2 weeks in and the group was starting to reform. Trevor & Adrian both accepted the invitation to join the founding fathers at Alford for a loop around the fields and tracks bordering the River Brue. We met outside the village church and just round the corner from Alford House which was built in the late 18th century, but remodelled by F. C. Penrose in 1877.
The Church of All Saints dates from the 15th century, with minor 19th-century restoration. The tower contains a bell dating from 1753 and made by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family.It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.
The route took us North, skirting the grounds of the house, until we came to an old drove way type track heading East, our first encounter with the National Long Distance Path, the Monarch’s way, which cross crosses the South Somerset area. A few slippery areas found Adrian needing a steadying hand from time to time but once in the open fields we made good headway. The first crossing point of the River Aller took place at Boulter’s Bridge, a fine old mediaeval packhorse bridge said to have been built by the Monks of Glastonbury. Now a grade 2 listed Scheduled Ancient Monument. Sully, or seeing the water was keen to have his first dip of the season, but the high banks soon stopped dead any ambitions he had.
The route continued to head east towards the small hamlet of Sutton before we doubled back on ourselves to head on home across open fields and into a bit of a rain storm. Bill amused us all by needing to be lifted up to drink out of the cow troughs, whilst Sully just took it all in his stride. A pleasant last stretch alongside the river before arriving back at the church.
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