DH, PC, Sully
Saturday 2nd January, 2021. Well that was a Christmas & New Year to remember - NOT!
It was time to dust off the boots, wrap up warm and make a start on that same New Year’s resolution again - more exercise, less weight! Another trip out in the local area saw us take a steady climb up Ireson Lane and through the pretty high step-through gate onto Windmill Hill. Approaching the lonely tree (Oak?) visible for miles around, the view over the north of Wincanton to Bratton Seymour, through Creech Hill and round to the Stourhead estate and Alfreds tower, is quite stunning. It’s actually quite surprising also how much higher you are than than the racecourse and farmland stretching out “Beanie” way!
A slippery descent and then down a very muddy short stretch by the fence brought us down to the River Cale, where a good wooden bridge, which replaces the one washed away in storms some 15 years ago, provides an easy crossing. Sully of course decided it was time to test out the temperature so took his normal paddle without going in beyond his waistline. It reminded me of a walk in the same area some years ago with our first dog, Fudge, and a friends Labrador we looked after for the weekend. She too took to the water but forgot to tell us she couldn’t swim, quite a panic trying to rescue someone else’s dog from the water.
The far side of the bridge displayed our old route marker friend sign, The Monarch‘s Way. So yet again following in the path of royalty!
Thankfully very few sheep in the fields today, I always put Sully back on the lead if any are visible, but of course he also likes to go where they have been before for gastronomical reasons. Trying to steer him through heaps of residue, and stop him dropping his head to snaffle what he can reach, is quite a challenge.
The path, very well signed and with good crossings, then loops back around to the top of racecourse hill, with views up to the ridge of Cash’s park. Dropping down the hill, past the awful eyesore of the most recent overpriced development in town, we rejoined a now much larger river Cale as it passes by Shatterwell House and cascades over the weir, known locally as Shatterwell Falls. The sight of a twitcher with Bino’s and camera peering over the edge was not lost on two weary walkers, who crossed the road to engage in polite conversation.
A Dipper was on the edge of the lip, playing in the steady flow searching for food no doubt. It flitted back & forth, disappearing and reappearing randomly, but managed to stay in situ long enough to Photobomb this weeks selfie. (Zoom in and just visible between leaves on left side of weir, right of centre on edge of non selfie photo). What a delight! (Note to self -try and look happier in photo)!
It was all downhill after that, well actually up hill through Cash’s Park, Carrington Way and through to The Avenue where the annual spectacular of the early daffodils allowed Sully to have his own selfie. 2021 - 1 down, how many will we complete this year? Answers on a postcard to PO Box ........
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