We set off for a 5 mile walk via Court Street & Wynards Lane to the Bere Farm complex. We went through the meadow following the River Synderford to Wheel House Lane, walking along the lane for a bit, before turning off around the edge of the fruit farm. Then we crossed Thorncombe Lane before emerging out onto Park Lane alongside Forde Grange Farm. We walked a short section of Park Lane to join the Jubilee Way down to the Forde Abbey main gates. From here we went up Ammerham Lane to the bottom end of Western Way. At this point, as the rain had started, some of the group took the direct route back to the village along Western Way. The rest of us carried on across the meadows to cross the B3162 near Hazelwood Farm eventually coming out onto Colham Lane, which we followed back to the village, finishing just before the worst of the weather set in.

Chaffcombe and Chard Resevoir-2nd February

23 walkers turned up for this months walk of 6.1 miles, which started and finished in Chard Reservoir Car Park.  

The weather was fair as we set off  along Touches Lane, quickly turning off across fields and paths to Woodside Cottage. From here we went along Paintmoor Lane and Avishayes Road to the farm complex at Avishayes where we skirted around the estate and past the Monmouth Tower to Whitemoor Hill where we turned left a walked to the centre of Chaffcombe.  

From Chaffcombe we walked along Knapps Lane, turning off onto the footpath opposite the restored Water Wheel. We then passed Blanda House and walked through New Park and on to Sprays Hill, with magnificent far reaching views. Onward then along Cricket Lane and Knowle Lane through Knowle St Giles to join the stop-line path which we followed back to Chard Reservoir before walking around the reservoir to return to the cars.

Chardstock to Beacon Hill-3rd March

10 intrepid souls turned up for this months walk of 5.1 miles, which by kind permission started and finished in the Car Park of the Chardstock Community Centre.  

The weather was drizzly as we set off  along the Tytherley Road for a short distance before forking right onto the footpath across country, passing Honey Hill Farm and then dropping down to cross the little river Kit and then climbing the other side of the Kit valley passing a private tennis court to eventually emerge onto the road at Burchill. From Burchill we cut across fairly flat and often muddy countryside footpaths to pass Alston & Holy Farms and drop out onto the Churchill road. We walked the roadway through Churchill, passing the converted chapel, now a holiday cottage, before climbing the footpaths to reach the summit of Beacon hill. Here we stopped for a while to take refreshments and admire the beautiful, if slightly misty, panoramic view and the pretty wooded area that looked like a private pet cemetery, adorned with mini cairns and spring flowers.

We walked on dropping past Yard Farm, before following green lanes and undulating meadow footpaths to cross the road and then drop through the area known as "The Parks". We re-crossed the pretty river Kit and then climbed the short distance to Chardstock Court manor house eventually emerging into the village alongside St Andrews Church. We then proceeded through the village to return to the cars. Fortunately the rain had held off for most of the morning and so although we all had very muddy boots and trousers we managed to keep otherwise fairly dry.

Ilminster and circular route via Dowlish Wake and Dillington House-8th April

This month 11 regular walkers met up in the Orchard Vale car park off canal way in Ilminster to complete a 6 mile circular route. The morning saw ideal walking weather conditions, with glorious sunshine accompanied by a gently cooling breeze. From the car park we set off along Herne Rise and The Crescent to cross the top of Listers Hill into Long Close where after a short distance we took the narrow footpath between houses to leave the built up area behind.

We then skirted around the edges of a couple of cropped fields and meadows behind the houses at Moolham to emerge onto Moolham Lane. We crossed the lane via a stile and then a gate to drop across a field of cattle and a small footbridge over the little Dowlish brook. We then followed a short stretch of lane before crossing a stile on our left to head across a recently harvested cornfield and then a narrow strip of woodland. From here we took a diagonal path through a tall maize crop and over Burrows Hill before a short meadow path took us to the playing field at Dowlish Wake where we took a short drinks break.

Suitably refreshed, we followed the main street through the village passing Perry's Cider Mill and then turning up Mill Lane for a short distance. We took the narrow footpath alongside "Two Hoots" bungalow, with its many owl themed garden ornaments,  then followed a diagonal path through flower meadows to emerge onto the road at Kingstone Church. After crossing the road we negotiated the path between farm cottages and alongside overgrown fields to arrive at the track into West Wood. We followed this pleasant woodland track passing Long Pond and then crossing the main road into the small commercial area at Dillington. Taking the path through the grounds of Dillington House before picking up the Stop-Line path which led us back into Ilminster where we walked through the town centre to return to the cars at the start point.

Charmouth Forest and Wessex Ridgeway-5th May

This month the group walked a 4¼ mile route from Wootton Hill Car Park in Charmouth Forest. Due to unforeseen local road closures that created lengthy diversions, the start time was delayed while all arrived. The weather was dry and sunny for the entire walk.

We set off through Charmouth Forest along woodland paths with large swathes of bluebells on all sides. We then crossed a small meadow to join the lane at Grandfathers Knap. After a short section on the lane we walked across fields through Upper Combe and Great Combe Farm and on to join the Wessex Ridgeway at Long Lane.

We then followed the Wessex Ridgeway and Liberty Trail paths across meadows and fields to emerge alongside the brook in Wotton Fitzpaine. From here we walked the footpath through Knapp Farm and on across several fields passing Guppy to reach the corner of  Charmouth Forest again taking woodland paths through the bluebells back to the car park.

Click Here to see the walks that took place in the second part of 2022