| Sunday 29th April 2007. Blackdowns & Culm Valley | ||
| The overcast sky gave
us a cool start to this walk in the Culm valley but by
the time we got to the top of Gadden Down the sun was out
and the temperature soaring. We enjoyed the delightful
village of Ashill with its old pub and houses and found
that the once dilapidated Hackpen Mill was looking a
little less distressed these days. As we started up to
Hackpen Hill it seemed that we were sharing the walk with
a convoy of 4x4 off-roaders when they passed us for the
second time. Fortunately the tracks were dry and there
was no damage this time from these unwelcome vehicles. We reached Culmstock through woods and fields full of spring flowers and walked past the church where R.D. Blackmore’s father was once vicar and where a yew tree still grows on the top of the church tower. Our walk ended along the River Culm and through the new Hunkin Wood back to Coldharbour Mill where we enjoyed tea and cakes in the sun beside the mill leat. |
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| Wednesday 25th April 2007. Halberton & GW Canal | ||
| The stretch of the Grand Western Canal in Devon, wide and navigable, is in strong contrast to the stretch in Somerset that, at best, is just a muddy ditch. The length at Halberton is one of the more interesting sections with its extraordinary bend, aptly named “The Swans Neck”, that contours around a valley to avoid the need for any locks. We walked from the carpark to Halberton along a footpath lined with orchids and all sorts of spring flowers and then left the canal to walk through the old village with is picturesque duck pond and church and admired the wonderful mural on the wall of the school next door. We rejoined the canal south of the village at East Manley Bridge where a horse-drawn barge was waiting, unfortunately going in the wrong direction, and returned to the car park. | ||
| Sunday
22nd April 2007. Stawley (photos Bob Greenshields) |
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| The short Sunday walk
the day before St. George’s Day had all the best
feature’s of a Spring walk, and a few of the worst ! Starting from the top of the figuratively named Bullockfield Hill near Stawley, walkers were able to enjoy superb views over unspoilt countryside to the Quantock and Blackdown Hills in clear sunny and warm conditions. Delayed briefly by a couple of latecomers, the group of ten set off northwards along a ridge affording great views of rolling farmland. Overhead chiff chaffs ,and blackbirds vocally marked out their territory, and in the hedgerows a rich variety of spring flowers were already rushing into bloom—weeks ahead of their usual blooming. In shade primroses vied with violets, and ground ivy, and on warm banks stitchwort grew in white swathes, interspersed with vetch, red campion and bluebell. Crossing the old Taunton to Barnstaple railway line, walkers were able to peer downwards to the opening of Bathealton tunnel , and ahead to the remains of the viaduct that carried the line over the Tone valley. The group descended to the river to pause for refreshment, and read details about the Hurstone Nature Reserve there. The path then joined part of the West Deane Way that meandered close to the river, and still had a few muddy patches despite the weeks of dry weather. Passing under the huge stone pillars of the viaduct, a short sharp climb soon had all but the fittest walkers gasping, but at the top there was the consolation of a beech wood newly in leaf with its unique dappled shade..The walk continued along a leafy undulating stretch of the river with a short stretch of woodland where bluebells were already scenting the air in their special way. Leaving the river at Tuck’s Farm, the group climbed up to pass newly converted barns at Stawley Wood Farm, and a yard patrolled by surprisingly quiet geese. Then there was an unexpected bonus. In a paddock close to the farm there were three families of pot-bellies sows and assorted piglets. The antics of the animals was such to make walkers reluctant to walk on ,but cars were waiting just a few fields away . |
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| Sunday
22nd April 2007. Bulbarrow to Milton Abbas (photos Dave Patten) |
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| A dozen ramblers found their way to deepest Dorset up on Bulbarrow and enjoyed a warm memorable walk through the manicured Milton Abbey school grounds to Milton Abbas, one of England's prettiest village. The pampered school-children were back with their rich parents so the Abbey was explored and admired without the benefit of entrance money. In the woods they all went "aaaaah" at the bluebells and cowslips, but failed to hear the first cuckoo. One of the walls of a Milton Abbas house was being rebuilt, that exposed the three foot thick wattle and daub construction: not a brick in site. Real ale was quaffed at the Hambro Arms and sandwiches secretly eaten. At Winterborne Stickland a lone pot-bellied pig was eating the lawn while debate ensued as to whom it resembled. The hounds for once remained with the group and failed to find any deer, pheasants or mud at all. | ||
| Friday
20th April 2007. Adsborough & Coombe Bottom (photos Roger Conway - Wally climbs stile 9 of 21 & crossing the stream at Coombe Bottom) walk stats 4.1 miles 416ft of climb |
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| A massive turn out of 41 walkers set off around the route that included open fields, woodlands, pastures, country lanes, a stream with stepping stones, 21 stiles, horses, sheep, cattle and a lovely supper at The Maypole Inn. | ||
| Friday
13th April 2007. Norton Newton & The Canal (photos Roger Conway - Rape is back! & drinks on the swingbridge) walk stats 4.8 miles 169ft of climb |
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| A old favourite circular walk from and to The Harvest Moon. Lovely fields, spring lambs, horses and cattle and the peace of the canalside. Just the refreshing start to the weekend that we all needed, and a pretty good supper afterwards - Summer is here! | ||
| Wednesday
11th April 2007. Wambrook, Burridge Common & Cotley
Copse (photos Roger Conway - group break & at the border of Devon & Somerset) walk stats 4.7 miles 574ft of climb |
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| A beautiful day for walking, mostly sunny but not too hot. For many of us the day started particularly well with a pleasant lunch taken on the patio of the Cotley Inn where the new owners looked after us very well. A surprisingly good turn out, taking into account that the group rarely walks in this part of the county and many had no idea before this day where Wambrook was. Although nothing particular of any note occurred during the walk everyone thoroughly enjoyed it as the route took us through varied countryside which was looking especially spring like. Although, as always in the Blackdowns, the route was hilly no part was particularly severe and everyone coped very well. Through woods, already well decorated with very early bluebells, along paths and green lanes we ambled at leisure and were grateful that this was a walk where, unusually for this area, there were no stiles to negotiate. This enabled us to return to our cars much more quickly than would have been normal for a group of so many walkers. A very pleasant conclusion to our afternoon was the serving of tea and biscuits, again enjoyed on the patio of the Inn. | ||
| Sunday
8th April 2007. The 2 Counties Way (First stage) (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 7.7 miles 244ft of climb |
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| Meeting at the end and then transporting people back to the start was done with the precision of a military operation (although, these days, this might not be the terminology to use!). After a little chat about the route and the relationship of the Grand Western Canal to the 2CW the group set off at a brisk pace alongside the 'Parliamentary Cut', the new ponds by the Silk mills P&R (above left) and into the open fields to follow the River Tone to reach Bradford on Tone via Friezehill, Roughmoor & Norton Moor (above right). After a rest at the pub (unfortunately closed) the group of 17 walkers took the path that crossed the River Tone and then the Paddington to Penzance main line (below left & centre) and back to line of the canal. A stop at Wharf Cottage to see a short section that is 'in water' and to observe the location of the barge lift and then over the Poole Viaduct that carried the canal over the impressive driveway to Nynehead Court (right) and through the wooded section of canal formation before reaching the our destination on the northern outskirts of Wellington (below right). |
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| Friday
6th April 2007. Hillfarrance, Oake & Heathfield (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 3.6 miles 162ft of climb |
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| The usual Friday evening frantic gathering and supper ordering was followed up with a gentle stroll through the rich agricultural land to the west of Taunton and onto the Oake Manor golf course where all our senses were heightened to avoid flying golf balls to return to the road by the church (above left). A little road work into the village of Oake and over the fields with the spring lambs jumping about, to Heathfield Church. No time to ponder as we turned south on our homeward track and after crossing the trackbed of the old Barnstaple railway stayed on the fields back to Hillfarrance and another sandstone church before the final bit of road and an enjoyable supper at the Anchor Inn | ||
| Wednesday
4th April 2007. Around Hinton St George (photos Roger Conway) walk stats 4.6 miles 282ft of climb |
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| We gathered in the picturesque village centre and set off (16 walkers, 1 dog) towards Merriott and after a short road section took to the fields to rise above the ridge line and into a sharp wind, but the bright sunshine was a more than adequate compensation. We hurried across the main road and along the lane to the north of Merriott village before turning to the north onto part of the Parrett Trail (see above left). On reaching the bottom of the hill we went west and re-crossed the main road to follow the contour line near to the bottom of the incline. Another little section of road (northwards) and back to the west on the fields. The final section was south over the stream, up the hill, through the woods to emerge opposite Hinton St George parish church. 10 of the party took tea at the excellent 'Dorothy's Tea Rooms'. After a full Cream Tea, Bill found boot changing quite a challenge! | ||
| Sunday
1st April 2007. The source of the Parrett (Final stage) (photos Ken Burgess & Joan Gubbin) |
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| Walkers
met at the Yarn Barton car park in Beaminster from where
a coach and taxi took them to continue on the Parrett
Trail from near Wigborough which was passed when the last
section of the trail was completed. The initial walk was
over farmland to Merriott where the brass plate or
‘cure’ on a marker post was examined. After
passing through the village the walk followed a track to
Tail Mill then more farmland to the rather unusual
footbridge and the first encounter with the actual River
Parrett which was then followed for some distance passing
Easthams Bridge near where an improvised tunnel made a
very safe road crossing. Still alongside the river the
route continued south to cross the river and return on
the other side for a short distance. After pausing to
observe some flowering wild snakeskin fritillaries
walkers climbed over an unusual stile before climbing to
another interesting one. What a change from the normal
British Standard examples normally found on footpaths.
Continuing past Brooms Croft Copse walkers soon reached
North Perrott for a lunch stop with the local hostelry
serving some welcome refreshment. More farmland and a
railway crossing led to South Perrott where the route was
through the churchyard and for a second time the River
Parrett was encountered. Although so far the walk had
been over fairly flat ground the way forward was
obviously uphill basically following the course of the
river. After crossing several sections of wet ground the
spring line and the source of the river was reached and
the 50 mile trail, which had been started in January at
the Severn Estuary, was complete. For the first time some
height had been gained and the views over the Dorset
countryside were stunning. Walkers then continued through
the picturesque village of Chedington where even the
local telephone box had net curtains and a vase of
flowers!! Crossing the ridge the walk continued past the
source of the River Axe to cross Beaminster Down before
descend steeply into the village. (photos top left clockwise:- Team picture, view towards the source, road crossing, unusual stile, bridge, another stile) |
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