Coleridge Way - 2008 |
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| This is a 36 mile (60km)
walk that starts from Nether Storey and finishes in
Porlock The route starts across the Quantocks taking in Holford, West Quantoxhead & Bicknoller before crossing the valley to the Brendons (Monksilver, Roadwater & Luxborough) and then up onto Exmoor to reach Porlock via Wheddon Cross, Webbers Post and Horner. The proposal is to walk the route as 8 Sunday half day section, each of about 4 - 5 miles with transport from Taunton & Wellington to drop off points and pick ups. Provisional Dates are:- 23rd March, 13th April, 27th April, 18th May, 1st June, 29th June, 10th August, 31st August. |
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| Exmoor National Park have a website for this www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/Projects/ColeridgeWay/coleridgeway.htm |  |
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2 Counties Way - 2007 |
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This is a 56 mile (90km)
walk that starts from French Weir in Taunton and finishes
at Starcross on the Exe Estuary. The path follows the route of the Grand Western Canal to Tiverton and then down the Exe Valley, via Bickleigh, Silverton, Killerton and Broad Clyst to Exeter. The final section takes in the towpath of Exeter Ship Canal and Powderham (with it's Castle) to reach the end at Starcross. < the Grand Western Canal at Burlescombe |
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| The proposal is to walk the route in a number of ˝ day legs of about 7 miles each, with transport laid on to get you from the finishing point to the start point each time (there will be a small charge to cover the cost of this) and the programme will run on Sundays from April to October 2007. All those that complete the route will receive the formal Certificate from the scheme organisers. |
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There is a special
website for the 2 Counties Way, with detailed maps. These maps show the
walk in 6 sections, whereas our proposal is to do it in 8
legs. More news in the Spring Programme or contact me
directly. email < the Fishermans Cott at Bickleigh |
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| On Tuesday 19th
September, in far from ideal weather conditions, Anne
& Nigel Derbe reached the summit of BEN
NEVIS. The group also included the Chairman,
Roger Conway and his wife Linda together with their
French friend André Bernicot. and they managed about
half way up before the wind and clouds closed in. The summit is the little peak in the middle |
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| Pembrokeshire Coast Path 2006 | ||
| 13 Taunton Deane Ramblers and one from
Kilburn spent a long weekend completing the last leg of
the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. After driving
from Taunton in the morning we walked the 5 miles from
Cwm-yr-Eglwys to Newport Sands before driving to our
accommodation for the weekend at East Hook Farmhouse. Apart
from strong winds the weather was ideal for walking.
The following day the route was from Newport Sands
to Poppit Sands which is described in the guidebook as
the most strenuous of the whole coast path. The 13 miles
was made even more difficult by the gale force winds that
had blown up overnight but the gorse and bluebells along
the way were a joy to see. Fortunately the rain
that was forecast did not materialise apart from a short
shower in the afternoon. During the day a pair of
choughs were spotted quite close to the path. We had planned to take a boat trip to Skomer Island on Saturday but the overnight gales and torrential rain led to the cancellation of all boat trips. Instead John Lowe led a circular walk of nearly 11 miles from Martin’s Haven through St.Brides, Marloes and Marloes Sands. For a short distance the walkers were watched around a bay by a solitary dolphin. The final day was used to cover a part of the path that was closed on a previous visit. This was across the MOD’s West Range near Castlemartin. Because of the threat of unexploded ordnance David Matthews, a local Ranger, escorted the group. The views were spectacular. David, an enthusiastic naturalist and geologist explained the rock formations, the geological make-up of the area and pointed out various plants and birds amongst which were choughs, guillemots and gannets. For most of the morning the walk was in torrential rain and gale force winds. Towards midday the winds eased, the rain disappeared and the lunch stop and walk was completed under clear blue skies! Thanks to Joan Gubbin for organising the several weekends taken to walk this coast path. Three of the group - Joan, Bob & Wendy - had completed all 186 miles from Amroth to Poppet Sands, St Dogmaels. |
 Return to Taunton Ramblers Holidays Page |
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| The first weekend we stayed in the
delightful walled fishing town of Tenby and walked for
three days. The start from Amroth was not auspicious as
it was in the pouring rain but the rain had stopped when
we sat down for lunch and the sun was out as we passed
through Tenby and we were down to T shirts and shorts as
we crossed the long firm sandy beach beyond Tenby.
Day 2 took us as far as Bosherton and it was sunny all
the way. Due to the problems with access to MOD land we
jumped a section for the final day which took us round
the Angle Peninsular before we drove home. The second weekend walk from Angle round Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven to Sandy Haven proved to be a lot less industrial than feared with some interesting historical markers. The weekend ended with us going back to the MOD’s Castlemartin range, part of which was now open, for a magnificent sunny day starting at Stack Rocks crammed with guillemots and ending with a fascinating visit to St Govan’s Chapel perched halfway down the cliff. Weekend three was less challenging walking taking us from Sandy Haven to Nolton Haven. Sights along the way included seals, peregrine falcons and choughs. The fourth weekend saw the group based in St David’s for a longer stay of 5 days, the walking taking us round the St David’s Peninsular – reputedly the most beautiful part of the coast – and ended at the far side of Dinas Island. Apart from one afternoon of rain most days were sunny and we gave up counting the numbers of baby seals ranging from white to grey, together with their mothers. Now it is only 15 miles to go! |
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| South West Coastal Path (2004/2005) click the image for a large copy of this picture > (photo Ken Burgess) |
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| The end of the SWCP. The photo shows the five finishers at the end of the path. Although five members of the Group were basically rejoicing, they were doing so with some melancholy when on Sunday 5th September they reach the end of the South West Coast Path at South Haven Point in Dorset. The Taunton Group re-started walking the path on the 5th August 2001 leaving Minehead to walk the alternative 'Rugged path' to Porlock. That year, by a series of day trips, they progressed as far as Clovelly and then the pattern changed to weekend or longer trips and Lands End was rounded during the last trip in 2002. Progress in 2003 was as far as Dartmouth then earlier this year a weekend in March saw the group reach the river Exe which was later crossed before day trips re-started to progress from Exmouth as far as Lulworth Cove. There were two additional trips to walk the 'Inland Alternative' on Dorset's Ridgeway. The Last weekend in Swanage was for three days of walking when first the Isle of Portland was walked then the final two stages through the firing ranges and finally along Studland Beach were walked. The range walks, some of the most severe of the whole trip, being completed with the temperatures well in the eighties. Although the official distance covered was 648 miles there were many other additions to visit viewpoints and places of interest. In addition to the actual walking the party has also crossed all the rivers on the route with the highlight being the boots off and paddle across the River Erme. On the trip many fantastic sea side views have been enjoyed, we spent the first year looking for Lundy Island, the second scanning the waves for seals, the third searching to see if Eddystone Lighthouse was flashing and during the final stages Portland Bill was our point of interest. In fact an incredible diversity of flora and fauna was seen. The highlights being a family of Peregrine falcons, Gannets diving, sharks and dolphins swimming, almost an entire day surrounded by daffodils and then the next one amid the coconut fragrance from gorse in flower. Five members have completed the trip and so it is congratulations to Ken Burgess, Bob and Wendy Camp, Linda Everton and Jan Fawcett who join the three members who finished the earlier trip from Minehead to South Haven Point. The big question for the five is 'What next?' They dreamed of walking the South West Coast Path, they have achieved that ambition and have enjoyed a very satisfying moment in their lives. Completing the path is a longer step than most people take in their entire lifetime. | ||
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