Day 70 East Prawle to Gara Rock and the Salcombe Estuary

Another fabulous walk with Chris and Fin along the coast in the South Hams. This includes some of our very favourite sections of the coast path. The weather is so much better today and we are able to enjoy the amazing views along the coast. This is really good training for Mary as the path has plenty of climbs and descents. This is a beautiful walk in calm weather and a sun which strengthens as the day continues.

By the time we reach the Gara Rock we are torn, unsure of what makes an appropriate snack at this time. In the end Mary and Chris opt for a breakfast bap and Ian a cream tea! OK a bit late for breakfast and too early for afternoon tea. From here we cut inland and down through the track to Mill Bay. Lots of primroses on the banks here and in another few weeks there will be bluebells all through the woods.

Can you spot the Pig's Nose?

At Mill Bay we walk the lower path along the side of the estuary with views up towards Salcombe, down to the mouth and across to Bolt Head. This is perfect with a break at Sunny Cove for Fin to have a swim in the bay.

Then on we go to Gara Rock, taking the lower path and when we reach the Pig's Nose up the hill and back along the road to East Prawle. A super walk with Chris and Fin on a perfect day for walking the coast path.


8.8 miles

Day 69 East Prawle to Start Point

A few days with Mary's sister in the South Hams at East Prawle. Shortly after arrival we head out on very muddy tracks and lanes on the inland route across country to Prawle Point. Unfortunately the East Prawle mist is down and we cannot even see the sea! As we reach the Point the mist starts to lift and the return walk on the coast path gives us views back to the lighthouse and along the coastline towards Prawle Point.

We stop for lunch overlooking rocks where seals are resting out of the sea and we spot one swimming close to the shore. Then on via Lannacombe beach (covered in seaweed) to the steady climb back to East Prawle. On a clear day this is a stunning coastal walk with fabulous views... today a lovely walk but on this occasion not much by the way of views!

Day 68 Somerton to Langport via Long Sutton

What a lovely spring day! Perfect for our planned walk from Somerton to Langport avoiding the main road. Heading off down Ricksey Lane we have a short section of the busy B3165 road as we climb towards South Hill. We walked the same way as our Day 64 walk but instead of heading back towards Pitney as we approach Upton we continue on the Macmillan Way and follow this into Long Sutton. The main A372 road is closed for resurfacing so the walk into the centre of the village is unusually quiet.

There are some lovely old cottages and houses in Long Sutton and strolling along the back roads you see more of this lovely community than is usual from the main road through its centre. The Village Green is perfect under a warm sun and blue sky and we are sidetracked into the Dev (The Devonshire Arms) for a cold drink. We have long abandoned our outer layers and are walking in T shirts.

Perhaps I should have given the pint of cider a miss as it is a struggle to get going once again. We are continuing to follow the Macmillan Way and are now heading across the Levels with Long Sutton Church behind us, Muchelney Church away to our left and ahead the towers of the three Churches at Huish Episcopi and Langport.

An error in navigation puts us on the wrong side of the River as we pass the abattoir and we have to retrace our steps or face a long detour via Muchelney. It does mean we have to navigate a particularly high stile for a second time but better that than not turning back.

The last part of the walk is on the Parrett Trail into Langport and we arrive at 3.05 to discover that the cafe at Bow Wharf closed at 3.00 so we continue to the Parrett Cafe for a sandwich and coffee (Ian) and a cream tea (Mary). On the plus side we are now in the right place to catch the bus back to Somerton, which we do!

10 miles

Day 64 Ricksey Lane to South Hill and on to Somerton Hill and Home

Another showery day and we are wet before we have walked 100 yards! We have decided to try a new route, one which takes us down Ricksey Lane south of Somerton and up onto the ridge at South Hill. We have never walked this route on this side of the town and there are views back towards the old centre of Somerton and south towards Yeovil.

The path here is mostly along tracks and footpaths through woods and on field edges. The woods have both snowdrops and a few clumps of daffodils.


There are signs here that the seasons are changing with a hint of green on the south facing hedgerows and blackthorn in blossom.

For this part of the walk we are following one of the Macmillan Way tracks but we leave this near Upton to cross the railway line and take to field paths across to Somerton Hill.

From here it is turn left for a perilous walk along the B3153 to the Halway House or right and then after a short distance left, once again following a field path to Somertonfield Road near Westcombe. From here with rain threatening once again we take the well used route back to Somerton down Bancombe Road.

6.7 miles

Day 62 Back of Somerton Walk

Yes, we've done this before but with uncertain weather on this occasion we actually got pretty wet, we needed to get out into some fresh air. The forecast was for showers and we had hardly left home before the first swept over us. So as we were already wet we decided to continue and see how wet and muddy this walk had now had become.  Even with further heavy showers it turned out to be not too bad and pausing only to note the time of two passing trains (for Tom's benefit) we completed the walk without getting too wet.

3.3 miles

Day 61 Mary's Walk with Bake Off Val

Mary's Great Wall of China Challenge is being undertaken with Val Stones a near neighbour who has become something of a celebrity as a consequence of appearing on the 2016 "Great British Bake Off". Along with Lynne and Bev (Mary's masseuse) they are together undertaking the Charity Challenge of a trek on the Great Wall of China. Those able to join in regularly meet at about 4.00pm to undertake a quick walk around the valley.  This walk has either a long gentle uphill or descent or a shorter steeper climb or drop and in either direction presents useful training for the challenge to come.

3 miles

Day 60 Portishead from The Windmill Pub

The first few days of March and we have kept the mileage up, though inclement weather and other activities have prevented longer walks. The month started with a walk at Portishead with Caro and Hobie with Mary carrying Emme in a carrier. A regular for us on visits to Caro and Benji's starting at the Windmill Pub and crossing common land above the the estuary of the Severn before dropping to sea level and walking above the flats on the promenade and climbing into the woods before completing the circuit and returning to the car. No great distance but lovely views across the channel towards Wales and as far as the Severn Crossing.

2.7 miles