On the doorstep

Sat 10 May “25. DH, RW, TO, PCL, DL, JB, JS, Scrumpy, Albus & Maisie

We don’t tend to w all too close to home these days having found plenty of other good walks and breakfast cafes, but once in a while it’s good to go back to basics and explore the countryside around one of our home bases. Continuing with our summer start time in Wincanton this week, it was spot on 0830 when I arrived outside of the library on Carrington Way, (having dropped off my good lady at the Memorial Hall to catch the Berry’s for a hen do in Covent Garden ) to see six fellow walking ready and raring to go. Or so I thought!

It transpired that I arrived right in the middle of some friendly banter and roasting about the length of shorts on display today, or was it the amount of short hairy legs on display?

It was good to see JB back from his DofE trips and JS back from holiday, so after a slight delay whilst everyone got themselves into the mood for walking, we headed off past the old Health Centre and around the corner onto Les Rossiers Way, passing the bottom of the path up to Wrexon View where the folks of Wincanton lit a beacon as part of the VE 80 day celebrations only two days ago. Cutting through the houses we paused at the top of Cash’s park to wait for the stragglers. Conveniently Maisie decided to do her business right by the bin and we were soon joined by the others who were having a good giggle about Richards misfortune with a bag whilst dealing with Scrumpy’s deposit. I wasn’t there so can’t go into details but it was clear no one would be shaking Richards hand this morning!

We dropped down the hill through the every narrowing path as the trees and bushes down each side have encroached significantly, and out through the iron gates towards Shatterwell falls. Unsurprisingly with the good weather we’ve had this month and the lack of rain, there was no more than just a trickle today. Continuing on the Bruton road we climbed most of Old Hill before turning off right onto a track which leads to Burton’s Mill. After passing a field full of what would be the first of many sheep and young lambs, we opened up a well secured gate and onto the public footpath running through a large open field, with views back across the river to the Cash’s Park fields where a herd of brown cows was roaming. As we headed eastwards, passing through or over a number of well maintained stiles, the view in front of us towards the end of the Pen Selwwod ridge opened up, whilst the high point of Wincanton, at Windmill Hill was soon behind us. It was great to only be a short distance from many of ours home town and be so deep into fresh green countryside.

We were making good time as we passed around the rear of Charlton House and so I decided to extend the route to take us out along Rectory Lane before heading back in through Bayford. I can’t 100% confirm or otherwise but a quick Google for Charlton House returns the following:

Charlton House in Wincanton refers to Charlton House & Gardens, a Jacobean house located in the village of Charlton Musgrove, near Wincanton, Somerset. It has a rich history, having served as a wartime hospital, a museum and library, and is now a community hub. The house is known for its beautiful Jacobean rooms, corridors, and staircases, as well as its stunning walled gardens and grounds. 

After about 750 metres we turned right again, down a wide grass covered farm access track to cross the River Cale within its first couple miles of its source on the western slopes of Pen Ridge and the two lakes in the Coneygore area of the woods. We could already see sheep in the field ahead and so the three dogs were put back onto leads before we entered the next field. There were a few mums and young lambs in this field but they kept away from us and is them as we made out way aroung a walled mound with a high fence, presumably a pheasant rearing pen, and towards our next gate. There were a few sheep around the gateway and before we even passed through we could see a couple of young lambs who had managed to sneak through into the next field. There was plenty of bleating going back and forth so Deryck and the two Johns tried their best to round them up and get them back through the gate, but gave up after a couple of minutes to avoid causing anymore stress.

At the far side of the next gate were some even younger lambs and as we had no choice but to go through, so it was decided to pick up the dogs to avoid them being at lambs eye level as we passed. Thy all mad way ith by going further into the field or through the next gate which we then followed through. One ewe was a bit lame and one of her lambs decided to seek the attention of someone more able to walk. After a quick check amongst the seven of us, it unbelievably chose Phil to bond with for just a short time before return to its mother.

Once we were sure it wasn’t following us, we started one of the steepest off road climbs in the area, gaining around 30 metres in just 200 metres or so. Of course we had to stop to appreciate the view on the way up as it opened up behind to reveal green fields, hedgerows, copsesa d then the Selwwod Forest stretching across to Alfreds Towere, the top most portion of which was just about visible above the trees. At the top it was certainly time to take in the view, pass around the lollies (get your hands off them Richard) and of course take this weeks group photo.

With us all in agreement that we do live in a very beautiful part of the country, and suitably refreshed and rested we pass through another gate only to be greated with s running view southwards, down the Blackmore Vale.

With such blue skies we could have been closer to the Mediterranean coast than to Wincanton, as we walked around the edge of the ploughed field aiming for a narrow path in the corner of the field.we still had half an hour to go for our breakfast booking so once out onto the very end of Bayford, rather than walk along the roadside pavement, we turned right and followed Love Lane, through Lodge Farm and onto a track passing below the large man made lake towards the rear of Bayford Lodge. At this point we should have turned left and started the climb up towards the Penn View estate, but unfortunately there was a tree down blocking the path and we had to make a 600 meter detour around it. We eventually got up to Windmill Hill and then followed Grants Lane and then Ireson Lane down to the High Street and to the Dolphin, for our first try at a breakfast. We arrived bang on the button at 1030 having walked 3.7miles in our two hours. JS had family business to attend and so headed home at this point.

Despite being told we would have to eat in the bar with the dogs, we were shown through to the restaurant area and our table, laid with a nice clean white table cloth, which must be a first for us.

We were also shown the buffet and drinks area where there were mugs and cups laid out and coffee and tea making facilities, as well as fresh juice and cereals, although we weren’t sure they were there for the breakfast we would be having. Deryck spotted the toaster and nominated himself as toast monitor for the day, and so was soon loading it with bread. Sat back at the table with our drinks we placed our orders for the £10 breakfast with unlimited drinks and then waited for our toast. The monitor got a bit of stick when it arrived, he’d remembered the butter but was sadly lacking any jam or marmalade. Huffing and puffing, he soon remedied his basic error. Breakfast arrived quite quickly, on hot plates and it was nice to see streaky bacon for a change. The sausage was good, so were the two eggs and there were no hash browns in sight. With the door open to allow a bit of breeze in, the table was soon silent as everyone got stuck in. All in all for just a tenner it was very good value, and another to successfully add to our breakfast locations Iist.

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