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Pensford – 3.4.16

April 3, 2016 at 2:46 pm

Pensford and Stanton Drew via the Forest of Avon Community Forest Path

A largely level walk starting from Pensford through Upper Stanton Drew and onward to Stanton Drew to walk around the Stone Circle. Saw a wide variety of animals  – a lovely litter of pigs on the Free Range pork farm, friendly donkeys, rather unfriendly goats and some rather large bulls. Walked past the remnants of the coal industry although the winding house and the bath house are now private residences. The return route to Pensford was under the very impressive viaduct. The fields were being planted with this years crops and with the fine weather they will hopefully do well.

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In case the squealing didn’t give you a hint

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piggy dinner time

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Happy pigs

Monkton Farleigh – 20.3.16

March 21, 2016 at 7:37 am

This walk started in Monkton Farleigh and almost immediately went along a tree lined avenue from the manor house for something over a mile until the imposing gates at the carriage entrance were reached. Then north towards Kingsdown walking along the Macmillan Way, crossing the Roman Road and onto the Palladian Way before returning to Monkton Farleigh. This was an almost level walk with masses of snowdrops and daffodils together with the birds celebrating the arrival of spring. The views would have been impressive but for the amount of low cloud.

5.84 mile walk starting and ending at Monkton Farleigh

5.84 mile walk starting and ending at Monkton Farleigh

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The walk started down ‘The Avenue’ in front of Monkton Farleigh Manor

Many fields are now full of spring crops

Many fields are now full of spring crops

The walk incorporates some of The Palladian Way

The walk incorporates some of The Palladian Way

A host of golden daffodils

If you were in any doubt that spring is on the way – a walk in the country should reassure you!

Refreshments can be taken at The Muddy Duck in Monkton Farleigh

 

 

Box – 6.3.16

March 7, 2016 at 10:07 am

Box and Ditteridge

This lovely walk from Box went through the delightful hamlet of Ditteridge with its attractive Norman Church of St Christopher. It was then northward up hill and down dale towards Colerne before turning south and back to Box. The snowdrops and daffodils were in abundance and even the odd bluebell was in flower. The lambs were enjoying the spring weather and a smallholding had a good stock of feathered friends – including Indian runner ducks and a very handsome turkey.

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5.34 mile walk starting and ending at Box car-park.

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The rolling hills of Wiltshire in March – still wintry but there are signs of spring life if you look hard enough

 

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These lovely little wooden bridges are a common site in the woods

Animal highlights of the day:

lambs

new generation 🙂

 

ducks

Indian Running Ducks

 

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A very impressive turkey

 

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lovely big fat pig

 

 

 

Lansdown – 14.2.16

February 14, 2016 at 3:15 pm

A circular walk north of Bath starting and ending at Lansdown park-and-ride.

The walk started from Lansdown Park and Ride, through the race course and on through the battlefields. It then skirted Pipley Woods before heading for Prospect Stile with clear views beyond Kelston Roundhill. Although there was a biting wind at times it was a lovely clear, sunny day which gave views across Bristol to South Wales (just) and the Second Severn Crossing.

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Kelston Round Hill

Kelston Round Hill

The Battle of Lansdown - battle marker and information display

The Battle of Lansdown – battle marker and information display

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cold winter valley

Animal highlight of the day – a shaggy roe deer:

male roe deer

male roe deer

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Pipley Wood

Mud, mud, glorious mud ..

A picnic stop with views of Bristol, the Severn Crossing and the Welsh mountains (just!)

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Bristol flypast

If you are in need of refreshment the Blathwayt Arms is the nearest pub

The Blathwayt Arms

The Blathwayt Arms

North-West Bath – 8.11.15

November 9, 2015 at 8:04 am

From the centre of Bath out to the Cotswolds countryside and back again.

This was very much a Town and Country walk with plenty of hills thrown in for good measure. The walk started from Victoria Park and went up through the north side of the city via St James Square and Lansdown Crescent. A brief stop at St Stephen’s Millenium Green and allotments before proceeding through Fairfield Park and into the parish of Charlcombe. A rest in the parish church grounds before returning via Primrose Hill and the Cotswold Way to the Royal Crescent. Sadly it was somewhat misty but the views across the city still inspired.

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Ubley – 27.9.15

September 27, 2015 at 3:39 pm

Ubley and Blagdon Lake

This walk started from the village of Ubley and immediately there was a steep climb through a field of wet grass but it was worth it for the views of Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes glistening in the late September sunshine. The walk combined open fields and woodland paths taking in part of the Limestone Link footpath. Some very strange stiles to negotiate and the discovery of what is called a Bristol Gate – a farm gate with a pedestrian gate built into it.

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Rode – 13.9.15

September 13, 2015 at 3:42 pm

Rode

This walk started from the village green in Rode and went through lovely gentle countryside with good views. The River Frome meandered along and looked very peaceful. One interesting feature is Tellisford Mill – a micro hydro power station on the river. There were a lot of pheasants both wandering free and in their pens. Long before Rode was reached at the end of the walk there were views of the village church which has two spires. The walk back through the village passed a chocolate factory – a good excuse for a return visit!

You can read some more details of this walk in Nigel Vile’s column in the Chronicle – click here for that

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Kingscote Revisited 16.8.15

August 16, 2015 at 8:01 pm

The same walk as 12.4.15

It was good to do the same walk at a different time of year and it was a lovely day to do it. The lambs had certainly grown up in the intervening months as had the grass which in places was as “high as an elephants’ eye”!  Numerous pheasants with their chicks (best not to ask why they were being bred). The mix of open countryside and wooded areas made for a pleasant walk and the damp in the woods had produced some amazing fungal growths.

 

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Everything was a lot greener than it was in April – even the water!

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The woods had become a jungle and the lambs we met in the spring are all grown up.

 

Castle Combe – 2.8.15

August 2, 2015 at 4:09 pm

Castle Combe

At last a proper summer day with no raincoats, windcheaters etc! The walk started from the car park on the edge of Castle Combe and after successfully getting through the golf course without being hit the first point of interest was Lugbury Long Barrow. All that really remains are the entrance (or exit) stones. Then proceeded south with views of Nettleton and the rolling Gloucester/ Wiltshire hills in the distance and fields of wild flowers closer to hand. The most excitement was when a herd of frisky cows couldn’t decide what they wanted to do – fortunately they decided against a full charge and headed for the woods. The return route was through the picturesque village of Castle Combe – which still has functioning public toilets!

castle combe

click the map to view more details

 

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Castle Combe – ‘Prettiest Village in England’ apparently

 

The theme of today’s walk was SUNSHINE

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golden sunshine and golden corn

The animal highlight of today’s walk was some scaredy cat cows – they made a show of thinking about stampeding us and then decided it wasn’t worth it and ran away to hide in the trees

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Wild flowers were in abundance everywhere

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and it wouldn’t be a Wiltshire walk without a big stone 2.8-pic3

 

Avoncliff – 12.7.15

July 12, 2015 at 5:00 pm

Avoncliff

Click here to see the details of the walk > Garmin Connect.

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Another rather cloudy summers day but at least the rain held off until the afternoon. The walk started from Avoncliff and went along the canal before going through the village of Murhill. Then it was back to the canal and along the towpath and returning through Conkwell wood which was quite a hard climb but nice and shady. The wood was full of Hart’s Tongue fern which looked gloriously bright and shiny in the darkness of the wood. The return to Avoncliff was through Avonpark and the the village of Winsley. The distant views of the White Horse were a treat and it was good to see many wild flowers – pyramidal orchids, scabious, hypericum to name but a few.

Hart's Tongue Fern in the woods and the Westbury White Horse in the distance.

Hart’s Tongue Fern in the woods and the Westbury White Horse in the distance.

 

Animal highlights of today’s walk – horses:

The area has many stables which house some very fancy looking horses.

The area has many stables which house some very fancy looking horses.