Tuesday 15 Sept - Wetmoor Wood

Source:  Geoff Mullett Walk West 1 - Walk 3

Feeling very virtuous as this was our second walk in three days.   I had wanted to do this walk for a long time, but the dire warnings in the introduction about how this was always wet and muddy had been rather discouraging.  Picked Margie up from work and went out to Wickwar, so started at about 5.15, got lovely light and some late summer evening sunshine.  We've had a spell of dry weather, so there was probably no better time to do this walk, and it was only muddy in a couple of very short stretches.  It's a lovely walk, about 4.5 miles, although it was a bit much for Margie as she also went walking from work at lunchtime!

 A short walk, idea for a summer's evening stroll (or early morning) to hear the songs of the birds that populate this ancient woodland. The route takes you across downland, over a few fields, and along woodland tracks with two short climbs. Note that the woodland stretch is usually very wet underfoot, even in summer; in winter and spring it may be worth taking wellies. Be brave!


A few metres before the pub, North Street leads off the High Street. Take this road, turning first right into Back Lane. Walk the length of this lane to the point where it bends right towards the High Street; here, go ahead onto a footpath running between the backs of houses (A). Continue to the end of the path where you have a vista of downland with the Cotswolds as a backdrop. The footpath turns right and in a few metres you cross a stile into a meadow (B). At this point, you are at the corner of school playing fields. Go diagonally across the meadow towards trees,

eventually crossing a stile in the far corner. In this second field, keep to the right boundary initially [Walkwest update: The edges of the fields down to Sturt Bridge have been sectioned by electric tape fencing to create a horse ride and jumps around the perimeters of several fields, but the field edge paths are well worn and clear enough.] for the short walk to the third, where you turn half-left to skirt the hillock,

soon to join the wire fence boundary on your left. Follow this to the bottom of the field where you climb a stile (C) [Walkwest update: The stile and metal farm gate after Point C are no longer there, leaving a wide open space for the horses, but its previous existence is still obvious.]. Continue in the same direction along this narrow corridor of land to cross a further stile by a metal farm gate. Ignore the stile in the corner immediately on the left, but go ahead for a few metres until you come to a wooden gate which gives access to the Little Avon River.

Sturt Bridge is a packhorse bridge of great antiquity and is thought to date from Roman times.

Cross the bridge then go over a stile into pasture. Turn right to climb the hill, aiming to the right of the crest. As you reach level ground, look for a farm gate in the hedge ahead (D); once through this, walk half-left to the far corner of the field, passing close to the electricity pole. This field had been cropped with maize, but it was easy to follow the left hand edge of the field round to the corner. In the field corner, go through a gap in the hedge to enter a narrow field

and continue in the same direction to pick up the fence boundary ahead on the left. We saw a group of these birds, but unfortunately couldn't get close enough for a good picture.  I think they were partridges... the picture below is from the net.

In the far left corner of the field, enter woodland via a gate.

In 25 metres, you come to cross paths, turn right and walk for 300 metres

until a clearing is reached with a ruined shed ahead.

Here, follow the broad track to the left taking care as the first part of this track is usually extremely muddy at most times of the year, although clearances in the winter of 2001-2 give the walker a chance of avoiding the worst sections.

Wetmoor, an appropriately named stretch if woodland with its heavy clay soils, is rarely dry underfoot although this walk avoids the muddiest sections! The area is a nature reserve of over 300 hectares - one if the most extensive areas if ancient woodland in south west England, with boundaries unchanged for over 200 years. Much of the woodland predates the Norman conquest and is scheduled as a Site if Special Scientific Interest. The reserve is subdivided into individual woods, separated by grass 'trenches' (a Norman term); at this point of the walk, you are in Plumber's Trench. Much of the woodland has been coppiced over hundreds of years, producing flexible hazel for wattle hurdles, walls and fences, bark for leather production and firewood and timber for charcoal burning (there are charcoal pits still to be seen in the wood). In fact, until the invention of modern materials, woodland such as this provided nearly all that was needed for homes, farming and a limited industry. You will see low earth banks either side if the trenches, these are woodbanks, originally topped with fencing to define the woodland boundaries and to protect the young shoots of the newly coppiced trees from the attention of cattle, sheep and deer. Wetmoor is home to a host of birds, including that fabulous songster the nightingale, whose liquid trills are heard from the low bushes in the more open areas during May. Underfoot, early purple orchids can be seen from April, together with bluebells, anemone and violets.

Continue along this 'trench', ignoring turnings left and right, to eventually pass through a wooden gate of traditional Gloucestershire design, by Lower Wood Lodge (E).

The spindly poplar trees on the right were planted to supply the now defunct Morelands match factory in Gloucester. It is intended to fell these trees as they don't fit into this traditional woodland landscape. Still there but not spindly.

You are now at a junction of tracks. The exit for vehicles is along the driveway following the fence on the left. If you want to shorten the walk by half a mile, follow this driveway to the road, emerging by Inglestone farm (G) where you turn left. Otherwise, your route is half-right, across the grass to the right of the exit route, into Green Trench, and passing a gated path on your right. Again, this is likely to be very wet underfoot. When you reach a large wooden gate on the right (F) take the left fork and follow the broad, newly cleared trench.

After initial mud, you will find yourself on a grassy path

which you follow until almost without warning, the way narrows and you find yourself out onto a road. Turn left to walk along the road verge.

You have almost 1600 metres of road walking now, but you will soon have grass common land upon which to tread. You are travelling generally westward, passing the entrance to the Reserve on the left, with Inglestone Farm to the right (G).

Continue following the road until you reach a cattle grid. Take the tarmac drive to the left before the grid (it's the first metalled drive you come to on the left and you will see this before you see the cattle grid). Follow the drive until it makes an obvious kink where a small stream is crossed. On the right of the driveway beyond the stream there is a field, cross it diagonally [Walkwest update: The cross-field path before Point H has been obliterated by crops. The legal right-of-way still exists, so just follow the directions in the book. South Glos. Council is investigating!]

aiming midway between a lone tree in the centre of the field [Walkwest update: The lone tree in the centre of the field just before Point H was felled by the wind a few years ago, so is now on it’s side and dead, but probably too big for the landowner to remove easily.]

and the far corner of the woodland to the right. By the time you have drawn abreast of the tree now on your left, you should be able to see the stile in the hedge ahead. When you reach this (H) cross into the next field via two stiles and a plank bridge (ignore the wooden gate down to the right in the field corner), then walk ahead across the field, our attention was drawn to the farmer getting in the hay in the next field

through a gate into a meadow. Some dedicated yet boring topiary on view over on our left:

Keeping in the same direction, drop down to a sturdy footbridge over the Little Avon River, then climb the stile on the far side and ascend the hill in front of you. As you reach the crest, you will see the houses of Wickwar ahead; continue on, soon with a hedge on your right, to climb a stile onto a lane between the houses. Proceed a few paces to a road.

At the road, turn left, then follow it round to the right. A further right turn then first left takes you past Back Lane on the left and onto Wickwar High Street. If you are in need of refreshment, The Buthay pub is on your right!

 

Sept 12 09 - Westerleigh

Source:  Geoff Mullett Walk West 3 - Walk 7

A sunday morning choice, neither of us feeling particulary energetic.  Billed as 'fairly easy 4.5 miles allow 2.5 hours' we did this in 1hour 50 mins.  This mostly signifies that we didn't get lost.  Here's the walk directions, with comments and photos interspersed...

An easy, almost level walk (just one climb), of field paths and tracks, with a short stretch of road. The route follows in part, the Avon & Gloucestershire Railway known locally as the Dramway, and there is much historical interest en-route. Allow about 2.5 hours.

Park at the village green by St James Church, opposite the New Inn, then walk along the road with the pub right and the church behind you. Go left at the signed track (opposite ‘Wot Not’) (this started to feel a bit strange as I felt sure that we had been at this point before.  This feeling surfaced occasionally during the walk, but remained an itch unscratched - for the time being...) and follow this surfaced route for some distance, crossing a little-used railway line (pictured)

 and eventually reaching a lane (A). Cross, and continue in the same direction until your route climbs to meet a surfaced road.

Continue ahead along the road signed ‘Dramway Footpath’, and ahead again at a road junction. On reaching a gated track on the left (B) take this, (between A and B was a stretch of the walk that was perhaps the most enjoyable.  It was on an excellent surface, very level, and mostly under trees, but not in the enclosed, gloomy way that this may sound.  Instead, it was quiet, pretty, and with occasional pleasant rural views.  Margie described it as 'rather magical' which is exactly right.  It was also reasonably well-used (horses were a big theme of this walk in several ways) but not in an overcrowed way. )  The picture below may give an impression:

but not before looking back into the field on the right, over the gate. Here, you can make out the line of the tramway, which crossed the road here and is the track you now follow.

In a short distance, where the track bears right to a house, continue ahead on a path and through a kissing gate. (Along this stretch we passed some strangely dead-looking greenhouses...)

As you pass by the cricket clubhouse, notice the limestone blocks set into the ground. (Sorry Geoff, didn't notice the cricket clubhouse or any blocks.  We have, however, seen plenty of this type of evidence on other parts of the Dramway so it's OK!)  The holes held the iron ‘chairs’ that in turn secured the railway tracks. When you reach a road, site of another coal pit, cross, and climb the stile ahead, then walk down the field, boundary left.

Further on in this field we met a few horses - it was noticeable for much of the walk what 'horsey' country this is, not only because we met several on the way, but also because we frequently passed either stable blocks, fields with gymkhana type jumps set up, or horseboxes parked by the way.  Anyway, these two were rather lovely, and still in their pyjamas...

Climb another stile and continue to a metal gate with stables beyond, pass these to reach a road. The Dramway continued ahead; you turn right.  On your left now is Bitterwell Lake, (once used to soak pit props). You can usually walk alongside the lake parallel to the road, (we did. Lots of fishermen, Margie was struck by their thick long poles and generally impressive equipment) returning to the road via a metal gate. Follow the road for a short distance, passing a cross-track – another branch of the Dramway from Henfield Colliery – to the signed path on the left. Go through the gate and follow the path rather more horse interaction than welcome here.  A small horsey (foal?) followed us very closely, on two occasions actually grabbing Margie's fleece in it's teeth.  General shouting and shoo-ing left it totally unmoved, and we hurried down to the gate into the next field.  Here's the little bastard:

and here's it's bastard parents:

through two further gates to exit at a road. Turn right and walk to the main road. Go left here and walk with care along the verge, this was the unpleasant part of  the walk, trogging along a busy road with no proper verges.  However, this only took about ten minutes, so it would not deter us from doing eh walk again. eventually going right into Oakleigh Green Farm Lane. Follow this road, turning left before the entrance to the slaughterhouse I know we've been here before, but we're both absolutely sure we have not done this walk, and can't remember what other walk this might have been part of and walking round the perimeter fence to a gated railway crossing on the left.

Beyond the railway, pass through a kissing gate then go ahead up the hill, keeping roughly left to reach a metal gate at the top. This was a good climb, with great views (unimpressive as they might be in a photo...

Go through, then head left towards the farmhouse. Climb the stile by the gate, cross a stretch of waste ground with the house to your right, then continue over the field to a stile hidden in the far side of this irregularly-shaped field. Climb this, and in a short distance another, then cross the field to a third. In the next field, keep in the same direction with a house up to your right. Rather scrubby fields these. At the far side, climb a stile and take the steps down to a road. Cross over and take the track ahead, climbing a stile by a field gate, with Westerleigh church in view. Follow the obvious path towards the church, climb a stile and walk ahead through a kissing gate to enter a playing field. Exit this left of the church and follow the path to the road, with ‘Ye Olde Inne’ to your left. The village green is to your right.

In summary we really enjoyed this walk, and were grateful to take advantage of a sudden late-summer surge of decent weather.  Conditions were pretty well perfect, with lots of blue sky and sunshine.  Margie found the traffic noise intrusive in the second half of the walk, but I'm sure we'll do this one again, it's quick to get to and doesn't take all day.

31 August 09 - The Strawberry Line

This is from Geoff Mullett's 'Walk West 3' PDF book. It was mostly a great walk, and i thought I'd try something new here. I'm reproducing the walk directions, but with comments and pictures interspersed. This will be of amazing interest to our thousands of readers...

So this is the map, but there's an annotated version coming up! Steady now.. Here's the guff:

A lovely walk, initially following the old ‘Strawberry Line’ railway, then returning over the Mendips with superb views across the Somerset levels. Much of the route is on good, level paths, though there are a couple of climbs – one steep with steps – and a steep descent. Allow 3 – 3.5 hours of walking.

Leave the car park on the path passing the information board. Cross the road and pick up the Cheddar Valley Railway path opposite. Follow this to the busy A38, cross with care, then continue on the route of the old railway, passing through the Winscombe tunnel to eventually reach the old Winscombe station. Notice the timeline along the edge of the platform and the section of Brunel’s broad-gauge rail track, unearthed during restoration work.
This section of the walk was rather busy with cyclists (who'd have thought?) and walkers, but had pleasant views on the embankment sections, and I really like a gradual warm-up which this constituted.
Continue past the enigmatic ‘Strawberry Special’ sculpture to where the path veers away from the trackbed, local residents having claimed the land as their own. A short distance further the path forks – take the higher one to the left, soon to reach a lane with cemetery on the left.
Turn right along the lane, go over the bridge and walk to the road. Cross to Shipham Lane and follow this for a half-mile, until you come to a footpath sign on the right. Climb the stone stile into pasture, then walk, keeping to the left boundary, to a stile on the left near the field corner. Climb this, go right and climb another by a gate, then follow the hedge on the left for the length of the field. At the far end, go over another stile and follow the path, passing a house on the right, to a driveway that leads to a road.

Cross this road with care and walk ahead up the drive, soon becoming a track, then a driveway again as you reach a small group of dwellings with Winterhead House on the left. At this corner of the house the junction go left and walk to a metal gate, then continue until you are on a narrow path. Now, look for a path forking up to the right and take this, going through a kissing gate. Follow the path to the far side of the field where you go through a wooden kissing gate, then on to a metal one that gives access to a residential road. I think that's where I took this:

 Follow this to the main road, turn right and in a few yards, you reach the village green at Shipham. This makes a good mid-point break. There is the Miners Arms on the right, or the far superior Penscot Inn, a traditional coaching inn dating back from 1450, a little further along the road before the church.
Margie was feeling really knackered here, so we stopped at the Penscot Inn. M had a coffee and there was a very perfect pint of Butcombe for me. When i went into the bar where M was sitting she had her head on the table, not usually a good sign. Some coffee, and sneaked sandwiches from under a napkin, worked wonders.
Your route from here lies along the main road, passing the church on the right. Keep to the pavement on the left until you pass beyond the raised section, then drop down to the road, cross with care, and double back to reach a stile with a ‘West Mendip Way’ marker on the left. Climb this and walk down the grass, boundary right, to a further stile. Beyond here, the path descends to the valley bottom where you cross a footbridge, and then climb steeply with the aid of steps, to regain the height you have just lost. Very steep and tough little climb. Beyond the steps, keep in the same direction, fence right, to the field corner where you cross a stone stile . In the next field, walk straight across to another stile with farm track beyond. Go left here and follow the track to a junction, turn right and walk to a metal gate and stile on the left, just past an electricity pole. Climb over and walk up the field keeping to the right boundary. This was quite a long climb! Continue, passing a field gate, until you reach open ground with a gate in the boundary ahead. Now look for a stone stile a little to the right, climb this to reach an old drove-road.

We both have a special liking for old drovers' roads following a R4 series about them a few years ago, they are an incredibly powerful link with the past. You can keep your ley lines, these are the ones with the vibes! Saw some lovely black bulls in a field at this point.

Follow this left, until you route is barred by a collection of old gates. Negotiate these, then turn right and cross the stile, then walk along the track with a quarry on your left.

Great views up here, even though we didn't have a proper camera with us we had a couple of goes with our mobiles:

The track becomes a surfaced driveway, and as it swings left through metal gates, no metal gates (we eventually noticed an old gatepost by the road). Beginning of path rather obscured but there is a sign which M spotted drop down to a path on the right, initially between a fence left no fence and tumbledown wall on the right. Keep on this vague, downhill path, with wall right, until you have to cross it via a stile. Now look for a path ahead, this is where we went wrong!

running away from the wall and contouring the hillside. We didn't see this path, but instead dropped steeply down the hill on a slippery, not very pleasant, path. Follow this through the coppice, eventually emerging to an open area where you have fine views over the Somerset Levels. Meanwhile we had a difficult walk through scrubby trees, with the path petering out from time to time, not really totally sure that we would emerge at the right place. We stopped for a break and a cuppa, at which point I was absolutely knackered...

Keep on the grassy, downhill path, ignoring a path joining from the left, that was us! beyond which, you reach a wall and fence on the left. Thankfully we rejoined the route here. Continue, to climb a stile here's M 'climbing a stile'

and turn left at the track beyond. Now go downhill, passing a gate, your route eventually levelling out and bearing right. The old Axbridge station can be seen from here, beyond the road, The Down Platform and trackbed now forming the route of the Axbridge by-pass.

At a T-junction with the bypass beyond, go right and walk with houses on the right to the end of the tarmac, where you cross a small parking area and go through a field gate into allotments. Follow the track keeping to the fence on your right, then go right with it, eventually reaching a stile. Cross, and walk left. The track ends at a stile giving access to the road. Turn left along the verge for a few yards, before crossing to the car park and your starting point.

Definitely a 'good car' moment when we got back. In summary, we really liked this walk, and want to do it again, although I think next time we'll try to do it backwards, for two reasons: we want to find the footpath that we missed, and want to do the hilly knackering bit first.