RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION MENDIP GROUP The Charity Working for Walkers. Charity number 1093577 Company limited by guarantee 4458492. www.ramblers.org.uk

SUMMER/AUTUMN PROGRAMME August – November 2012

FROM THE COMMITTEE

The use of mobile phones in an emergency. It may save a life! Did you know that the European emergency number is 112. It requires you to have a sim card in your phone. If you have no signal on your mobile, keep trying and dial 112, as it will automatically find any network that has a signal in this area. Set up 112 under Emergency on your phone and you will not need to remember the number. Remember to carry a spare battery in your rucksack or a wind up charger. If your mobile phone has a gps, then learn how to find your location in both British Grid Reference and Longitude and Latitude.

Ramblers routes (from Les) Please take a look at the enclosed website from the ramblers: http://www.ramblersroutes.org I am sure you will want to sign up. In brief, you can use this to create routes anywhere in the country. The route will then be checked by a local volunteer. You can become one if you wish. I have and have done four very nice walks. The route is written up by the route creator and checked by other volunteers to keep the style consistent. The route is then approved and available for you to download in pdf form and to your gps. There are hundreds of approved routes already on the site. I plan to put all our walking festival routes and the Mendip Ring on this site.

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R E M I N D E R MENDIP RAMBLERS AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WALKING FESTIVAL Sat 25, Sun 26 & Mon 27 August 2012 At The Village Hall, STRATTON-ON-THE-FOSSE

Last year at Priddy was a HUGE success. So, a HUGE thank you to all who contributed cakes and who helped in any way with the provision of tea and cakes. Once again, if you can contribute a cake (or cakes!) and/or help in the kitchen, please let Paula know – it helps if we can plan in advance a daily rota for kitchen duties. Paula – 01458 860751 / [email protected].

4th October 2012: Please submit your walks for the next programme

Sunday, 28 October 2012, 02:00:00 Clocks are turned backward 1 hour

Friday 2 November 2012 TEN PIN BOWLING in Yeovil. Closing date 26 October. Pay on the night. Please let Alice know if you wish to take part.

Saturday 17 November 2012 AGM The Poachers Pocket, Chelynch, BA4 4PY Time: 6.45pm for 7pm start As you will be aware, all positions on the committee are open for election every year at the AGM. If you wish to nominate anybody for a position, please inform the Secretary Les Stather on 07768 556735 by 10th November 2012. Supper and skittles £8.50 per person. To book, please phone Alice on 01373 474695. Closing date 11 November. Please send cheque to 8 Beverley Close, Frome, Somerset, BA11 4EP.

FUTURE EVENTS

7-10 September 2012 Area holiday Symonds Yat (from Roger Conway) Just a reminder: there are still half a dozen places available. Wye Valley, Offa’s Dyke and the Forest of Dean offer great walking country. Full details from Roger Conway: 01823 270754 or [email protected]. 2

Brittany self-booking September 2012 (from Tony and Jane Dyson) This is definitely going ahead, with the main party meeting in Brittany for walks from Wednesday 12 September through to Monday 17 September. We will be joining with local ramblers on the Sunday. The majority of the group plan to camp at a site near pointe de Trevignon (6 miles south of Concarneau), which is close to beaches and other amenities. There is plenty B&B accommodation available locally for those who prefer not to camp. We are trying to minimise transport costs by car sharing where possible. To register an interest, please email me at [email protected].

22 – 25 March 2013 Spring holiday (from Mike Beveridge) For this holiday we will be based at the Best Western Aberavon Beach Hotel, situated on the Aberavon beachfront, with views across Swansea Bay to the Gower Peninsula (SS 743 898, SA12 6QP). The cost for 3 nights half board is as follows: Twins and doubles £48 pppn = £144 (£6 more than in 2012) Singles £60 pppn = £180 (£15 more than in 2012) If you would like to participate in this holiday and to confirm your booking, please send a deposit of £48 pp plus £5 pp booking fee, or a deposit of £60 plus £5 booking fee, signed to Mendip Ramblers, as soon as possible to: Michael Beveridge, 3 Broadway Avenue, Chilton Polden, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 9ER. Also state whether you will be staying either 2 or 3 nights. Should you be sharing a twin room, please give the name of the person with whom you will be sharing. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope (to help keep costs down). With this I hope to reach anyone whose address I do not have.

May/June 2013 (from Bob and Rosemary) We are thinking of organising a 4-day self-booking weekend to walk one of the shorter long distance paths, maybe in the Winchester area. The average daily mileage would be around 12 miles. We are thinking maybe May/June time. If anyone is interested, contact us on 01749 346023.

OTHER (walking) NEWS

Lake District week May 2012 (from Laurence and Barbara) A group from Mendip spent a week in the Lake District in May. We were based in Windermere, most in a shared house. The weather was not the best, but the Lakes could have provided much worse. There were a couple of good sunny days, but no wall to wall rain. It was cold on the fells and one day very windy, enough to blow Mary off the path and down a steep slope. She needed the attention of the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue and the RAF helicopter, but was fortunately not seriously hurt. (Cont’d on page 4) 3

Some of the group walked on the high fells. There were hail showers on the summits that maddeningly cleared after we had descended, but it was good walking nonetheless! Others did lower level stuff around for instance the Langdales, where spring colours on trees and bluebells were excellent. Some even went tourist and travelled off by bus and train to local attractions at Kendal and Cockermouth.

Summer Solstice Walk (from Les) An intrepid group of seven insomniac Mendip ramblers met at Nunney Catch at 3.15am in the rain and drove to the start of the walk at Fargo Road Durrington. The walk started at 4am and we walked to Stonehenge. Thankfully the rain stopped. We joined over three thousand assorted types, milling around the stones. Some looked a very sorry state, having been there all night in the pouring rain. We saw a druid and witnessed the solstice celebration service at 4.52am sunrise. The sun was feeling a little shy and was hiding behind the clouds. We continued our walk to Amesbury via Springbottom Farm Wilsford Farm, Normanton and Ham Hatches. Then back to Durrington via Stonehenge cottages and King Barrows. We arrived back at the cars at 7.30am, having done about 8 miles in total. It was then back to Nunney Catch for a well-deserved breakfast. Tony Dyson and Tony Parsons - after being well fortified by the breakfast - went on to make a day of it by doing the Thursday walk at 10am. Anyone fancy going to the Winter Solstice …………….. ?

Frome & District Rights of Way Association Organised walks on the first Sunday of each month, usually starting at 2pm and approx. 6 miles in length. Contact Les Stather on 01373 472212.

Wednesday walkers These walks can be quite exciting because they are not surveyed. The start is usually 10am, the walks are between 8 – 11 miles and often a pub is visited for lunch. Details of the start point can be obtained from David Rawlins (01373 836252), Alice Lock (01373 474695) and Alan Hancock (01749 675836) after 6pm on Tuesday before the walk. Bring your secateurs.

Thursday walkers: West Mendip Walking Group A small, but steadily growing group of walkers, who get together each week on a Thursday for rambles in the West Mendip area, and occasionally beyond. The walks alternate between long ones (approx. 10-12 miles), starting in general around 10am, and shorter ones (approx. 6-7 miles), starting at 1:30pm. Some members join all walks, others - like in most groups - dip in and out when it suits them. Interested walkers can contact Tony by telephone on 01934 733783 or 07976 902706 or by email at [email protected].

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 Thank you for your walks in this programme! 

Committee 2011/2012: Chair: Mike Plaskitt [email protected] 01373 472101 Secretary: Les Stather [email protected] 07768 556735 Treasurer: Tony Dyson [email protected] 01761 232715 Footpath Officer (East): Tony Parsons [email protected] 01749 342285 Footpath Officer (West): Brian Underwood [email protected] 01749 672457 Membership Secretary: Barbara Calverley [email protected] 01749 870169 Press Secretary & Publicity Officer: Paula Ruddock [email protected] 01458 860751 Social Secretary: Alice Lock [email protected] 01373 474695 Area Committee Rep: Gus Halfhide [email protected] 01749 840349 Web master: Les Stather [email protected] 07768 556735 Assisted by Tony Dyson Walks Programme Co-ordinator: Peggy Frampton [email protected] 01278 783270 Assisted by Alice and Paula Committee Members: Mary Birchall [email protected] 01373 474530 Mary Davis [email protected] 01749 342285 Jane Dyson [email protected] 01761 232715

PLEASE NOTE: Thursday 13 September 2012: no walk offered

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Date Description Contact

Wednesday 1st Pub walk: From the Strawberry Special Inn Rod & Peggy August in Draycott. Distance 7 miles. Meet: at the Phone 01278 783270 Time 10am Inn, Station Road. £5 ROAST. PLEASE RING ST 475 506 Map: EX141 ROD & PEGGY BY 30TH JULY BS27 3TQ

Thursday 2nd Beckington, Berkley Marsh, Spring Dave O August Gardens, Orchardleigh Phone 07966 257878 Time 10am Distance 7 miles. ST 800 523 Map: EX143 Meet: Beckington Village Hall BA11 6SH

Sunday 5th Generally flat walk, 1 hill: Macmillan Barbara August Way and Norton St Philip Phone 01373 452294 Time 10am Distance 13 miles. ST 800 523 Map: EX142/143 Meet: Beckington Village Hall BA11 6SH

Sunday 5th Frome Rights of Way walk: East Les August Woodlands Phone 07768 556735 Time 2:15pm Distance 4 miles. ST 790 441 Map: EX142/143 Meet: East Woodlands Church BA11 5LQ

Thursday 9th Oakhill, Binegar, Gurney Slade Gus August Distance 6 miles. Phone 01749 840349 Time 10am Meet: Oakhill Village Hall ST 633 475 Map: EX142 BA3 5AN

Sunday 12th Undulating walk: Carlingcott,Dunkerton Gus August Distance 13.5 miles. Phone 01749 840349 Time 10am Meet: Midsomer Norton public car park, ST 665 541 Map: EX142 South Road BA3 2EZ

Thursday 16th Undulating walk: Blagdon, Burrington, Clive & Ros August Rickford Phone 01749 671339 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. Meet: Blagdon centre, car ST 501 591 Map: EX141 park near Fire Station BS40 7RL

Sunday 19th Hunstrete, Clutton, Stowey, Bishop Les August Sutton, Knowle Hill, Stanton Drew Phone 07768 556735 Time 10am Distance 14 miles. ST 620 628 Map: EX155 Meet: Pensford Memorial Hall BS39 4HW

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Thursday 23rd Flat circular walk in the Polden area Brian R August Distance 6 miles. Phone 01935 840579 Time 10am Meet: Car park alongside King's Sedgemoor ST 352 366 Map: EX140 Drain near Parchey Bridge (Chedzoy and TA7 8RW Stawell)

Saturday 25th Mendip Walking Festival Short walk: Chris August Chilcompton, Gurney Slade Bottom, Phone 01458 445144 / Time 10am Upper Benter 07971 237728 Map: EX142 Distance 6.5 miles. ST 658 510 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Saturday 25th Mendip Walking Festival Medium walk: Claris August Charlton, Radstock, Chilcompton Phone 01761 232703 Time 10am Distance 9 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Saturday 25th Mendip Walking Festival Long walk: Laurence August Harridge Wood, Fosse Way, Ashwick, Phone 01373 452294 / Time 10am Chilcompton 07773 161173 Map: EX142 Distance 12.5 miles. ST 658 510 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Saturday 25th Mendip Walking Festival Afternoon Colin August walk: Chilcompton, Killing's Knap, Phone 01373 465259 / Time 1pm Loocombe Wood 07970 491548 Map: EX142 Distance 3.5 miles. ST 658 510 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Sunday 26th Mendip Walking Festival Short walk: Ken M August Holcombe, Harridge Wood and Pitcot Phone 01749 670349 / Time 10am Distance 6.5 miles. 07784 941439 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall ST 658 510 BA3 4QQ

Sunday 26th Mendip Walking Festival Medium walk: Alice August Holcombe, Kilmersdon Common, Stoke Phone 01373 474695 St Michael ST 658 510 Time 10am Distance 8.5 miles. BA3 4QQ Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall Map: EX412

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Sunday 26th Mendip Walking Festival Long walk: Tony D August Gurney Slade, Old down, Clapton, Phone 01761 232715 Time 10am Chilcompton Distance 12 miles ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Sunday 26th Mendip Walking Festival Afternoon Mary August walk: Downside Abbey, Rookery Farm, Phone 01373 474530 Time 1pm Coalpit Lane Distance 4 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Monday 27th Mendip Walking Festival Short walk: Trevor L August Chilcompton, Clapton, Loocombe Wood Phone 01761 232311 Time 10am Distance 6.5 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Monday 27th Mendip Walking Festival Medium walk: Tony P August Gurney Slade, Old Down, Chilcompton Phone 01749 342285 / Time 10am Distance 9 miles. 07752 689629 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall ST 658 510 BA3 4QQ

Monday 27th Mendip Walking Festival Long walk: Janet August Coleford, Mells, Babington Phone 01458 835238 Time 10am Distance 12 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Monday 27th Mendip Walking Festival Afternoon Judith August walk: Barlake, Longleat, Holcombe Old Phone 01749 672196 Time 1pm Church Distance 4 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Thursday 30th Part of the Monarch's Way, Hembridge, Rose & Trevor August Parbrook Phone 01761 435178 Time 10am Distance 7 miles. ST 552 382 Map: EX141 Meet: West Pennard Church BA6 8NR

Sunday 2nd Jug's Grave, Kingsdown, South Wraxall Bob & Rosemary September Distance 12 miles. Phone 01749 346023 Time 10am Meet: Bradford on Avon. Park in road named ST 820 613 Map: EX156 Churches BA15 1RD

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Sunday 2nd Frome Rights of Way Walk: Rode Mary September Distance 5.5 miles. Phone 01373 474530 Time 2:15pm Meet: Rode Village Hall car park ST 805 542 Map: EX143 BA11 6PL

Thursday 6th Buckland Dinham to Orchardleigh Margaret D September Distance 6 miles. Phone 01373 812311 Time 10am Meet: Buckland Dinham, in streets near the ST 755 512 Map: EX142 church BA11 2QD

Sunday 9th Undulating walk with one hill: Ubley, Richard & Lisa September Velvet Bottom and Hazel Manor Phone 01749 672373 Time 10am Distance 11 miles. ST 505 557 Map: EX141 Meet: Charterhouse Nature Reserve car park BS40 7XW

Sunday 16th Witham Park, Maiden Bradley Ken & Rita September Distance 10 miles. Phone 01373 812865 Time 10am Meet: Witham Park picnic area ST 771 390 Map: EX142 BA11 5HR

Thursday 20th Batcombe - Wanstrow area Dave O September Distance 6.5 miles. Phone 07966 257878 Time 10am Meet: Batcombe Church ST 690 390 Map: EX142 BA4 6HP

Friday 21st Pub walk from the Crown Inn, Churchill Rod & Peggy September Distance 7 miles. Phone 01278 783270 Time 10am Meet: Park in field in Skinners Lane, near the ST 445 596 Map: Ex141 pub on The Batch. IF EATING, PLEASE RING BS25 5PP ROD & PEGGY BY 19th SEPTEMBER

Sunday 23rd Undulating walk: Bruton, South Richard & Lisa September Brewham and Redlynch Phone 01749 672373 Time 10am Distance 10 miles. ST 686 347 Map: EX142 Meet: Bruton, Station Road BA10 0NL

Thursday 27th Varied terrain: Henton, Fenny Castle, Ken M September Bleadney Phone 01749 670349 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. ST 496 453 Map: EX141 Meet & park: Henton Village Hall top car park BA5 1PD

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Sunday 30th Undulating walk: Bruton and Batcombe Tony B September Distance 11 miles. Phone 07511 964359 Time 10am Meet: Bruton, Higher Backway car park ST 683 349 Map: EX142 BA10 0DP

Thursday 4th Banwell, Cheddar Railway Mike G October Distance 7 miles. Phone 01458 830017 Time 10am Meet: King's Wood car park, Winscombe Hill ST 421 560 Map: EX154 off A38 BS25 1NW

Friday 5th Pub walk from The Camelot Inn, South Dave D October Cadbury Distance 6 miles Phone 01963 351077 Time 10am Meet: South Cadbury Church. Park in roads. ST 632 255 Map: EX129 IF EATING, PLEASE CONTACT DAVE BY TUE BA22 7HA 2 OCT OR WED 3 OCT

Sunday 7th Fairly hilly walk: East of Beaminster Laurence October Distance 10.5 miles. Phone 01373 452294 Time 10am Meet: Beaminster car park on A3066 ST 480 013 Map: EX116 Crewkerne to Bridport road DT8 3AS

Sunday 7th Frome Rights of Way walk: Peasedown Jeff October St John Distance 5 miles Phone 01761 435448 Time 2:15pm Meet: Peasedown Surgery, old A36 (slip ST 701 570 Map: EX142 road) BA2 8JF

Thursday 11th White Sheet Down and Mere Mike P October Distance 6.5 miles. Phone 01373 472101 Time 10am Meet: White Sheet Down car park ST 797 350 Map: EX142 BA12 6RP

Sunday 14th Fairly flat walk: Wedmore, Weare and Suzanne October the Allertons Phone 07875 839010 Time 10am Distance 10 miles. ST 436 481 Map: EX141 Meet: Wedmore car park, off Cheddar Road BS28 4EQ

Thursday 18th Hilly walk: Knowle Hill, Bower's Hill and Brian U October Yarley Hill Phone 01749 672457 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. ST 497 453 Map: EX141 Meet: Henton Village Hall BA5 1PD

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Sunday 21st Worminster Down, Friar's Oven, Bob & Rosemary October Constitution Hill Phone 01749 346023 Time 10am Distance 12 miles. ST 573 447 Map: EX141 Meet: Dinder cricket ground BA5 3PE

Thursday 25th Undulating walk around Stourhead Jane D October Distance 6 miles. Phone 01761 232715 Time 10am Meet: Stourhead NT car park (CHARGE FOR ST 777 339 Map: EX142 NON MEMBERS) BA12 6QD

Sunday 28th The Quantocks Janet October Distance 12 miles. Phone 01458 835238 Time 9:30am Meet: Holford village green ST 154 410 Map: EX140 TA5 1SA

Sunday 28th Cadbury Castle and Corton Denham Judith October Distance 7 miles. Phone 01749 671296 Time 11am Meet: South Cadbury car park ST 632 253 Map: EX129 BA22 7HA

Thursday 1st Evercreech area Mary & Maggie November Distance 6.5 miles. Phone 01373 474530 Time 10am Meet: Evercreech, meet on road at church ST 649 387 Map: Ex142 BA4 6HX

Sunday 4th Hilly walk: Deer Leap, Rodney Stoke, Andy November Priddy Phone 07919 232759 Time 10am Distance 9 miles. ST 519 492 Map: EX141 Meet: Deer Leap car park BA5 1EL

Sunday 4th Frome Rights of Way walk: Beckington Pauline November Distance 5 miles. Phone 01373 831696 Time 1:40pm Meet: Beckington, White Row Farm ST 811 515 Map: EX143 BA11 6TN

Thursday 8th Huntspill coast and flatlands Chris & Eileen November Distance 6 miles. Phone 01458 445144 / Time 10am Meet: West Huntspill, Church Road (off A38 07971 237728 Map: EX140/153 opposite the Crossway Inn) ST 305 455 TA9 3RL

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Sunday 11th Shear Water and Cold Kitchen Hill Mike P November Distance 11 miles. Phone 01373 472101 Time 10am Meet: Nockatt Coppice car park ST 828 423 Map: EX143 BA12 7LG

Thursday 15th Blacker's Hill Fort, Old Down WW1 Trevor L November Installations, Strapestone, Mount Phone 01761 232311 Time 10am Pleasant, Fry's well ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Distance 6 miles. BA3 4QQ Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall

Sunday 18th Hilly walk: Dolebury Warren to Shipham Brian U November and Charterhouse Phone 01749 672457 Time 10am Distance 11 miles. ST 489 581 Map: EX141 Meet: Burrington Combe top car park BS40 7TZ

Thursday 22nd Hilly walk around Burrington Francoise November Distance 6 miles. Phone 01458 831823 Time 10am Meet: Burrington Combe top car park ST 489 581 Map: EX141 BS40 7TZ

Sunday 25th Snail's Bottom, Charlton, Babington, Trevor L November Kilmersdon, Killing's Knap Phone 01761 232311 Time 10am Distance 10 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Thursday 29th Mildly undulating walk: Witham Friary Ken & Rita November area Distance 6 miles Phone 01373 812865 Time 10am Meet: Witham Friary village car park opposite ST 743 410 Map: EX142 the Seymour Arms pub BA11 5HF

Friday 30th Pub walk from The Hunter's Lodge Brian U November through Stockhill forest trails and over Phone 01749 672457 Time 10am North Hill ST 549 502 Map: EX141 Distance 5 miles. BA5 3AR Meet: Hunter's Lodge car park. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY IF ORDERING FOOD

~ I have two doctors, my left leg and my right. G.M. Trevelyan ~

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