Saturday 13th November 2021
DH, RW, BFS, TO, PCL, DL, Sully, Scrumpy, Bill
A mild November morning with patches of blue sky were waiting for the intrepid 6 as we gathered at the hamlet of Spring Gardens, to the north of Frome and only a couple of miles downstream from last weeks walk through the Mells river valley.
Having stood to admire Trevor modelling his latest choice of trousers, (a recent purchase from the Castle Cary charity shop?) we headed off across fields and towards the River Mells. Thankfully this early in the walk there was no opportunity for Sully to actually get into it, although he searched high and low for an entry point, for the first crossing was over an old mill feed which looked pretty stagnant. The bridge over the main river was far too high to even consider an early morning dip.
A short walk up a track and a little shimmy around the back of the Castle Lodge gate house and we were on the start of the long driveway and gentle climb into Orchardleigh Park.
The walk up the driveway, despite the occasional passing of cars going to or from the golf course, was a great opportunity to see the wonderful Autumn colours on the large oaks and other majestic trees in the estates grounds.Unfortunately it meant a period on the leads for the three dogs, and for a change Sully didn’t pull too much. Having reached the top in two groups of three, it was not long before we croseed a cattle grid and headed into the golf course. As the majority of us are not the type to chase a little white ball around a long distance course, it was left to Trevor to remind us of his wonderful birdie on the 3rd hole, successfully putted after having clipped a red boundary marker by the pond on the approach shot resulting in the ball ricocheting towards the hole.
The course was relatively busy this morning with foursomes queueing to tee off as we past and others coming towards us down the fairways. Despite Phil wanting to carry on to the Steak house (I don’t know what he was hoping for) we took a right turn by the Elmhay Park wedding venue and headed downhill towards the stables. Unfortunately we didn’t see or realise that the 13th Century church of St Mary the Virgin was just a short distance down the track, as it appears there are some interesting sculptures and stained glass windows. However down the next track Richard spotted a stone construction in a field, the exact purpose even after a bit of “Googling” remains unknown.
A steady climb to the ridge and we followed a fenced path alongside an old wall and ditch field boundary, with many tress growing on top of the wall. Their roots, covered in moss tumbled over the face of the wall without even disturbing the stones, The view back to the main house and across into Wiltshire included a very feint White Horse at Westbury Right round to Cley Hill on the outskirts of Longleat. A short crossing of the grass airstrip and another fenced pathway led down to the woods. Bill decided that he would walk down the wrong side of the fence, but thankfully a liftable section at the end allowed him to rejoin the main track.
The pathway through the wooded area turned sharply downhill and fallen branches obstructed the route. A low hanging bough was spotted by most who ducked under it with ease, but brining up the rear, and probably distracted by conversation, Richard went straight into it, sending his flat cap flying. The thud was certainly heard by all, but I’m pleased to say the tree was not damaged in the incident.
Safely out of the woods we headed down the fields and on approaching the next stile we saw another group of walkers heading towards us. Being the courteous gentlemen that we are, we waited as 17 walkers, on their way from Frome to Bath, crossed before us. It was then only a short walk down to the edge of the village where we posed for this weeks selfie on another bridge over the river, before heading back to the cars. A good 3.25 miles completed in just over 90 minutes.
A short drive to Whiterow Farm for a substantial breakfast only let down by the tinned mushrooms, Surely they must sell them in the farm shop and could spare a few for the cafe? (Average score of 7.9)
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