See the video of the walk from Dulverton, Sunday January 3rd 2010: 7 minutes.

Ramblers Abroad: to see what P & O Tours got up to in the French Alps, just click here.

The first picture is of the castle there which apparently belongs to The Landmark Trust and is constantly in use by holiday makers. The second picture is of the sunny lunch break. We were sitting with just jumpers on and in the distance we had fine views of  the Brendon hills and the Welsh hills, both covered in snow. A very pleasant walk, if a little muddy in parts.

Leader: Sally Childs, photos Anne D.

Starting out from the Somerset Wildlife Trust’s car park at Westhay walkers first walked on roads as far as Godney. Soon after entering fields which although wet were dryer than usual for the time of year walkers paused to observe a rather unusual circular house possibly built with straw bales. Although now drained for agricultural use in medieval times this area was an extensive source of fish for the religious orders at Wells and Glastonbury. Meare Pool extended to possibly 500 acres and was associated with the still existing Abbot’s Fish House (an English Heritage property in Meare). After walking for some distance alongside a rhyne walkers continued quite near to the village of Meare but now alongside the fast flowing River Brue. After leaving the river and re-crossing the rhyne walkers continued over the ancient Decoy Rhyne to return to the SWT Nature Reserve walking on droves and wide paths through the reserve’s flooded former peat workings with an interesting public art illustration of a starling roost.
After the walk some members drove to the RSPB reserve at Ham wall to watch the starling roost.

Ken Burgess

Starting from the Lob Gate car park at Pilsdon Pen Iron Age Fort , 17 Taunton Deane Ramblers spent a most enjoyable day, with wonderful views of the Marshwood Vale throughout, walking in almost spring like conditions.

We got the hardest bit over first, with a quick burst of energy from the car park, up to the top of Pilsden Pen 277 metres. Continuing along the top of the encampment, down the other side and then a gentler climb to the highest point in Dorset at Lewesdon Hill at 279 metres. Lunch was taken at a very sunny, sheltered, spot in Stoke Abbots.

No Valentines Day walk would be complete without making the most of the numerous kissing gates along the way, as this photograph illustrates.

Daphne

Your webmaster was presented with a grave problem here. No photo is complete without a caption, but what do I do here? It is well known that one of the participants shown above has a known aversion to being photo-graphed – particularly by the aforesaid webmaster – but what the heck. I can't believe it wasn't staged, and there may well have been a queue behind, so what to say? It looks awfully chaste, but then this is a family website. Is this the image Taunton Deane Ramblers wish to present? Will we be over-run with Lonely Hearts hopefuls? (Only if they've got good legs). So I'm going to chicken out. Caption to be "Entente Cordiale."

Having been briefed on the walk beforehand by the leaders and given the route I set out to the start,in the wet, to discover no one there. Waited patiently and two cars arrived. I explained that I was replacing the original leaders, and when we were all booted up with waterproofs on we set out from the YHA car park, all 3 of us.
Crossed the Somerton road and sloshed uphill towards the Hood Monument, paused breifly to read inscription. Moved on through Moore's Wood and made my first mistake by failing to turn right at the cross path, however, having reached the road we continued on it to Butleigh. Located and took the correct path we continued on to Wickham's Cross, getting careless at the track opposite I them dragged them along the very churned up bridlepath, which had been made considerably worse by mountain bikes churning up a very wet track. Reaching a nice stile and a permissive path taking us off this awful path we then noticed we had a rather steep climb in front of us. Fortunately, despite the climb, the path had taken us in the right direction and we eventualy realised we had reached Captain Hood again and our slippery path down to the crossroads and a short walk back to the car park. On a generally wet day we were lucky to get away with only a light rain to cool us on the last section.

From Jim Hurst (rather you than me, Jim)

Walk from Kingston St Mary on Wednesday 27 January 2010

33 people and numerous cars met at the church car park at Kingston St Mary for a 5.5 mile afternoon walk led by Richard and Shirley Welch. We set off to the south through Nailsbourne. Just before Stonehouse Farm we encountered our first water hazard. Water was overflowing from a stream onto the track but the Ramblers were undeterred and we proceeded on our way. At Stonehouse Farm a gap graded the walkers (big people have to climb the gate to get into the road). Shortly after leaving the road again we encountered our second lot of water and once again the Ramblers passed through/round the hazard. We had a tea break near Pickney before returning to Kingston St Mary via Yarford. It was a pleasant afternoon, with some sunshine and misty views of the hills.

Richard and Shirley Welch

Starting from Monksilver on a dry, cold day, 25 members joined the all day Brendon Hill walk on Sunday 24th January. This was one of four walks selected to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Ramblers’ and to mark the celebration a baton was carried by the group.

Skirting the attractive village of Monksilver a steady climb up North Bird’s Hill brought the walkers to Colton Cross where a short break was taken to admire the views over the Brendon Hills towards the distant mountains of Wales. This also gave the walkers the opportunity to view and discuss the uses of the numerous instruments sited at the weather station used by the Nettlecombe Studies Centre. The walk then continued towards Roadwater and, after descending to the track of the West Somerset mineral line railway, the opportunity was taken to view the water mill at Pitt Mill Farm which is used in the production of high quality paper. During a ‘breather’ our walk leader, Mike Emmett, gave a brief history of the mineral railway line and the incline; and later explained the importance of the oak trees adjacent to Nettlecombe Court.

Throughout the walk, because it was such a clear day, the views were spectacular.

Near the end of the walk our number increased to 26 when Jim Hurst joined us together with his and Sue’s recently rescued dog “Bruce”.

The total distance walked by most of the party was about 9½ miles but our Chairman, David Holland, added a bit more (10 miles plus!) to his walk as he walked to the start from his home at Water-row.

At the end of the walk we had the use of the Monksilver Community Hall to make tea and coffee organised by Joan Gubbin. We cut two celebration cakes, one to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Ramblers Association and one to celebrate Wendy Camp's birthday.

Urban Walk from Wilton: Friday 22 January

Friday evening saw the 75th Anniversary banner carried around Taunton accommpanied by 20 walkers. The 3.5 mile walk from Vivary CP passed the Roman Bridge at Batts Park and through Wilton to Bath Place, where the pull of the shop windows caused a short delay. The walk returned via Jellabad Keep to the start. The meal at the Vivary Arms was well attended and the good food heartily consumed.

Peter W

The Pre Snow Sunday half day walk from Ash Priors Common on 3rd January attracted 27 walkers, on a lovely crisp afternoon. However, this number was exceeded on the Post Snow afternoon walk around Clatworthy Reservoir on 17th January, when 29 walkers attended. Once again it was a lovely winter’s afternoon and although most of the snow had melted, parts of the reservoir were still frozen over. This walk was designated as our “Baton Walk”, to commemorate the Ramblers 75th Anniversary and the group (minus the photographer) were photographed with the Baton, before it was carried on the walk.

Mike W.

Ten walkers missed the early showers to assemble at Hillfarrance church for a morning post-Christmas walk.Though the going was a little heavy at times,the breesy sunny conditions were ideal for walking after the penetrating cold of the last weeks. The group headed towards the river across the main Taunton-Exeter railway,and unanimously decided to add an extra loop to the walk by walking on to Bradford Bridge. The return by the Allerford Inn and Pontispool led to the track of the old Taunton-Barnstaple railway now a storeyard in places for farming materials. A few oddly positioned stiles did produce a few problems for the more elderly of the group,being a little slippery and awkward,but ,with the prospect of refreshments ahead,the party walked with good purpose. At the end of the walk the leader "waved his magic wand" and produced a flask of very drinkable mulled wine,and a box of still warm minced pies. Delicious.

Photo: John O

Castle Neroche: Sunday December 20th

Some photos from Ken B.

Photo right: "The signpost must be wrong."