Saturday 20th August
Just three intrepid walkers this week – Pete, Phil and Trev – and unfortunately canine-less as poor old Bill isn’t up to it any more.
Leaving Castle Oats at the ungodly hour of 8:30 we headed past St Andrews Church on our right and descended some steep steps before arriving at Ansford Close and out in to Station Road. From there we walked through the new housing estate before striking out across fields toward that Architectural gem known as the ‘Dogfood Factory’. An attempt to visit the new pond was foiled by locked gates and an ‘Authorised Personnel Only’ sign and we were then faced with a choice; to scale the dizzy heights of Cockhill or take a more leisurely flatter route.
The flatter route was chosen and we duly crossed the railway line, emerging on to the Cary – Lydford road which we followed for a few hundred yards before once again diving into uncharted territory i.e. a cornfield containing plants over 6 feet tall interspersed with some striking cornflowers. Following the footpath we came to a style massively overgrown with brambles so discretion being the better part of valour we followed Trevor’s advice heading towards the corner of the field where he believed that there was a footpath across the River Brue. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case so we had no choice but to circumnavigate the field to return to the overgrown style. Luckily Pete had picked up a handy elm branch which at times served as a machete, bludgeon, walking stick, machine gun – basically suiting whatever fantasy he was in at the time! However the stick enabled him to force a path through the brambles over the style, although not entirely to Trevor’s liking who received a few scratches to his legs that were already suffering from mosquito bites received on his recent Spanish trip.
After that it was easy going as we headed for a bridge over the Brue. As we approached a curious whistling chirping was heard which turned out to be two beautiful kingfishers but they were too fast to take any photographs!
From there we headed across to Bolter’s Lane then followed a footpath towards Alhampton turning into the new nature reserve at Hatton Woods eventually emerging on to the A371 by Moff Motors. We then followed the road past the railway station where we were joined by a young man and his daughter who wanted to know the way into town. Walk into Castle Cary following the road rather than opting for more cross country adventures the mood was brightened by the sight of a very pretty Waitrose delivery driver prompting discussion as to whether we should ditch Morrisons and Tesco in favour of more upmarket groceries. The walk was to be concluded by breakfast at the White Hart but on our arrival we were told that ‘breakfast is off’ due to the chef being on holiday – again! So a perfectly acceptable alternative was had at The George, where we were treated to the sight of a lovely old fashioned double-decker open-top bus before returning to Oats Towers. A two and a half hour walk of about six miles
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