Saturday 6th January '24 DH, RW, TO, PCl, AC, DL, JB, CH, Scrumpy & Albus
With the festive season well and truly over for another year it was time to get back into the swing of Saturday morning walks. With the heavy rain we have had the preceding week, trying to find a dry ish route was going to be almost impossible task so anything with at least half on solid tracks would have to suffice. Brian was an early call off with Covid and on the morning Pete decided he had more important issues to deal with so a large group of eight of us met up on Barrow Lane near the church of St John, the chapel of ease for Charlton Musgrove parish. Clearly with some time keeping issues, a slightly delayed car from Cary & Bruton arrived and opted for the lay-by further down the road rather than block up the church entrance. Whilst we waited the Wincanton quartet took a look inside the small church which is built in a 13th century style but was actually gifted to the village by a former rectors wife in 1877.
As we exited the church yard the delayed group drove past and parked in a lay-by just a hundred metres down the road, so we wandered down to join them and hear the excuses. Once we had all shared our New Years greetings we set off and almost immediately took the track on our right leading towards the Stavordale estate. On the right side, with a lovely stream flowing through the garden stands the childhood house of John and his family. As we made our way up the track John told a few tales of his younger years growing up in the village and taking walks or bike rides up the same track and into the woods, many times on his own but often in the company of other local children. He even remembers the days before Stavordale Priory was owned by one of the countries greatest impresarios , the director of many much loved stage musicals, probably the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world and for the last 20 years or so a local resident - Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
As we approached the end of the gateway leading to his home, Richard was suddenly clearly stage-struck and decided a quick audition for the role of the next 'Phantom' was clearly called for. Thankfully there was no response from within the priory so we can only hope, for the sake of reputation of all future theatrical actors , that he didn't disturb anyone and was unsuccessful at this time. Whilst still trying to defuse the situation before anyone else joined in I managed to gather everyone for this weeks selfie, initially taken looking away from the grand gateway, but with a quick pirouette also with the festive illuminations and priory behind us.
As we headed further up the track it was evident that we’d had a lot of rain as the water was streaming off of the fields and into a culvert under the track at one point. John with he eagle eyes spotted what looked like a large deer stationary alongside a hedgerow and as we walked further up it still didn’t move. Without Pete and his bino’s to get a better view it was either totally in shock at hearing Richards earlier rendition and was in shock that the annual rutt had started or in fact it wasn’t actually a deer, but a large lump of deer shaped wood. There followed a good healthy discussions which Chris decided to clear up by taking a zoomed in photo on his phone, however the outcome of that only muddied the water further. We left none the wiser and headed towards New Park Farm and the very substantial farm house with a multitude of barns and sheds behind it. On the right side of the track John noticed a field with 3 alpacas in and attempted to do his Dr Dolittle bit again as he did before Christmas, but this trio probably not seeing so many walkers as the previous one, were having nothing to do with him. The path took us through the edge of the yard and along a fenced pathway towards the woods from which two black horned sheep kept a very close eye on us all. Where was our farming correspondent when we needed a positive ID?
As we approached the wood line a sign reminded us that we were entering the large expanse of the Stourhead estate through which we have walked many times before, but this was a new stretch to us all. This was our first time off of solid ground as the stoney path was running in water in places and quite slippery. We climbed slowly whilst the dogs darted around happy to be off the leads as they picked up interesting scents. The path eventually opened up in a large clearing at what would be our highest point and which although a fraction under half way made a good point to stop for this weeks confectionery courtesy of Dereyk, or more likely Maureen! There was great deal of good banter as we rested for a while but keen to get back to the cafe on time I started the descent and headed back down hill on the next rack on our left. There was a lot less stone in this track and Adrian was finding it difficult with his sore feet as the wet ground slipped away with each step. However with plenty of help he made it down and around the corner at the bottom leading us out of the woods and into fields for the walk down to Barrow. The view over the north west of the county as we emerged was a truly wonderful and stretched round from Glastonbury Tor just off the left side of Creech Hill and round to the woods around Cranmore tower. The slim tall mast of the Mendip transmitter was also clearly visible with the January sunlight reflecting brightly on or should that be off it.
Our route back down the hill was alongside the left hand hedgerow and I had expected it to be extremely waterlogged, however although quite wet it was mainly a lot firmer than I had expected. Thankfully there had been no livestock in the fields for a good time so there we animal no foot holes to avoid. However at one point the leading walkers suddenly found themselves in the middle of a series of large holes which turned out to be a large badger sett, unusually on flat ground rather than in amongst a bank. Most of the crossing points were gates or low stiles but a couple were both high and poorly maintained and a challenge to most of us for a change and not just Adrian.
We made good time through the fields and with the winter sun now about as high as it gets this time of year, it was a really pleasant and bright January morning. We emerged into the hamlet of Barrow through Kimbers Farm and turned left along the lane and stood to one side to let an animal feed lorry past us. It was then just a 5 min walk back along Barrow Lane to our cars,
A walk of 3.6 miles completed in just over 2 hours on a route I’ve had in the pipeline for the last couple of years and one I’m sure we will repeat again in a different season. A short drive to Kimbers farm shop and we were soon all seated around our large reserved table ready to order. Trevor went for the large one whilst five of us opted for the regular with John & Chris choosing the vegetarian option. Whilst waiting for our drinks Phil continued to try and get his latest word cube solved by all of us but I think the shouting of suggestions, both helpful and a few not so helpful only confused the issue and he gave up until he got home later. Breakfast were quickly served and rapidly consumed and it was a case of eight clean plates just a few minutes later. We wish Brian & Pete a speedy recovery and hope to see Chris M back out with us again when he can face it or us!