Saturday 9th July
DH, RW, BFS, PCL, AC, Sully & Scrumpy
After last weeks trip to the edge of the Somerset levels, a more local walk for this week saw 5 of us meeting outside of The Old Inn at Holton, for a 3 mile loop around Maperton. A bright summer morning, but with sufficient cloud cover to keep the mercury from rising too high, we gathered in a mix of summery attire of shorts, hats and sunglasses, although Adrian opted for the full length trouser and shirt approach, topped with his favourite blue hat.
Heading west out on a track opposite the pub, we were quickly brought to a halt by an unusual collection of ten memorial stones built into a lowered area of the boundary wall of a small orchard. No doubt laid by locals, for locals, within the last a few years, a bit of an explanation would not have gone amis. No sooner had we started going again the leading group stopped again to look more closely at a fruit tree growing in the area. Instantly recognised by the educated as a Medlar tree, the colloquial name of a “split arse” tree brought more smirks. Apparently the fruit can be used in jams and pickles, although there were no volunteers to try it this week, where is Trevor when you need him? For those non the wiser more info here including how they taste better when bletted.
At this speed the walk was going to take all day so following instructions to up the pace, Adrian took the lead as we headed through a few fields on the edge of the village. Our route was taking us parallel to the A303, with occasional glimpses of the traffic rushing by, although being slightly upwind it wasn’t too noisy. Adrian’s trail blazing came to an abrupt halt a couple of stiles later when he encountered one high enough for Dick Fosbury to be challenged. With a lot of help and laughter he made it over, probably truthfully easier than it was lifting Sully up so he could jump down the other side. There was no disputing the right of way through a large corn field as it was single track on the beaten track. Sully closely followed by Scrumpy, with the rest of us line astern until we reached the end of a hedge row where a large unplanted area allowed us space for a breather. Heading towards us we spotted a chap with a couple of dogs, so we waited for him to pass in this larger area, and seeing us waiting ahead he put his two small dogs on their leads as they approached. After a brief greeting, there was a flurry of dogs snarling as one or maybe both took a dislike to Scrumpy. As he dangled them both in mid air on the ends of their leads he quickly moved through us, all the time with Scrumpy giving as good as she got. Sully being the gentleman and her protector, saw no reason to get involved as she was doing a good job on her own. With a bit more snarling Richard gathered her in, and we continued through the field, into another eventually coming out onto the road on the outskirts of Mapperton.
As we headed into the old village of Mapperton, which gets a mention in the Doomsday book, the most obvious building is that of the 19th Century grand house, not to be confused with one of the same name near Beaminster, Dorset. The residents of Elliscombe Manor contribute largly to the village population of 160, odd really as the old folks house is closer to Holton that Mapperton. The 15th century church of St. Peter & St. Paul was just visible to the rear of the house, and it is said it was a favourite venue for clandestine weddings in the early 18th century. Due to its current state of disrepair it is now however listed on the Heritage at Risk register. Posing for this weeks selfie by a dried up watering point in the boundary wall, that it would be great to see the water flowing again at some point. Sully probably agreed more than most at this point as the warm weather was causing a few tongues to hang out a bit.
Dropping down the hill, we turned left off the road back into fields and spent a few minutes waiting for Sully to investigate what had dashed across the road a few seconds early, which gave us time to discuss the merits of the scarecrow and also a large walled area in an adjacent field. More than likely an early walled vegetable or ornamental garden or even a large cattle pen, it certainly looked very well maintained. It was also a great time to take on the calories and sugar, this week very kindly provided by Adrian, in Dereyk’s absence (sunning himself in Devon)
After getting Sully out of a refreshing water filled ditch, we started the slow and steady climb though a very picturesque coombe, behind the high ground and totally out of ear shot of the A303, a really pleasant 15 minutes which brought us back onto a road, where we started the drop back down towards Holton. The high point provided a great view across to Cucklington and right down the Blackmore Vale, as we turned back north to join our original path, past some very photogenic and happy looking cows peering over a low wall and then through a field of hay being turned by the farmer (not great for our hay fever sufferer).
A steady stroll back into Holton and todays walk of just under 3 miles completed in 100 minutes. With appetites totally famished, we hopped back into the cars for a short trip to Cale Park cafe, or so we hoped. Unfortunately it was all closed up, (is it on the market?) we diverted to our normal fallback just up the road at Kimbers. Thankfully they now do an all day breakfast so sat inside but by the open windows, we were promptly served the smaller breakfast all round this week.
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