Saturday 1st June: Buckland Dinham

Supposedly 10.5 miles, but actually 12 miles by the time we had lost our way and added a major diversion... and we didn't start till 2.30, after lunch with Mum and Val.  When we realised how close the start point of this walk was to the Red Lion at Woolverton, we couldn't resist.

An outstanding walk, with beautiful rustic views from the start, picturesque paths, lots of interest, and not too many steep gradients.  We will definitely do this again (albeit without the diversion).  The Talbot Inn at Mells is a most welcome refreshment point about 2/3 round the circuit.  Margie took lots of photos, and they show much of the beauty of the walk...

 Couldn't wait to get in the shade after a steep ascent in the sun!

 Orchardleigh Golf Course.  David Bristow RIP

 Orchardleigh Church, very pretty setting

 Trying to get some water out of the free Camel system.

When the sun was on the White Horse, it seemed incredibly big, and clear.

 Although anyone trying to land a plane would have had to skilfully steer through a flock of sheep

 We were greatly taken with half-shorn

 and with this little black lamb

 The River Mells

 I said 'hi' to the black horse, so he started following us

 HUGE amount of wild garlic

 An old, abandoned aqueduct

 and a lime kiln

 Abandoned iron works on the outskirts of Mells

 The Lutyens war memorial in Mells

 We went through a couple of enormous fields where the path had been created by weedkiller.

 After our long unintentional diversion, we were pleased to see this building at the start of the disused railway which returned us to Buckland Dinham

An old Colliery shaft,. near the end of the walk.