Saturday 15th April ‘23. DH, TO, PCL, PC, DL, JB & Sully - Gare Hill
With three of the group on family duties this weekend, it is was just the six of us who met at Gare Hill today for a repeat walk around the woods. Sully was a little disappointed to be the only dog this week but still went around everyone greeting them as we started getting our boots on, with most us also opting to wear coats fearing a chill in the shade, despite the early morning blue skies and sun, which made a welcome change from the rain and hail of previous days.
As we headed on down the hill I had already decided to walk the route in the opposite direction this time so we headed into the tiny hamlet of Gare Hill and past the former church of St Michael Which was constructed in 1858 and funded by the 8th Earl of Cork. St Michael's is built of Doulting stone with a tile roof, in the Gothic style. Designed to accommodate 150 persons, it is made up of a buttressed three bay nave and two bay chancel, with a south porch. The western end of the roof contains an octagonal bell turret with spirelet. Two stained glass windows were presented to the church by Lady Bath. it was granted Grade II* status in 1981 which coincides with its closing as a church and being converted to residential use with the necessary planning permission approved in May 1984. The current Zoopla valuation is it in the region of £1.2 to £1.4 million.
Continuing past the few cottages we reached the end of the tarmac and entered the woods on a gravel track which was pretty wet and muddy from the recent rains. As we followed it downhill the water increased until we reached the stream in the bottom, which of course Sully had already got into by the time we arrived. Looking proud as punch and staring up with his ‘look at me, aren’t I a good boy’ look, he was somewhat reluctant to get out and start the climb up the far side. A helping hand from John soon had him looking spotlessly clean and back on the track, if only he could have stayed that clean for the rest of the walk.
We had dropped a good 75m already and so the only way after the stream was up. It was a slow and steady climb through a mix of old British native trees and the taller conifers, although there has been a lot of tree felling and ground clearance carried out in the last few years. The sun was beaming through the gaps in the canopy and the light and shade across the woodland was changing with every change of direction.
At the top of the rise we paused to catch our breaths and attempted to count the rings on a recently felled stack of large tree trunk. I’m sure I’d seen an app somewhere that would do it for you, but have so far been unsuccesful in seaking it out. So a best guess from the wide spaced rings is that the tree was probably around before any of us! The track continued through the centre of the wood heading south and as we came to the half way distance we opted to take a break for this weeks confectionary and take this week selfie against a grassy hillside backdrop. Passing through a gate we entered a large grassy field and started a slow steady climb up towards an old oak tree. The recent strong winds had brought down a few more branches but it provided a perfect frame for a photo opportunity back down the Coombe. With the temperature steadily rising and being out in the full sun, those of us with coats were now wishing we had followed Trevor’s lead of leaving then behind this week.
A short stretch through a wooded area which with the many sandy holes in the bank was obviously home to many badgers, and with the sight of our first spring bluebells starting to break through the undergrowth we made it out onto the road alongside the well refurbished Manor Farm cottage. A short stretch along the road afforded us the chance to discuss the climb up the western side of Long Knoll, one of the highest points in our area and which has been on my ‘to do’ list for a couple of years now. Carefully avoiding the cyclists taking a more energetic form of Saturday morning exercise than us, we were soon turning off the road and back down a track towards the woods again. I happened to notice at least 3 bird boxes in the trees as we passed so I’m afraid in absence of any post boxes this week, these will have to be a suitable substitute Richard! Once back in the woods we continued at good pace, driven no doubt by the prospect of breakfast, and I was especially pleased and somewhat dismayed that Sully avoided going into the ponds that lay beyond the path. It wasn’t too long before we were back at the main road but just before we started the climb back up we regrouped a safe distance from a trailer on which we’re at least 4 bee hives, with plenty of activity from the residents as they warmed themselves in the morning sunshine. It was just a slow steady climb back up the road to the cars, avoiding more cyclists whizzing down the hill, to complete the 4.5 miles in just over 2 hours.
Trevor and Phil, keen to get their food shot off whilst the rest of us changed our footwear and then it was just a 10 minute drive to Nunney Catch cafe for this weeks post walk nosh. Thinking they had plenty of time before we arrived to polish off their breakfasts, Trev and Phil opted for the large offering, but the rest of us went for just the standard offering this week, although of course with the mix of beans and tomatoes, a option unique to the this establishment. John on his first visit and with limited veggie choices opted for a plateful of fried eggs on toast. With good strength pots of tea, not to Deryck’s liking, and with a very vocal Sully as he waited for his titbits, we enjoyed a good round off for a very enjoyable spring walk amongst some wonderful British woodland.
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