DH, TO, PC, Sully, Bill
Many more were conspicuous by their absence today than planned, so a Wincanton based walked with breakfast back up at Kimber’s afterwards. A short trip over the still relatively quiet A303 and a walk towards Snag Farm, before bearing right, through the fast maturing plantation (I can remember the saplings going in around 16 years ago) and a gentle climb through good grass onto the top track. The old tests of the electric fence, is it on, who dares touch it, let’s send Trevor first! Safely across and the short climb to the top of the ridge, Coneygore Ridge, to give it the name on the OS maps, gave us some wonderful views today. Stretching far into the south the Dorset countryside we had walked in recent months, the vast stretch of the A303 climbing out of Wincanton and views to the North to Bruton & beyond. Heading further east, the hills of White Sheet & Win Green come into view, an almost 360 degree panorama of what makes living and walking in this areas so special. We might not have wind moors, rugged hilltops, steep valleys, but the green and pleasant land certainly stretches farther than the eye can see. i do like a good view! Reaching the end of the ridge we joined the road past the quaint parish church of Stoke Trister and dropping slightly downhill took at track off to the right, dropping behind houses that have previously featured in some of the daytime House in the Country type shows. You can certainly see the appeal, just 50m over the ridge, the noise of the A303 is totally lost and the quiet countryside stretches out ahead.
Running 25 metres or so below and parallel to ridge line, the path works its way back through open fields towards Stileway Farm and then out onto the road above Physicwell House. This large Regency house of 1805, gets its name from the Holy Well or Sacred Spring located beneath the floor of the dining room. The waters were apparently used to treat a variety of disorders including asthma, scurvy, bilious conditions, scrofula, erysipelas and diarrhoea. Don’t think there’s any mention of Covid-19 unfortunately , but any budding entrepreneurs out there might think otherwise and put Wincanton back on the map.
A steady walk back along Shaftesbury lane then leaving a dirty dog in the very capabale hands of my good wife to wash (thank you dear) it was off for another Covid friendly breakfast. Again, not the fastest service, but actually sitting and resting for a bit wasn’t all bad.
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