Day 31 Our final walk of January - "Beating the Bounds" of Somerton

So we reach the final day of January on our "Walk 500 miles Challenge" and are already well ahead of target. And our final walk of the month saw Mary exceed 100 miles for her first month with Ian just a little further back on 83 miles (walks missed due to set building for Somerton Dramatic Society's "Alice in Wonderland" production every weekend in January). If maintained both of these would reach 1,000 miles over a full year!

Today we combined two of our local walks - the back of Somerton walk and round the valley.  This walk, as the picture shows, completes a circumnavigation of most of the built up area of the town with an extension along the Cary Valley. At least it remained dry and was very mild so we were largely overdressed. But we kept a good pace and in spite of a late start were home for lunch.

I have named this walk the "Beating of the Bounds" after the ancient custom of walking the boundaries of the community by a group including both young and old, often accompanied or led by the parish priest and church officials. The purpose of the walk was to ensure that, in an age where maps were unreliable (if they existed at all) the knowledge of the extent of the parish was passed from one generation to the next. Checking the boundaries was a way of preventing encroachment by neighbours; sometimes boundary markers would be moved, or lines obscured, and a folk memory of the true extent of the parish was necessary to maintain integrity of borders by embedding knowledge in oral traditions. 

5 miles

Day 30 Round the Valley Walk

OK not a great walk today but we are approaching the end of the month pretty much as it started with dull, grey, mild and drizzly weather. This is a pretty good standby walk when we have either little time or (due to inclement weather) little inclination to venture any further. We walked in damp conditions past a lot of very muddy puddles - Peppa would have loved it!

2.5 miles

Day 26 Oakhill Circuit from September 2016 Country Walking

Today we are walking with Ally. This walk follows lanes, tracks and field paths in a circuit around Oakhill in Somerset. It also includes a section along the route of the Roman Fosse Way. Starting in Oakhill the walk heads north and then west climbing to one of the highest points on the East Mendips at the ramparts of the iron age hill fort of Maesbury.

From here, on a clear day, the views are probably impressive through to the City of Wells and Glastonbury Tor. However today there is a low mist shrouding the land and views are considerably limited. From here the route turns south and then east before crossing the busy A37 and turning onto a byway which follows the route of the Fosse Way towards and through the beautiful stand of beech trees which is Beacon Hill Wood.

From here we rejoin the old roman road before turning west
to complete the circuit at Oakhill.

Certainly a walk worth repeating on a clear day in the spring and/or autumn.

7.8 miles

Day 23 Stourhead Estate Walk and Gardens with Andrew & Claire

Today's guest blogger Claire.

Stourhead...what views, what romance! A chilly January morning as we made our way to Alfred's Tower via Six Wells Bottom, walking at a pace to earn our lunch at the Spread Eagle Inn. We timed our walk so the the sun came out over lunch and after a 'winter warmer' of Apple juice and Pimms number 3 for me (highly recommended and water for Andrew, who is on a dry January, we were able to walk round the lake with the sunshine highlighting the views of temples and frozen patches of water. This is truly a success story of eighteenth century English landscape design. The arboralists were out in force clearing trees and planting ready for the new season. A quick photo opportunity recreating the famous scene from P and P completed a lovely day of walking and talking. A good few miles covered. I will leave Ian to give the stats.









"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Darcy to Elizabeth.

8.1 miles

Day 22 - Bradley Hill Lane & the River Cary with Andrew and Claire

Today's guest blogger Andrew

Claire and I joined Mary on Sunday afternoon for a short walk from Cary Way, down Bradley Hill Lane and then along the River Cary in the fading afternoon sunshine. Lovely colours especially in the reflections on the river and the reddish reeds in the sunlight. Pretty muddy although Mary described the under foot conditions as mildly cloying! Decent pace maintained throughout! Excellent tea and cakes post walk.

3.4 miles

Day 19 Gower Week –Pitton Cross and along Rhossili Down

We have saved the best until last and today there is a bit of blue in the sky and a slowly strengthening sun. We discover a new path opposite the entrance to the campsite this morning and it is heading in the right direction. A quick look at the map and we modify our planned route before we have even walked half a mile! This series of paths and tracks cut off a corner and provides a more direct route to the tracks which will take us up onto Rhossili Down.

The climb is gentle and very steady and so we rapidly gain height and reach the trig point at The Beacon without much effort. The sun is really breaking through now and we get sudden glimpses both seaward and on the landward sides before the cloud and mist hide all views once again. By the time we are walking along the ridge of Rhossili Down visibility has become much clearer and the views are stunning. The path is wide and grassy and follows the high point with views ahead along the heather moorland ridge, to our left and behind us the coastline back to Worm’s Head and to our right countryside views. As the sun is now shining from a deep blue sky it is about as perfect as it could be!

At the end of the ridge is a steep descent to Hillend and an enormous holiday park amongst the dunes of Hillend Burrows. Every guide to this walk recommends the direction as we have taken it and it is not difficult to understand why as we slip and slither down the steep slope. The return walk is either on the beach or on the route of the Wales Coast Path just above the wide expanse of sand which is Rhossili Beach. We follow the path with the sun shining full in our faces before dropping down onto the beach for the last mile or so before the steep climb up to the village.

We treat ourselves to a late lunch at the excellent Bay View Bistro and finally drag ourselves away and using field paths return to the campsite.

7.5 miles

Day 18 Gower Week – Port Eynon to Pitton Cross on the Wales Coast Path

There are few options for buses to Port Eynon where we intend to start our walk this morning, so we are up and out ready to catch the 8.53 from the campsite entrance. The friendly driver declines our English bus passes in Wales and charges us £3 each but also suggests various ways of reducing the cost of our tickets if making more than one journey (a day rover) or getting to Port Eynon using a combination of buses. All a bit late. Blame the public transport researcher!

It is a day much like all the others we have experienced since our arrival, mild but dull with low visibility. We start the walk along the beach and head for the point, however the path is signed to climb over the headland and we leave the shoreline at the Youth Hostel and head over Port Eynon Point. This is nice walking on a wide grassy path following the cliff top and we take in Overton Cliff and it’s nature reserve, followed shortly after by Common Cliff and it’s nature reserve. The views are of Worm’s Head in the gloom ahead and of spectacular cliffs, rock formations and dry valleys plunging down to the sea below. Just after we pause to admire one particularly impressive feature, marked as Deborah’s Hole, the coast path reaches the way marked path inland to the campsite. Back for lunch!

5.5 miles

In the afternoon we take the van off site for the short drive to Oxwich Bay. Here we stroll for a mile or so along the firm sand of the beach. It is now low tide and there is a wide expanse ahead of us across the bay. At the bridge across the small stream which drains the marshes behind the dunes, we turn inland and follow a way marked path through the dunes of the National Nature Reserve of Oxwich Burrows and back to the van.

2.8 miles

Day 17 Gower Week – Pitton Cross to Worm’s Head Circuit

Another dull, grey, overcast morning, for today’s walk.  We are going to use the field paths from the campsite and head back to pick up the coast path where we left it yesterday at Piton Farm. We seem to be there in no time at all and continue down, through the local nature reserve, towards Mewslade Bay. When we reach it the tide is in and there is only a little sand to be seen, so we continue on the closest path to the sea.

After a short distance we discover why the path we have taken is not the principal route for the Coast Path of Wales.  As we climb higher above Mewslade Bay the path suddenly appears to end, literally disappearing into space! A dead end? No, the path does continue to our right on an incredibly narrow ledge hugging the cliff high above the sea! We both feel some relief as we reach the grassy slope on the other side and before long rejoin the official route. 

The path continues around Tears Point and ahead we see the outline of Worm’s Head though the coastal murk. We stay at the higher level round to the old Coastguard Station, now part of the Coastal Watch scheme. Here we discover that we are a good hour ahead of the earliest time we can cross the channel to reach Worm’s Head.  We descend to sea level and find a sheltered spot amongst the rocks  and driftwood to enjoy our picnic. A few driftwood sticks gathered and we head off across the rocks but the going is hard and the risk of a twisted ankle, or worse, is high and we decide instead to continue the walk instead of taking this detour.

We climb once again and reach Rhosili village, visit the NT shop and find the Bay Café for cake and coffee. While enjoying both the refreshments and the comfortable settees the cloud lifts a little and we decide to climb the hill above the beach as we take the return route, initially following the Gower Way, and head inland and back via Talgarth’s Well (and our first really muddy path) to the campsite.

6.5 miles

Day 16 Gower Week – Pitton Cross Circuit

We are spending the next four to five days at Pitton Cross Farm Caravan Park and have driven here from Somerton in Marianne Deux.  There are very few campsites open at this time of year and that has determined our choice, although we have often thought that a few days exploring the Gower could be fun.

We register and pitch the van before a quick lunch and then take a short local walk from the campsite through fields to pick up the coast path, which leads to Mewslade Bay. With time pressing, and not wanting to complete the return in the dark, we make the decision to head inland up the valley towards Pitton and to save the walk down to Mewslade and round to Worm’s Head and Rhosili until tomorrow, when we can take our time and enjoy this spectacular coastal scenery.

The return is via a well-used path to Little Pitton Farm, then crossing the road and taking a field path to arrive at the van just before darkness comes.

2.7 Miles

Day 11 A walk from Ham Hill to Montecute

The walk starts from one of the many car parks on top of Ham Hill and follows the Monarch's Way and the Liberty Trail south from the hill along easy walking tracks and a path through the wood alongside the fields of Butcher's Hill.


Hidden in the woods here is "Tinker's Bubble" a settlement for those seeking an alternative lifestyle.

Thus far the walk has been entirely downhill but here we leave the Liberty Trail and climb steadily through grassy fields with grazing sheep back to the ridge.  The path passes the site of the medieval village of Witcombe, now just mounds and terraced platforms, as we regain height. At the road we cross and join the path to the east of the aptly named Hollow Lane and turn into the woods at Park Covert.

This is a particularly lovely section of the walk and although not marked on maps as a public footpath it is  marked at both ends. There is also an information board and NT sign for "Ladies Walk" as the path descends into Montacute. The wind is strong and gusty as we approach the edge of the village and the children of the primary school are clearly affected by it! We hear them long before we reach them.

Views from this gently sloping path are of lovely old beech trees and beyond them the stone built houses of Montacute.

Montacute is perhaps best known for the fine Ham Stone built Elizabethan House which is now owned by the National Trust.  On this occasion we give the House a miss but do stop for a sandwich and a pint in the The Phelips Arms which is named after the builder of Montacute House.  We discover that Sir Edward Phelips was also Master of the Rolls and led the prosecution of the Gunpowder Treason Plotters in 1605.  His descendants lived here almost until it was passed to the National Trust in 1927.

As we prepare to continue our walk we are stopped by another visitor who looking at our very obvious walking attire introduces himself as the secretary of the local Ramblers Association.  We manage to escape without being signed up and head on through the village and on towards St Michael's Hill.

Finding the way to the top is a challenge and we only spot the official route over a stile after we have negotiated a barbed wire fence!  There is then a steep climb to St Michael's Tower on the top - good training for the ups and downs of Mary's Great Wall of China Challenge later this year.  There are wide views from inside the Tower over the surrounding countryside, but it really does need a warning sign of a low lintel (made of angle iron) as you reach the room at the top.

From here there is a descent and then a fresh climb to reach the ridge of Ham Hill.  This is through ancient woodland and, for the final stretch, open fields back to the car park.

5.7 miles

Day 10 A walk from High Ham though Low Ham to Pitney

This is a walk from a collection published many years ago by South Somerset District Council and starts in High Ham.  We park by the Church and follow the route as described on the walk guide.  We have chosen this walk as by and large it follows lanes with only a small number of potentially muddy paths and tracks.

Heading south past the school the walk descends the aptly named Long Street passing some very old farms and farm buildings.  Many of the former milk churn platforms still have churns on them, illustrating the former use of these raised platforms still standing by a number of the farm gates. There are views out towards Langport, round to Pitney and in the direction of Somerton.  At Low Ham the walk passes the ancient Church in the Field before climbing past the ancient stone wall of the old Manor House estate.


Of the Manor House itself there is little trace though the footpath climbs through a terraced field with a large number of unnatural bumps and hollows.

The route returns to the narrow lane for the descent into Pitney, past the church and then through part of the village, past Pitney Farm Shop and onto first Woodbirds Hill Lane which continues into the aptly named Underwood Lane.  This is a grassy track and not too muddy, though Ian does manage to slip at one point and land on his hip and elbow, with a minor bump to his head on the way down!  This is a lovely part of the walk with views ahead and behind, an ancient wood on the right and a cider orchard to the left, which we pass through as we descend further to the road.

This is the lowest point of the walk and the climb back to High Ham follows first a lane and then footpaths through fields and a small local nature reserve as it climbs back to the ridge.  The views in this section are great, the Polden Ridge with the Hood Monument and with Glastonbury Tor clearly visible beyond.  There are also clear views out over Somerton Moor and the Cary Valley below us.

Definitely a "Walk for All Seasons".

5.9 miles

Day 8 Mary's Walk around West Lydford

Set building continues for Ian so once again Mary is off with Simon and Ally for a walk at West Lydford.

The walk starts in West Lydford and follows tracks, footpaths and field edges from West Lydford Church along a mill stream towards Barton St David before swinging south towards Keinton Mandeville and Babcary.  Unfortunately the path between Babcary and Lydford on the Fosse was very muddy!

5 miles

Day 7 Mary's Walk between Compton Dundon and Street

So today is the first day of pantomime set building and Ian is busy in the Parish Rooms working on preparing the stage and building the set for this year's Somerton Pantomime - Alice in Wonderland.

In the meantime on a mild but dull, grey day Mary takes a walk with Simon and Ally.  Starting in Compton Dundon the walk climbs the hill above the village and then, with views towards Glastonbury Tor, continues over the ridge, along lanes and field paths in the general direction of Street, before turing East and through Butleigh Wooton before heading once again for the Polden Ridge and descending back to Compton Dundon.

4.6 miles

Day 5 Our Fifth Walk - AA 1,000 Walks Number 33 - Branscombe

This is a figure of eight walk mostly on the coast path, but also on country lanes.  For today's walk we have the company of old friends and frequent walking companions Simon and Ally.  This is our longest walk to date, but the compensation is the promise of a pub lunch at the half way point in Branscombe. The walk begins in the hamlet of Weston near Sidmouth and we head down Weston Combe before picking up the coast path and climbing on to the top of the South Devon cliffs.  It is a clear day and the views are spectacular both up and down the coast.  There is some debate as to how far west we can see, and agree that it probably is Start Point on the far horizon.

The weather is perfect for walking along the coast and after a stiff climb the going is easy along a grassy cliff top hugging path.

After a few miles the path cuts inland and country lanes take us past picturesque cottages (mostly holiday homes) before we arrive at the village of Branscombe.

The Masons Arms is one of those pubs worth a detour and our walk only requires one of just a hundred yards or so.

Relaxed and refreshed by a beer, cider, sandwiches and cheesy chips we are ready to continue and take the path down through the fields to Branscombe Beach.  OK it is just pebbles but in the late afternoon sunshine it is still a lovely place to be.

With the sun dipping away in the west we cannot linger long.  (Should have spent less time in the pub).  So we tackle the steep climb from sea level back onto the cliff top.  At first the walk is tucked in amongst trees, with landward views over Branscombe Village and the outward leg of the walk.  But soon we rejoin the coast path; and, with the sun slipping quickly towards the horizon, we make good progress along the cliffs, before once again turning inland and rejoining the lane back to the car park.

As we walk this last section we are headed almost due west and pause for moment or two to watch the sun hurry below the horizon, dipping first behind a low belt of cloud before reappearing in it's glory and finally setting behind a skeleton barrier of winter trees.

8.2 miles

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Day 4 Our Fourth Walk - Bradley Hill Lane (Muddy Hill) & the River Cary

We hadn't planed to do a walk today as domestic chores and taking down Christmas decorations was the priority, but by mid afternoon with a weak wintry sun shining we decided on a quick local walk.  We've walked this in winter before so I opted for wellington boots while Mary donned walking boots and gaiters.  The first part is along a track heading west from Northfield, past the Business Park then onto a rough track heading down onto the Levels.  It is here that the mud begins!  And it was MUDDY!


With good balance it was possible to stay out of the worst of it, but it was slippery and there were some close shaves before we regained a solid surface and back onto a lane.

At this point there are options and we decided to continue out onto the Levels and take the path alongside the River Cary.  This is always a lovely walk with low lying land away to the West and North with views of Dundon Beacon and the Polden Hills.

Before long we discovered that the farmer had ploughed to the edge of the river bank and so once again we began to collect mud; to the extent that by the time we reached the next field we had doubled the size and weight of our footwear.

We reached the bridge at Etsome Farm and once again regained firm ground for the return walk home.

3.4 miles

Day 3 Our Third Walk - Round the Back of Somerton

This walk goes under various names but Mary insists on "Round the Back of Somerton" though of course this depends on which side of Somerton you might regard as being the front.  It has also been called "Round the Back Side of Somerton" (might not be appropriate) and could easily be called "Circumnavigating Somerton" because that is pretty much what this walk does.

Cold enough today for the muddy sections of this walk to be crisp and not boggy under foot, the walk follows minor roads, footpaths, lanes and crosses fields to achieve the objective of walking around our town.  The last time we had attempted this was on Boxing Day and the pace was slow due to our three year old granddaughter being part of the family expedition.  The compensation on that occasion was that we included a detour to The White Hart for drinks.  Today, no deviation from the planned route which provided lots of fresh air, a bit of exercise and a further 3.3 miles to add to this week's walk mileage.

Starting on the northern edge of Somerton local roads are used around the west side of the town, before passing under the railway and following field paths on the south of the built up area.  The view north from here is largely one of the slate and tiled roofs of the blue lias stone buildings of the town, the church clock tower of St Michael and All Angels and the hideous almost orange tiles of the care home Wessex House.  To the south, fields stretch away into the distance.

The walk drops down to the mill stream and then picks up the road through Lower Somerton.  Taking once again to a footpath we cross the mill stream and climb the slope to the Millands and then on into New Street.  From here we turn right along North Street, cross Behind Berry at the mini roundabout before the next path takes us into the Cary Valley, under the railway viaduct and down to the Viaduct Fisheries.  Then we climb once more and arrive at Etsome Terrace before turning west and walking back to our start point.

3.3 miles

Day 2 Our Second Walk - Will's Neck

A cold crisp January morning and off we go to The Quantock Hills for our second walk of the year.  This is featured as a walk in the February edition of "Country Walking" and was one we had walked, in a number of variations, over the years.

The car park above West Bagborough was very busy and on the narrow lane up to it we were told several times that it was full, but we had to go into it in order to turn around, so were surprised to find a space!  Kitted up we were were soon on our way.  

The walk heads along the ridge of The Quantocks and initially we followed the route as described in the magazine.  There was a cold wind from the North and we felt it all the way to Will's Neck and the trig point which marks the high point.  The temperature fluctuating around 1 or 2 degrees.

Being a New Year's Day Public Holiday there were lots of people out on the many paths which criss cross the hillsides and the Quantock Staghounds and horses were out in force.  They add to the picturesque nature of the scene but the reality is that a weakened and terrified deer is being hunted down and will eventually be cornered and shot.  We later witnessed it's removal from the hills tied to a quad bike.  A rather sad sight.

From Will's Neck the walk continues North East until just beyond the car park at Triscombe Stone where we saw the deer and, shortly after, the hounds and hunt riders.  We extended the walk taking the wide grassy paths up to the cairn on the top of Great Hill, before descending for a sandwich on a fallen tree and a pint at the Blue Ball Inn, Triscombe.

Missing the first path we followed a track below Bagborough Hill and enjoyed a more gentle gradient to regain the height of the ridge before rejoining the main path back to the car.  Although it was cold the sun shone throughout and there were fabulous views across Bridgwater Bay to the NE and towards Minehead and Exmoor to the West.

We took the alternative route home via Bridgwater and were also treated to a magnificent setting sun.

A great walk.

5.9 miles

Day 1 - Our First Walk - Round the Valley

We had hoped that the weather would be kind to us for the first day of the Walk 500 Challenge, but it has rained steadily for most of the day and in the end we decided to put on wet weather clothes and just do our local "round the valley" walk.  So we start with just 2.39 miles in the log!  But the forecast looks a great deal better for tomorrow and we plan to walk one of those featured in our recently delivered "Country Walking" magazine - Will's Neck in the Quantocks.

2.5 miles

The Plan

So here we are at the start of a New Year and we have set ourselves a number of challenges.

During 2017 we have plans to walk a significant section of the Two Moors Way; we shall also be walking quite a bit during our planned trip to Canada and Alaska in May and June and Mary will be walking on the Great Wall of China as a charity trek with three friends.

But this blog is about the rest of the year and our plans to undertake the Walk 500 challenge during 2017.