Saturday 25th May '24 DH, BFS, PCL, DL & Albus
Amazingly we have reached the end of May Bank Holiday weekend already, (where has that five months gone?) and so with just four of the squad available for selection this weekend I opted for something a little bit different and just beyond the reach of our normal 30 minute travelling time.
Phil's wife very kindly dropped him off in Wincanton (on route to her weekly cycling event) and so with Dereyk collected we headed west along the A303 and the traffic queues at the Sparkford roundabout ready for the slow crawl through the roadworks on a Bank Holiday Saturday. Thankfully we passed through them in good time and having taken the Ash exit and headed around the north of Martock, we were soon passing through Kingsbury Episcopi and down the narrow lanes to the Burrow Hill cider farm. I had seen on Social Media in the week that there was an open day and a chance to walk around the orchards and tour the sights of the farm before tasting some of the produce and as an alternative to a good English breakfast, the opportunity to grab a bit of fresh Mexican food for a change.
Albus had spent Friday night with his owner and so in the morning made the short journey eastwards to meet up with us to be handed over for his weekly Saturday morning walk. As we pulled into the farmyard and came face to face with the Cider Bus, they were waiting for us so Dereyk quickly popped out of the car to complete the official handover of dog and rations, whilst I tried to find the most suitable part of the yard in which to park the car. Having found a good spot and donned our boots, a lady came out of a barn and politely informed us that we were most welcome to walk around the farm and surrounding land but would be better off parking in the designated car park at the foot of Burrow Hill. As such I followed her slowly up the lane (past the newly erected sign directing parking cars to the field) and into the field to start off a row of parking, whilst the others bid farewell to Albus's boss and followed up the road to join me.
The sun was climbing in the almost clear blue skies as we decided unanimously that the only way to start todays walk was to talk the steep climb to the top of Burrow Hill. So with heads down, sticks to hand and an extra bit of power from Albus we ‘quickly’ made our way to the top of the 77m high hill and the very prominent lone sycamore tree. The views at the top were simply breathtaking and I think we all just stood and gazed for a good few minutes without even saying a word. Brian climbed onto the platform around the trig pillar as we gazed around trying to familiarise ourselves with the landmarks, not an easy task as we were in a new and somewhat unfamiliar area of Somerset for most of us. The Burton Pynsent memorial near Curry Rivel, also known as the cider monument, was easily visible and as the eyes started to focus on the distant points Creech hill was quickly identified and moving slightly right the Selwood forest ridgeline with Alfred’s Tower just poking above the trees was identified. I had read that the most recognisable of Somersets landmarks - Glastonbury Tor was visible on a good day but it was certainly proving a bit illusive to begin with. We could work out the edge of the Quantock and see the Mendip transmitter mast, but suggestions of the Tor being hidden behind a nearby ridge or in the dead group further right were soon dispelled when I spotted a very small looking pimple just right and down from the mast. It really is amazing that a hill of almost 160 metres which seems to tower above the levels from every angle could be ‘lost’ in the background of the taller Mendip hills.
Whilst we were at the top and since leaving the farmyard Brian had been racking his brains and trawling the web to try and identify the old chap he had spoken to in the yard. After a bit of searching he finally had a name for him and he then shared a bit more about the man and why he had hit the news, it turns out he was none other than Julian Temperley, the Somerset farmer who took on the European courts and the Spanish over the existence of Cider brandy. A bit more in the Guardian article here. With that all resolved and after a good few minutes of taking in all of the surrounding views and posing for this weeks groupie we finally decided we really ought to do a bit of walking.
At the bottom:of the hill we entered a small orchard area which had caused some concern on the decent as every row of trees looked pretty dead, whilst those surrounding were in full leave. However on getting closer there were signs of new leaves just starting to appear, so it was presumed it was just a later starting variety of apple. No doubt a question to be asked later over a glass of cold cider.
Not 100% sure where the path went we headed for a gate in the corner expecting it to be the footpath but a sign on it clearly said it was private land. We then took about 10 minutes back and forth along the hedges and into fields seeking the right of way we needed to be on. We did cross through a different gate into the private land briefly and were shocked to find the grave and headstone with fresh flowers at the base of the hedge. Thinking it was a bit elaborate for a pets grave we were extremely shocked to see it was of a 58 year old man who passed away in 2013. There was then a bit of a discussion about being able to buried on private unconsecrated land, but Phil had come across a very similar thing with a former Brutonian being interred in the garden of the family home. It can only be presumed that this chap lived and worked around the area and admired the land and view as there was also a wooden memorial type bench just to one side of it.
We eventually found our path again and entered the correct field and walked around the outside edge as young shoots of maize were stretching skyward in the morning sunshine. When we reached the bottom of the field it was interesting to see the rows of plants regularly spaced out although at some point the tracks of the seed drill must have crossed as it headed towards the very large oak tree which stood in the upper area of the field. Without needing to go any closer to the farm we were approaching we cut across to the next gate in the hedge row, and into a much earlier planted field as already the maize was a good couple of feet tall.
Exiting that field we ended up at the bottom of the ‘private land’ as we followed the path across to the next group of farm buildings. This took us into the same field we had looked down on a few minutes earlier and by the hand painted signs directing us around the edge of the farm, it’s clear they are not impressed with having walkers in their vicinity. On the far side by a small pond, we did pause to look at the magnificent farm house, so might let them off for wanting to remain undisturbed.
A short walk along minor roads and a steady climb through exposed maize field took us back towards the farm and provided gorgeous views of Burrow Hill against the now more cloudy skies. By the time we got back to the road up to the farm we were all glad to be heading for some shade and some liquid refreshment. Todays walk had been one of the shortest on record at just under two miles, but the scenery and area certainly kept us enthused throughout. As soon as we entered the yard Brian spotted his new cider brandy friend and enquired about the late blooming trees from earlier, which as we suspected was confirmed as just a later variety of apple.
Once back in the farmyard we were pleased to see the Mexican food stall had arrived and were setting things up and as the yard was starting to get a bit busier we made our way to the cider bus to see what was on offer. As nominated driver I would have had just a half of the dry cider, but it was off so settled for just a soft drink but after a bit of discussion there were bottles coder being purchased by the others. Some went for the Cider Bus and others the Burrowhill and as the food was nowhere near ready we headed for the shade of a large canopy to do some tasting. The original plan had been to walk around the orchards as well, but once we were settled that soon went out of the window. The Mexican chef informed us there would be at least a 40 minute wait for food so we ample around the farm buildings looking at the apple pit, the back room of many different varieties of cider and cider brandy for sale and sneaking through a large wooden door, the original wooden vats.
In another barn Mr cider brandy man sat in a well worn chair in front of three old stills explaining the whole process. When the 40 minutes was up we put in our orders for breakfast and once served carried it back to our table. As always food like this is a bit of an unknown quantity and quality but I think we all agreed it was extremely tasty and sufficient to keep us going a bit longer. All that was left then was to buy some bottles to take home and make our way back to the car under the hill. All in all a really pleasant morning and nice to do something a bit different. I’ll keep an eye on future events and maybe get back again later in the season, when it will be someone else’s turn to drive!
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