| Sunday
30th September 2007. Newton Poppleford (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 6½ miles, 686ft of climb |
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| Competition in the car park as there was a local treasure hunt also starting at 2pm. Fortunately no one joined the wrong group and off we set down to the river side and the route of the old Southern Region track. This flat walking soon ended as we moved sharply uphill through the cider orchards and the on to the moorland. A little bit of road took us past this lovely thatched cottage before more up hill to our drinks break on the top of Aylesbeare Common. Our return was across Gorsemoor to Stoneyford and along a typical Devon sunken lane. Over the main road and along the back road to Dotton before the final leg on the footpath back to the car park. The group then moved up the road to a well deserved cup of tea | ||
| Sunday 30th September 2007.
Powerstock & Toller Porcorum (photo Dave Patten) |
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| Funny how memory can play tricks. Why it cannot have been more than two years ago that walk leader Dave Patten last humped the path from Powerstock to Toller Porcorum, and simple mistake anyone could make, turn right instead of left . . .Still when a disused railway station emerged from the foliage, that certainly wasn't there last time, he ordered an about turn. One minor problem. The easy path they should have strolled along was now thirty feet above them, encased in a fine example of GWR brickwork. No time to admire Mr Brunel's handiwork from below, but to plunge up a nettle and bramble festooned embankment that had quite possibly not seen the feet of man since the last platelayer needed a pee. Undeterred the 13 strong group, two Bassets and Eric the guide dog, clambered up, hand over bare knee to emerge almost intact.It was an anti-climax to scramble up another short-cut to Eggardon Hill via a cliff and barbed wire to emerge in relatively good humour. From there the party strode out to Toller, Kingcombe and Poorton to trudge down the steep valley to West Milton and home. | ||
| Friday 14th September 2007. Wellington and around (walk stats 4 miles, 235ft of climb) | ||
| With overcast skys the bussle of signing in and food orders took on an extra urgency and we were only a few minutes late in setting off from the Longforth Road car park. Down the path by the parish church to reach the fields. Carefully across the railway main line before turning onto the route of an earlier mode of transport, The Grand Western Canal, until we turned south onto the path to Westford. After re-crossing the railway we continued on towards Rockwell Green and the road back to the centre of Wellington and a well deserved supper at the Eight Bells. | ||
| Sunday
23rd September 2007. 2 Counties Way (part 8) Exeter to
Starcross (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 10¼ miles, 382ft of climb |
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| As we
kitted up at St David's Station the leader discovered he
only had one boot! Brian to the rescue with his spares
and off we went over the level crossing, on to River Exe
path and passed the impressive Millennium Bridge &
sculpture (above left) to reach Exeter Quay and the start of the
Exeter Ship Canal. A gentle stroll along the towpath,
passing by the Double Locks Inn (above right) without stopping and on to
our lunch stop at the Turf Hotel (right) which is at the end of the
canal where it joins the Exe Estuary. This is a unique
location with the nearest car park a mile from the hotel,
so walking cycling or boating are the only ways of
reaching it. The afternoon commenced with a mile along the sea wall and the group were lucky to see all sorts of shoreline birds, including Oyster Catchers, Herons & Whimbrills. Over the railway and along the road by Powderham Church before embarking on the only serious hill of the day that took us around the boundary of the Powderham Estate, with views to the Castle and the Exe Estuary. Emerging in the village of Kenton we walked some typical Devon country lanes, with further lovely views, to arrive at the walk end (below right) for presentation of Certificates (below left). An excellent project, thoroughly enjoyed by those that took part and we are already looking forward to next year, when we will tackle the Coleridge Way. Details (including provisional dates) now up on the Projects Page |
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| Wednesday
19th September 2007. Hemyock & Owleycombe Common (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 5¾ miles, 770ft of climb |
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| The rain that had threatened, disappeared as the 15 members started out past the old village pump and memorial (above left) and the outward route took us up to the top of Hackpen Hill via country roads, woodland tracks and farmyards. The return was along the southern slopes of the Culm Valley and over Owleycombe Common, with lovely views to Culmstock Beacon and the Wellington Monument (right). Re-entering the village we passed by the site of the old castle (above right) |  |
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| Sunday 16th September 2007. Angerleigh & Pitminster | ||
| The sky was overcast with the occasional
dark cloud floating past but intermittent sunshine
managed to break through as twenty nine walkers and one
dog (Kim) gathered at Sellick’s Green. Our
leader greeted his charges for the afternoon and gave a
preamble of the coming walk to a polite audience; he
noted that two visitors and two fellow walkers from
Somerset Walking Club had joined us and he greeted all
four warmly hoping that they enjoyed the coming walk.
The party set off to Angersleigh via Howleigh Farm
passing through the sports field where they stopped to
admire a Bronze Age standing stone, a monolith found
during the construction of the M5. At Angersleigh the group paused to inspect the Manor House and its landscaped gardens and grounds and viewed the 13th century Church of St Michael built on the site of a Saxon chapel. Angersleigh is the smallest ecclesiastical parish in Somerset named after a Norman knight called Angers who bought the estate in 1279. The walk left Angersleigh, progressing to Blagdon Hill via Higher Woodbrook Farm, noting that the Gypsy caravan had disappeared, and went past the Lamb and Flag Inn, a former coaching hostelry which has also functioned as a hospital and a lock-up. Along the way our party refreshed themselves by consuming the ripe, luscious blackberries found in the hedgerows. From Blagdon Hill the walkers pressed on to Pitminster down Curdleigh Lane via Woodram Farm and Woodram Copse where they stopped for a well earned rest and refreshments. Arriving in Pitminster, the group admired its 13th century church which replaced a Saxon minster first recorded in the 10th century. The walk went past the Queen’s Arms Inn which was identified as a mill in the Doomsday Book and is said to be haunted by a miller from the past. Our happy band then turned over the fields and back to Sellick’s Green suitably invigorated and ready for their tea |
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| Friday
14th September 2007. Halse & Preston Bowyer (photos Roger Conway) (walk stats 4 miles, 248ft of climb) |
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| A gentle 4 mile stroll through the rich alluvial farmland to the West of Taunton. Starting from The New Inn at Halse we took a route across fields and along lanes that gave us super views to the Quantocks and also the Blackdowns. The walk shows us little hidden gems, like this fishing lake that we pass on our way back. As with all Friday walks we retired to the pub for their justifiably praised 'Oggie' pies, drinks and conviviality. | ||
| Sunday 2nd September 2007. 2
Counties Way (part 7) Poltimore to Exeter (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 5¼ miles, 532ft of climb |
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| Our route to Poltimore Church took us past Politmore House, which was one of the (unsuccessful) candidates in last year's Restoration TV programme. The early part of the walk was through the village with it's attractively windowed cottages (see above right) and along the lanes to the top of Huxham Break where the route signing made sure we headed for Stoke Hill and it's Roman Fort. Our drinks stop was taken alongside the realistic life size model of a deer (below centre and right), indeed most of the group thought it was the real thing when they first saw it on the skyline. This is Horse Country (below left) as the descent along a well used bridle path testified and after a short road section we took the Belvedere path through the Duryard area of Exeter University down to the river plain and the final leg to St David's Station. |
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| Sunday
2nd September 2007. Belstone to Cranmere Pool (photos Ken Burgess) |
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| A varied walk on tracks and military roads but also with some distance over the open moor passing near the source of four rivers and visiting the place in England furthest from a main road. The stocks, animal pound, memorial and telegraph office that was once a chapel were admired on the initial climb through the village to access the open moor. The first track alongside Belstone Common led walkers by Cullever Steps and Scarry Tor to the ford crossing of the East Okement River. A section along a military road led to another crossing and near the source of that river to near a military observation post. After a short section of track the next stage was over the open moor with little semblance of any footpaths passing Ockerton Court to walk alongside the West Okement River to its source near Cranmere Pool. After a brief pause at the home of letterboxing to souvenir stamp maps and sign the visitors book the route went west over apparently previously un-troden moorland with walkers endeavouring to avoid the boggy areas to reach the remote spot SX 595858 where a stop was made for lunch. After returning to Cranmere Pool and passing the East Dart River the walk continued to cross the source of the River Taw and continue over more civilised moorland to Hangingstone Hill for a refreshment stop. Now turning towards the north walkers followed tracks through Steeperton Gorge to Oke Tor before continuing to the ancient stone circle named The Nine Maidens turned to stone as punishment for dancing on a Sunday. The return to Belstone was well timed to reach the village hall for cream teas after a varied and demanding walk with several points of interest. | ||
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