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