Hawthorns in Charlton

Sat 9 May. DH, RW, PCL, DL, JB, CH, JS, Scumpy & Albus

After last weekends successful rerun of a previous walk I though this week that we would stay fairly local and return to Charlton Horethorn for a repeat of our walk out to Stowell. With the RV by the village green, the seven of us were soon commenting on each others chosen attire on what was a bright but slightly cool morning.

Heading out of the village down Horse Lane and past the very impressive Manor House we avoided the animal yard this time, where everyone’s lasting memory was seeing a deceased and bloated cow unceremoniously dumped off of the back of a truck, ready for the hounds of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale hunt. Entering the fields we crossed the stream into an equestrian area where there were a selection of cross-country style fences, currently being used as shelter from the cold winds by the resident sheep and lambs.

Exiting the fields just above the local sewage works we joined a minor road towards Stowell. Albus was pulling at the lead and dancing from left to right sides as we picked up the pace. On reaching the base of the village we turned up a track, signed as a No through road, on the wonderful Somerset branded fingerpost. The track started out OK but as soon as we passed a lovely cottage it turned into more of a stream bed than a track. Clearly there has been a lot of water run down the track, but for the most parts it was dry and clean today. Finally off the leads , Albus was happy to push on, although when the track turned to what looked liked recently laid stones, it became harder to walk on and I think we all slowed a bit. It was a good sight to see the top of the track, and when everyone was up we paused just around the corner to observe the view across to Stowell church and further afield, the Somerset and Dorset countryside.

Just before we set off again we waited for a small tractor to pass, and from the smell it was clear he had been cleaning out the cow yard recently. We gave the driver a salute as he drove past, which certainly resulted in a shocked looking grin on his face. We climbed a bit up the road and then took a narrow set of steps up into the edge of a private wooded area, which lead through to an open field. Off the leads once again the dogs were well behaved as we climbed onto the ridge which provided more north westerly views across to our start point and beyond.

Deryck very kindly offered round the lollies, both drumstick and the Chupa Chumps and then we carried on along the ridge, just below the large residential properties on the former Plessey’s site

at Willkinthrope.We paused at the top of Hanglands Lane briefly whilst I weighed up the route options. We could either go across fields for a bit longer and then drop down the hill back towards Charlton Horethorne or we take the same route as last time down Hanglands Lane. Even though the lane was muddy previously, the ground was much drier today, so I opted for the possibly easier option of avoiding having to cross stiles. Mostly the lane was OK but in a couple of places we had to take to the side paths to avoid the large canyon type obstructions, clearly caused by heavy water flow. Atone bottom we turned right onto a flat track between high hedges which would take us right back into the village.

As we turned into the village we were met by a most beautiful tree, with stunning small flowers, identified by someone as a Hawthorn, well it would be wouldnt it! Actually it was a Crimson Cloud (Crataegus laevigata) ornamental hawthorn tree, characterised by its profuse, single-petaled crimson flowers with distinct creamy-white centres that bloom in May. Further along by the village green there was another one, although this one was somewhat dwarfed by the large chestnut tree behind it.

Back at the cars after one and three quarter hours, we had completed 3.5 miles and were now ready for a spot of breakfast. So for the first time in almost a year we drove to the River Cale Cafe where we managed to grab the large table on the left. A good choice of breakfasts (the first for some here) and a unanimous decision that we should return more often.

Cyclemeter.