Tuesday 7 October 2014

Dyrham Park

Although we have been walking regularly many of the walks have been over old ground. In September however we visited Dyrham Park, a National Trust estate near Bath. The deer wander freely through the estate park and the walks along the hill tops are excellent viewing places. From the hill top near the house it is possible to see the Severn Bridge, on a clear day. Our interests were mainly in the deer and the hillfort. We also visited the formal garden (deer proof fencing) and the church where there is a brass memorial to Sir Morys Russell (1401) and his wife Isabel (1415).

This is a place well worth visiting for the walks and there is a regular shuttle bus from the car park down the drive to the house for those who do not feel able to walk the distance.













Thursday 21 August 2014

Summer walks

Walking this summer has taken us to Wells, where the Cathedral has a walled garden. The figures on the west front of the Cathedral are reminiscent of Santiago.

Then a walk up Cheddar Gorge, which has to be on the road, returning by the same route. Walking on the sand dunes was good training too as it seemed that for every step forward we slipped half a step back.

Our most energetic walk was the walk on Brean Head (twice) doing the circular route on the second occasion. The steps to the start are so steep that they zig-zag up the hill. Then a good walk out to the headland, down past the old fort and back round to descend finally by a track back to the car park.













Friday 27 June 2014

Steam engines

Another day of industrial history.

The old railway line between Buckfastleigh and Totnes is preserved and runs mostly steam, but also some historic diesel, engines. On the half hour journey it passes along the banks of the River Dart, stops at Staverton station and then goes on to Totnes (Littlehempston). The train is not allowed onto the main line so there is a footbridge over the Dart and a path into town past the Totnes main-line station with the alternative of a longer walk along the river bank to the lower end of the town. We have walked the longer route several times but time and the weather led us to walk the direct route this time so our photos are all of the trains.

The little tank engine was pulling our train. At the end of the ride it is shunted round to the opposite end of the train for the return journey, with the engine travelling backwards. On this occasion its water tanks needed refilling before the return journey. The two old angines in the yard are awaiting restoration at the railway works, which restores engines for other preservation societies - boilers, wheels etc - so helping to keep our steam heritage alive and working.

































Sunday 22 June 2014

Lustleigh Church







The Roman stone has a Latin inscription which is translated on the notice board.

The ancient chair has a carving on its back of Adam and Eve, with the serpent in the tree, as well as David playing his harp to Saul at the top.



The bell ropes are hung on a pulley out of reach of non-ringers. On the wall side the ropes for the Ellacombe hammers are visible. These can be pulled by a single person to chime the bells, rather than ringing them full circle with individual ringers on each bell using the bell ropes.




Friday 20 June 2014

Parke to Lustleigh

10kms round trip:-

We left the car at the National Trust at Parke and walked uphill and then through the woods. The route then goes along a country lane to the little moorland village of Lustleigh. Once upon a time the trains came here on their way to Moretonhampstead, but the line closed in the 1950s. The approach into the village is similar to reaching a village in Spain, but with thatched roofing. We visited the church and then sat on a seat outside to eat our pasties. Returning by the same route to start with we then walked along the old railway track, back towards Bovey Tracy, where it has been cleared as a footpath and cycle way. A further section is now being cleared to provide a bridleway/footpath/cycle track which will eventually link Bovey to Moretonhampstead again.













More photos to follow below later

Wednesday 28 May 2014

The Haldon Hills

Our next walk took us to the Haldon Hills through the woods at the ridge top and along various tracks above Mamhead. From the clearing by the obelisk there are views across the Exe estuary and out to sea. The obelisk, of Portland stone, was built between 1742-45 as a landmark and sighting point for shipping in the estuary by T. Ball(e) Esq. It is 100ft high and stands on the highest point above the estuary. The trees have grown up around the area since we were last here 25 years ago.

This was also a good place for a rest and a snack before continuing on a circuit back to our starting point. We were intrigued by the sign we passed but saw no huskies. It did bring back memories of seeing a team in training in another wood many years ago.



























Tuesday 27 May 2014

Along the Dart

Another 'industrial archaeology' walk.

A quiet walk along the River Dart gave us an easy morning with few hills. The path followed the river then crossed the mill leat over the sluice, which still has its original works in place - probably 19th century. The leat reaches the mill(now a house) some distance further down. It must have been a large enterprise as the leat is stone lined and feeds the space for 2 mill wheels.

A short walk uphill to the nearby village before we returned along the river again. Near Staverton the train was in the station and its length means that the crossing gates are shut until it has left. This preserved steam railway runs between Buckfastleigh and Totnes (Littlehempston) with walking access into Totnes itself, a trip and walk that we have done previously. We waited for the train to leave as we needed to cross the track to complete our walk.











Saturday 24 May 2014

Darkhill Ironworks

Darkhill Ironworks, near Coleford is an impressive industrial archaeological site. It was here that an important process in the making of steel was invented which was later incorporated into the Bessemer process. The need for strong track for the new railways was the driving force behind the Mushet family's experimentation with the process leading to the making of steel, which then replaced cast iron for many other uses. For more information see Darkhill Ironworks in Wikipedia

The track in the photos was originally the tramway for the workings and runs along the back of the site. The site is now well preserved, much of the ivy has been removed and also the walls have been capped to prevent weather damage.

The sign gives the height of the site as 166mts above sea level.

A further matter of interest were the wild boar trotter prints in the mud near the road. There was evidence in many places of wild boar rooting in the banks but these were the only really clear trotter prints that we saw. We were glad not to meet the boar themselves!

















Friday 23 May 2014

Walking to St James Church, Lancaut

The track reminded us of the Camino, even with the occasional yellow arrow. It had a very steep and fairly slippery downhill section through the woods but the final steep section had steps with retaining logs to help make it easier walking. The first views of the church were with the river behind and the May blossom out framing it. After visiting the church we returned across the field and the (very) minor road along the hill top.

(The photos of the church are in the post below)















St James, Lancaut

This little church has been a ruin for many years, but there are plans to stabilise the walls to prevent further deterioration.

There was once a leper colony here and there are six squints (peepholes into the church) at the east end of the building; 2 in the east wall and 2 each in the north and south side walls at the east end. Most churches would have only had one squint for those who were not allowed to enter the building for health reasons, such as leprosy.

The stonework shows the different building stages and it looks as though the original square church was extended eastwards at some time fairly early in its history. The stonework for the east window was re-used with extra stones added for the thickness of the walls.

The notice board gives a brief history of the church and when it was last used for services