through the Netherclay Community Wood to re-cross the Tone and the south bank path through Barr to Langaller, where we stopped (very briefly!!) to admire the old mill buildings. Into the fields towards Norton Fitzwarren before turning east beside the GWR. Back over Silk Mills road and skirting past the the P&R site to regain the fields and our third nature reserve of the morning at Frieze Hill Community Orchard. The first stage was alongside the Tone and over the footbridge into Goodlands Gardens and our starting point, very wet by virtuous and happy!! | ||
Friday 19th May. Wellington North & American Supper (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 5.2 miles 302ft of climb |
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| As eating and drinking was the main purpose of the evening, not many of the 14 members who turned up at the start worried too much about the rain, wind and cold. Afterall the leader was bound to want to cut it short to get to the goodies, wasn't she? A 1 hour walk was agreed and off we went through the Basins and over the GWR to the fields at Westford until we reached the route of the Grand Western Canal which we followed eastwards back to the Milverton Road. At this point some of the walkers expected a right turn and along the road to supper. how wrong can you get! A 'straw poll' of the vanguard resulted in the 1 hour walk becoming a 2 ½ hour walk as we tookin a northerly loop around Nynehead Court and East Wellington. Of course the supper was even more welcome when we arrived and were joined by another 3 'wimps' who had declined to walk. | ||
Sunday 14th May. Dartmoor, the high tors (photos Ken Burgess) |
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| Although it was dry when walkers left the car park it was rather overcast as they descended to the first stop to briefly visit the now flooded quarry workings downstream from the dam. After continuing downhill for a short distance a stop was made to admire Meldon Viaduct formerly a railway but now a leisure trail. Meldon Quarry was the main source of aggregate for railway ballast. The walk then turned south to climb up alongside the numerous delightful waterfalls on the Red-a-Ven brook. Leaving the valley the route turned east to a coffee stop on Black Down during which the views over the Devon countryside as far as Exmoor were enjoyed. By this time the weather had brightened up and it also became apparent that we were walking among many finishers of the annual Ten Tors event. In fact as we passed the army camp we had to make our way through the welcome party and on to some new ‘open access’ land leading to the farm and wood at Halstock. The narrow path through the wood was through a carpet of bluebells and led down to the lunch stop alongside the East Okement River. Refreshed walkers continued up the river valley pausing to examine the route followed two weeks earlier and less than half a mile to the east. The river was crossed at a ford before starting a long steady ascent of Yes Tor for another refreshment stop and more time admiring the distant views. Continuing on for a short distance walkers climbed over High Wilhays which at 621 metres is the highest point in England south of the Peak District. The walk continued to Forsland Lodge before descending to Black Tor from where the picturesque valley of the West Okement River was admired before walkers headed for home across Longstone Hill (noting tadpoles swimming in a pool en route) and the dam at the reservoir. An energetic but rewarding walk rather noisier than usual because of the numerous helicopters in the sky assisting with the Ten Tors event. | ||
Sunday 14th May. Norton Hill Fort Nature Reserve (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 5.1 miles 208ft of climb |
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| As part of a series of walks on behalf of TDBC, this Sunday morning walk was designed to show the local countryside at it's best and to include some of the local nature sites sponsored by the District Council. Setting off from the P&R in Silk Mills Rd we took to the fields and walk alongside the Norton Brook to reach the footbridge over the railway and through the derelict Taunton Cider site and up passed the Village Church to the the Ancient Hill Fort. Down the otherside and over to Langford and a little lane walking before returning to the fields over Rag Hill into Staplegrove. We went though the children's playing field and along thepath by the duck pond to briefly reach the main road, but a quick dart into some paths behind Taunton School to again reach the road by the railway bridge before taking the route of old Grand Western Canal westwards and though the Frieze Hill Community Orchard back to our starting point. | ||
Friday 12th May. Around Langford Budvill (photos John Ollerenshaw) |
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| Twenty three walkers gathered on a fair but sultry evening at the Martlett Inn for a river and meadow ramble. Two new walkers were welcomed before the leader popped into the pub with the food order, and the group set off out of the village and across a corner of the common. The party paused to admire a restored lime kiln (above left) before crossing a series of attractive meadows on their way to the river. The leader, foolishly attempting to mimic the cackling of a single goose, set the whole flock off, and had to beat a hasty and noisy retreat! Crossing the low but turgid waters of the Tone, the group meandered through a series of meadows rich with dandelion, buttercup, and an attractive white species of lady’s smock (above right). A half-time break was taken in the Rewe Nature Reserve where part of the old Grand Western Canal had been restored. The marshy area still had colourful stands of marsh marigolds in amongst the reeds. Onward along the line of the canal, some paused to feed a pair of friendly horses before catching up. Re-crossing the river by a Victorian wrought iron bridge, a beautiful tree of purple lilac was admired and sniffed. The group then climbed across an open field to pause again to admire the secluded Runnington church with its golden cockerel weather vane. With the watery sun sinking slowly across the distant Brendon Hills, walkers now crossed a series of fields, one newly cut for hay. The distant tower of Langford church beckoned as the last stile was climbed and the group slowly filed into the village street. It wasn’t too long before thirsts were being slaked and appetites satisfied by generous helpings of pub grub! | ||
Friday 5th May. Around Upottery (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 4.4 miles 522ft of climb |
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| There is something very mystical about the Otter Valley and our walk encompassed the lush riverside meadows as well as the more exposed and harsher terrain on Beacon Hill, not to mention the mixed broadleaf woodland and the strikingly simple memorial to the American Airmen who took their last journey from RAF Upottery, (now know as Smeatharpe Airfield). As usual with Friday evenings the group enjoyed a pub supper. | ||
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