On the levels

Saturday 21 March ‘26. DH, RW, JB, CH, JS, CM & Scrumpy

With all this years floods we have kept clear of the low lying land of the Somerset levels so far, but with brighter skies and warmer days starting to return, it was time to head back to the west of our patch for a walk onto the Somerset Levels and a visit back to The Kitchen at the wharf at Langport for our breakfasts. Chris very kindly offered to drive this week but had forgotten that his car was in for a service and as such he was demoted to Di’s Toyota Yaris. There was a bit of debate about fitting us all in or changing to one of the Hondas, but in the end we went for it. As I was first to be picked up I called shotgun on the front seat and slid the seat forward to make enough room behind. When we arrived at the Auction site to pick up the two Johns, JB was already indicating in his usual jovial self that he would need to fold himself in half. As it was there was plenty of space and once loaded up and heading down the A303, it made a change to actually be able to hear and join in the conversations in both the front and back together.

We arrived in Langport at 0829 and ‘saved’ the parking space next to us for Richard who had taken the more scenic but slower route through Somerton and arrived just a couple of minutes behind us. It was great to see Chris M in the car with him this week, the first time back with us since early Winter and the potato cave walk. Once all sorted we set off heading south from the area onto the Huish Drove where we turned right to head across towards Drayton. Turning off of the track onto the first path across farmland we were delighted to see how wide and clear the right of way was, but equally surprised to see the ground so dry and cracked up. We didn’t climb too much but the views across the levels opened up as we made our way towards a field full of old abandoned cars and farm equipment.

There was some activity as we approached with an old tractor towing a silver 4 x 4 onto the field, but apart from being a car grave yard we couldn’t really come up with any answer to what was going on. We walked up the track alongside the field and out onto the main road, where a left turn took us down to the village cross roads. There was no time to stop at the pub today but we did pause to admire the village war memorial. Sat under a small thatched roof the roll of honour of the First World War had the names of eleven of the fallen villagers, and beneath it just one who gave this life in the Second World War.

Although it initially looks like it could be a modern replacement of an older memorial cross as seen it most villages, it was actually constructed in this style in the early 1920s and is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;

* Design: an unusual and well-executed memorial that reflects local vernacular building traditions and which complements its surroundings;

* Group value: it is located in close proximity to a number of listed buildings.

Pushing on we took the lane opposite the memorial and out to the south of the village passing alongside a small stream before emerging into the countryside once more. The sun had by now burned through the early morning cloud and it was getting considerably warmer. We followed a hedgeline and then had to take a dogleg route to ensure we crossed one of the many drainage ditches that cross cross the area. Although the grass was still very wet, the ground was mostly firm with just the hollows and gateways a bit muddier. We came out onto the road leading to Muchelney and over the hedges could see the church’s and prominent buildings of Langport on the ridge to the north. A sign advertising todays Drayton Market gave us a possible answer as to what was happening in the earlier field.

On planning todays route I had built on an option for the final stretch back into town depending on how we were going and what time we had left, but on seeing how far we had to go back I made the decision to turn left down the old railway line rather than take to slower and possibly muddier option of walking along the bank of the River Parrett. There were a few other walkers on the pathway and even a lady all dressed for jogging who along with her dog who had taken a ‘shortcut’ across the fields only to find herself faced with a barbed wire gate to get over. Fortunetly for her we arrived just at the time she started climbing the gate, so quick as a flash our young debonair ever helpful JB offered to assist should she need a helping hand. Before he could reach the gate however she had cleared it without incident and was soon just a small speck in the distance as she got back up to speed.

We retraced our steps the final bit to the cars to change footwear, and I stopped the clock on todays walk at just over four miles in one hour fourty five minutes. Only pausing for our group photo on the small pedestrian bridge we made it to the cafe in good time, only to find that the reservation I made in the week had not been written down. Thankfully there was a suitable table by the window where we squeezed in by a group of Mendip cyclists. A polite young waitress with a cheerful smile on took our orders and we didn’t have too long to wait. Not feeling up to a cooked option myself this week, I opted for the pancake stack with Greek yoghurt and fruit compote, which I must say was one of the best I’ve had. Overall the comments about the breakfasts were very favourable, although the issue of Richards baked beans did rear it’s head again. A good return to Langport and great to have Chris back walking with us again.

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