Ofsted inspection

Sat 5 September DH, DL, CH, CLH, Tilly, Amy, Ralph & Albus

Whilst on a trip to Paignton Zoo I was literally shocked when talking to the kids about the Saturday walk, that they mentioned that their mother, my eldest daughter wanted to join us this week. I was of course somewhat surprised but delighted as she has waved all three of her children off with us many times over the last few years, but has never found an opportunity to walk with this illustrious group until this weekend. I had already decided on this weeks walk and breakast location and I knew it was not somewhere she had been before, so I was delighted to pass the message that ‘Yes’, of course she would be welcomed to join us.

With just three of us from Wincanton, we all met up at 0830 in the car park at the front of The Bell, Evercreech, somewhere we had not been to for over a year. The morning was bright but with a slight nip in the air as we set off for Stoney Stratton and the large hill which could be seen behind it as we crossed an open field heading east out of Evercreech. I had joked in the week that as this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, (mainly because she would be doing the weekly grocery shop in the afternoon, not morning for a change) that it felt like a start of Academic year Ofsted style inspection, to check we had all our safeguarding policies in place so we can continue with her children, mainly Ralph, joining us from time to time.

Of course, from the talk back home after each week, she already knows how much they have all enjoyed their walk with the ‘old men’, especially so Ralph’s many challenges with big John. So with the younger two running around the edge of next field, the elder ones, including Tilly cut the corner along the footpath and down a small path into Stoney Stoke, We turned up the main road, past what must have once been The Barley Mow pub, and the right until we reached the small triangle with a disused water point in the side of a wall by the bridge. We turned left and followed the small stream to a ford, where again the youngest one took a seperate route and opted to cross right through it, whilst the more mature ones used the narrow footbridge to one side. We continued alongside the small trickle of water flowing down a much larger channel, until we had to cross it again by a small flight of stepping stones. Further on again we crossed on a small stone bridge for the third and final time.

We continued the steady uphill through a couple of fields before walking alongside the stream once more as we made our way into the area surrounding Mill House Farm. On guard at the farm this week we’re two large geese, although they were enjoying a morning swim in the small pond this week, as opposed to defending it from the farmyard as in previous visits. Also on the waterweree a few ducks and by the side of the path a couple of chicken hits. Normally this would be a pleasant farmyard science, but for Tilly who is afraid of any feathered creature, it was her worst nightmare. And to compound it, I then suggested the pond and animals would make a good backdrop to this weeks ‘groupie’. One not too happy teenager, but she took it all in her stride!

As we continued through the farm we came to a large barn which was full of young Jetsey cows, which delighted Amy as she is animal mad at the moment. With the amount of high class cheese production in this area, I’m sure a few pints of Jersey milk can only make it better. At the far end of the track as we joined the road, we were not surprised to see the red Porsche 911 still stuck in the edge and deterioting further, almost the MGB convertible infront of it looks like it could still have a bit of time left to be rescued by some keen restorers. We continued up the hill, turned right through the bottom of Ladycroft farm and into the fields underneath Small Down Knoll.

Looking at the right hand end of the knoll there was a well walked path leading up to a gate on the ridgeline, but knowing the area was all private land we stuck to the track contouring around the hill to reach the minor road to Westcombe. By now the sun was high and the skies blue and there was a glorious view back down the hill towards our start point in Evercreech and then on to the many hilltops of South Somerset. Tilly was on a mission to get to the top as she left the rest of us in her wake, and by the time we had caught up with her, she was sitting on a gate admiring the views back towards Alfred’s tower and beyond. I for one was ready for a breather, although I blame the lack of oxygen on having a mouthful of lolly, again kindly provided by Deryck and Maureen.

From this point is was all downhill and we needed to make the most of it to catch up on time as breakast was only fifty minutes away. As we started the decent, we passed a very new residential property being constructed within the walled area of the former Small Down Farm buildings. With large windows on all sides, the views must be absolutely staggering from the rooms on the eastern side, with Creech Hill and Glastonbury Tor clearly visible in the mid distance and the North Somerset coastline in the far distance. I would imagine there will also be amazing views and noise from the temporary town of Glastonbury which will set up for a week on Worthy Down next summer.

We dropped height quickly and were soon back on the level where we joined a concrete farm track leading into Home Farm and then through a narrow path back into Stoney Stratton. Rather than head back down the road we took the small path by the side of the stream which lead across the bag gardens of the old village cottages, many with their own stone arched bridge over the stream. It was then a short walk retracing our steps around the roads back to The Bell.

Todays walk had been just over two hours, but we had covered four and a half miles and climbed a fair bit. Once we had changed out of our boots we took our seats at our usual table under the village roll of honour. The children, supervised by their Mum, took orders for hot drinks and very kindly made them for us old men. We placed our breakfast orders, most for the smallerTinker Bell whilst Ralph opted for his usual sausage sandwich. As usual here, the food was brought our very quickly and we all got well stuck in to a tasty breakfast. It had been another good morning and Charlotte was well happy with her first trip out with us. As such I’m pleased to report that we were awarded an ‘excellent’ rating and have permission to continue taking the grandchildren with us each week. Now how do I add the appropriate logo to the website?

Cyclemeter