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

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMME December 2012 – March 2013

FROM THE COMMITTEE

Ramblers Routes Our area has been selected for the launch of Ramblers routes, a web-based route development tool that takes users through an easy process to create high-quality route descriptions and maps. All routes developed through Ramblers Routes will go towards the development of Britain’s biggest and best collection of walking routes on the internet. This library of top-quality routes will then be made available to members and the public later this year, with the aim of encouraging more people to go for a walk. They are therefore appealing for members from our area to register and to start uploading their favourite routes. There are currently opportunities for both Route Developers and Route Checkers to become involved and to contribute to the development of routes. Route Developers: Responsible for the initial design of the route and for creating the first draft of a route description on the Ramblers Routes website. They draw the map, write the description and add photos. Route Checkers: Responsible for checking the work of the route Developer. They walk the route and make any necessary changes to the route description/map within Ramblers Routes.

Walking festival Stratton-on-the-Fosse (from Paula) Just to let everyone know: The walking festival at Stratton-on-the-Fosse was a success. Not quite the success of last year at , as the forecast for Saturday and Monday was awful and unfortunately it appeared to put walkers off and numbers were down on both days (the weather on both days turned out to be better than expected) . 1

However, the Bank Holiday Monday helped to compensate with lovely sunny weather and lots of people arriving to walk. Overall there were approximately 230 walkers on the 12 walks over the 3 days. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this success: the work party, walk leaders and back-markers, car park managers, those who helped in the kitchen (a special thanks to Jen) and all who contributed cakes. The quality and variety of the walks produced by Gus, including the walks booklet (still for sale at £2 ea) was up to his previous excellent standard – again a special thanks.

EVENTS

Thursday 13 December 2012 Christmas lunch at The Bell Bruton Road, Evercreech BA4 6HY Two courses, carvery, plus tea/coffee - £14.50. Please ring Paula on 01458 860751 or email [email protected] by Sunday 9 December for the menu and to book. There is limited parking outside the pub, but it is possible to park responsibly on roads in the village. Please check the walk pages for the pre-lunch Christmas walk (start: 10.00am).

Friday 21 December 2012 Stonehenge Winter Solstice Stonehenge is carefully aligned on a sight-line that points to the winter solstice sunset (opposed to New Grange, which points to the winter solstice sunrise, and the Goseck circle, which is aligned to both the sunset and sunrise). It is thought that the Winter Solstice was actually more important to the people who constructed Stonehenge than the Summer Solstice. The Winter Solstice was a time when most cattle were slaughtered (so they would not have to be fed during the winter) and the majority of wine and beer was finally fermented. Sunset on the 20th is at 3.53pm and sunrise on the 21st of December is at 8.04am. If you want to join Les on his Winter Solstice walk, please check the relevant pages.

NEWS FROM RAMBLERS

22 December 2012 – 6 January 2013 Festival of Winter Walks Our popular Festival of Winter Walks runs annually over the Christmas and New Year period. It’s a great opportunity to discover the pleasures and benefits of walking and the welcome of a Ramblers led walk, while making the best of the winter light and kick starting those New Year’s resolutions!

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FUTURE EVENTS

Saturday 26 January 2013: Dinner at The Highwayman Inn Cannards Grave Road, BA 4 4LY Time: 6.45pm for 7pm start. Three course meal for £14.95. Starters: Prawn Cocktail, Chunky Vegetable Soup, Pate Main course: Beef, Pork, or Chicken with Vegetable Roast and New Potato Yorkies Vegetarian choice: Nut Roast Dessert: Cheese Cake – non-alcoholic, Apple Crumble and Custard, Sticky Toffee Pudding. The menu is also on the Mendip website. Please contact Alice with your menu choice and send your cheque of £14.95 (made payable to Mendip Ramblers) to 8 Beverley Close, , , BA11 4EP. Closing date: 16 January 2013.

10 February 2013 – Somerset Area AGM The next Somerset Area A.G.M. will be held on Sunday 10 February 2013, starting at 2:00pm at Compton Dundon Village Hall (Meadway Hall), Ham Lane, Compton Dundon, Somerset TA11 6PQ. Map Explorer 141. Grid reference ST 488 328. Directions to the Hall: Turn onto Ham Lane from the B3151 in the middle of the village (thatched house on corner of junction and fingerpost to Hall). When travelling from Compton Dundon village centre, the hall in on the right hand side, signed for Post Office. There is parking at front and rear. A morning walk is being arranged by S.W.A.G. (Somerset walking and Activity Group). Meet at Compton Dundon Village Hall at 10:00am for start at 10:30. Please bring a packed lunch. The guest speaker this year will be Eugene Suggett from Ramblers Head Office. Eugene is the Ramblers Senior Policy Officer. He has responsibility for rights of way matters at central office. He has specialist knowledge on definitive map issues and deals with many requests for information and advice from footpath workers in those areas and from members of the public. The AGM papers can be viewed or downloaded from http://www.somersetramblers.co.uk/

April 2013 Long Distance Path (from Bob and Rosemary) The long distance path we intend to walk in 2013 is The King’s Way, which is 45 miles long from Portchester to Winchester. It has nothing to do with any kings, but was devised in memory of Allan King, who was a leading member of Hampshire Ramblers. We plan to do this walk over a 4-day weekend (3 nights accommodation) from Friday 26 to Monday 29 April 2013. We would like to know how many will definitely be coming, so we can work out the logistics; at the moment we will be using a car shuttle system, but this could change depending on numbers. We will be staying at the Sustainability Centre at East Meon. Website www.sustainability- centre.org. You may wish to join us there or find your own accommodation. Please phone 01749 346023 if interested. 3

WALKING HOLIDAYS

22 – 25 March 2013 Spring holiday Message from Mike Beveridge: “Just to say that there are 35 members going this year and that the short walk on Friday will be self-guided, the longer one will be led by Terry. The swimming pool is open all day every day. I am praying for good weather as usual.”

7 – 10 September 2012 Area holiday Symonds Yat (Roger Conway) Lucky with this cracker of a weekend with mostly sunshine but also some rain on Monday in the Forest. The group was based at The Paddocks Hotel in Symonds Yat, a private hotel, well used to catering for groups. We had exclusive use of the hotel and its facilities. The food was very good and plentiful and the service was always done with a smile and a merry quip. We also received a decent packet lunch for Saturday & Sunday. The accommodation was in en suite double and twin rooms. The four days of walking were themed. Full details of the walks are posted on http://www.communityorchard.org.uk/SY/sy.htm with photos and details of next year’s event, also at The Paddocks. This year we had walks from Tintern Abbey (2 of them on Offa’s Dyke), around the River Wye (3 of them also climbing up Yat Rock), from Dingestow through the lush pastureland, each with a section of Offa’s Dyke and walks through forest tracks and on old railway track-beds.

OTHER INFORMATION

A reminder to all walk leaders Some walkers are not confident when crossing fields with cows and horses. The committee recommends that all walk leaders gather their group together before crossing such field, enabling members to walk together in a group if they so wish. Could walk leaders be also mindful not to underestimate the distance they specify on walks.

~~ 6 February 2013 Please submit your walks ~~ ~~ for the next programme ~~

Sunday 31 March 2013 the clocks are turned forward

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Committee 2012/2013:

Chair: Mike Plaskitt [email protected] 01373 472101 Secretary/Web Master: Les Stather [email protected] 07768 556735 (Web Master assisted by Tony Dyson) 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: Mary Davies * [email protected] 01749 342285 Press Secretary/Publicity Officer: Mary Birchall * [email protected] 01373 474530 Social Secretary: Alice Lock [email protected] 01373 474695 Area Committee Rep: Gus Halfhide [email protected] 01749 840349 Programme Co-ordinator: Peggy Frampton [email protected] 01278 783270 Committee Members: Jane Dyson [email protected] 01761 232715 Martyn Hart * 01761 471891

* Positions to be ratified at the AGM

Thank you for your walks in this programme!

Date Description Contact

Sunday 2nd Shepton Mallet, Windsor Hill, Chelynch Tony & Mary December Distance 10 miles. Phone 01749 342285 Time 10am Meet: Shepton Mallet Old Market Road car park ST 616 435 Map: EX142 Opposite Ambulance station. Free on Sundays BA4 5DU

Sunday 2nd Frome Rights of Way walk: Upton Mike P December Scudamore Phone 01373 472101 Time 1:30pm Distance 4.5 miles. Meet: Upton Scudamore, ST 870 482 Map: EX142 meet on slip road off A350 BA12 0AD

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Thursday 6th Stockhill Woods & Priddy Gus December Distance 6 miles. Phone 01749 840349 Time 10am Meet: Stockhill Woods car park ST 548 513 Map: EX141 BA5 3AS

Sunday 9th Around Radstock Rose R December Distance 6 miles. Phone 01761 435178 Time 10am Meet: Radstock, Victoria Hall (several car parks ST 689 547 Map: EX142 available) BA3 3QG

Sunday 9th Hay Hill, Hembury Hill, Yarley Hill Bob & Rosemary December Distance 12 miles. Phone 01749 346023 Time 10am Meet: Wookey Church ST 518 458 Map: EX141 BA5 1JX

Thursday 13th Christmas lunch at The Bell, Evercreech. Tony & Mary December Start walk at the church Phone 01458 860751 Time 10am Distance 4.5 miles. Start from the Church. ST 649 387 Map: EX142 Parking outside The Bell (limited!). Please park BA4 6HX responsibly in village. If eating, please ring Paula on 01458 860751 by Sunday 9 December

Sunday 16th Hinton Charterhouse, Tellisford, Rode Les December Distance 10 miles. Phone 07768 556735 Time 10am Meet: Hinton Charterhouse, A36 opposite ST 780 591 Map: EX142 Branch Road BA2 7TE

Thursday 20th Cheddar, Cheddar Head, Bradley Cross Ken M December (steep at start) Phone 01749 670349 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. ST 460 535 Map: EX141 Meet: Cheddar, Cliff Street, car park next to BS27 3PS Riverside Inn or residential roads

Friday 21st Winter Solstice walk. Breakfast at a café Les December on the walk Phone 07768 556735 Time 6:45am Distance 9 miles. ST 737 447 Map: EX130 Meet: Nunney Catch transport café BA11 4NZ

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Sunday 23rd Festival of Winter Walks. Undulating walk: Gus December Farrington Gurney, Clutton & Hinton Phone 01749 840349 Time 10am Blewett ST 631 556 Map: EX141/142 Distance 12 miles. Meet: Farrington Gurney BS39 6TY Church Lane cp, off road near Village Hall (not village hall cp itself)

Wednesday Festival of Winter Walks/Frome Rights of Eric 26th Way walk: around Coleford Phone 01373 812605 December Distance 5 miles. ST 686 492 Time 10am Meet: Coleford, Doctors' Surgery BA3 5NQ Map: EX142

Thursday 27th Festival of Winter Walks. Sherborne, Brian R December Sherborne Park Phone 01935 840579 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. ST 638 156 Map: EX129 Meet: Sherborne, Terrace Playing Fields, off DT9 9PS A352, 0.4m south of railway bridge

Sunday 30th Festival of Winter Walks. Wells, North Andy December Wootton, Phone 07919 232759 Time 10am Distance 9 miles. ST 550 454 Map: EX141 Meet: Wells, Bishop's Barn BA5 1UN

Sunday 30th Festival of Winter Walks. Around Wells Mo December Distance 4.5 miles. Phone 01749 679914 Time 1:30pm Meet: Wells, west front of Cathedral ST 551 458 Map: EX141 BA6 2RE

Monday 31st Festival of Winter Walks. Linear walk. Janet December 09:30 Bus Wells to Cheddar, walk back to Phone 01458 835238 Time 9:30am Wells ST 546 455 Map: EX141 Distance 12 miles. Meet: Wells Bus Station. BA5 1TE Bus to Tweentown: 09:30

Thursday 3rd Festival of Winter Walks. Around Wellow Les January Distance 6 miles. Phone 07768 556735 Time 10am Meet: Wellow (old) station car park ST 738 581 Map: EX141 BA2 8PZ

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Sunday 6th Festival of Winter Walks. Undulating walk Ken B January in Coleford area Phone 01373 812865 Time 10am Distance 9 miles. ST 686 494 Map: EX142 Meet: Coleford, British Legion car park BA3 5PB

Sunday 6th Festival of Winter Walks/Frome Rights of Gillian January Way walk: around Nunney Phone 01373 300324 Time 1:45pm Distance 4.5 miles. ST 735 457 Map: EX142 Meet: Nunney quarry car park BA11 4NL

Thursday 10th Around Kilmersdon, Babington House, Val & Trevor L January Mells Phone 01761 232311 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. ST 695 524 Map: EX142 Meet: Kilmersdon Church BA3 5SZ

Sunday 13th Joint walk with group: Tony S January to Loxton Phone 01934 733783 Time 10am Distance 12 miles. Meet: Uphill, car park ST 316 584 Map: EX153 Uphill Way, 200 yards on left past The Dolphin BS23 4XP pub

Sunday 13th Glastonbury and countryside round about Doreen January (incl climbing the Tor, slowly!) Phone 01749 840271 Time 1:30pm Distance 4.5 miles. ST 501 383 Map: EX141 Meet: Glastonbury, Bretenoux Road BA6 8DP

Thursday 17th Freshford, Midford Mike P January Distance 6 miles. Phone 01373 472101 Time 10am Meet: Hinton Charterhouse, A36 opposite ST 780 591 Map: EX142 Branch Road BA2 7TE

Sunday 20th Frome circular Les January Distance 10 miles. Phone 07768 556735 Time 10am Meet: Frome, Cork Street car park ST 776 481 Map: EX142 BA11 1BL

Sunday 20th Afternoon walk: Dinder and King's Castle. Brian U January Undulating Phone 01749 672457 Time 1:30pm Distance 5 miles. ST 548 464 Map: EX141 Meet: Wells, east end of Ash Lane. Pls share BA5 2LW cars if possible

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Thursday 24th Shepton Mallet, Chelynch, Beacon Hill Valerie & Trevor E January Distance 6.5 miles. Phone 01749 347124 Time 10am Meet: Shepton Mallet, corner of Compton Road ST 617 428 Map: EX142 and Westway BA4 5QT

Saturday 26 January 2013: Dinner at The Highwayman Inn, Shepton Mallet

Details on page 3

Sunday 27th Hilly walk: Charterhouse, Beacon Batch & Laurence & Barbara January Phone 07568 584994 Time 10am Distance 10 miles. ST 504 556 Map: EX141 Meet: Charterhouse car park (down the lane BS40 7XR from outdoor centre)

Thursday 31st Chelynch & Francoise January Distance 6.5 miles. Phone 01458 831823 Time 10am Meet: Chelynch, Poachers Pocket. Pls share cars ST 649 439 Map: EX142 if possible BA4 4PY

Sunday 3rd , Cholwell & North Richard & Lisa February Widcombe Phone 01749 672373 Time 10am Distance 10 miles. ST 567 559 Map: EX141 Meet: , Whitecross Road BS40 6AA

Sunday 3rd Frome Rights of Way walk: Faulkland Diana February Distance 4.5 miles. Phone 01373 464595 Time 1:30pm Meet: Faulkland village green on A366 ST 739 545 Map: EX142 BA3 5XA

Thursday 7th Around Priddy Clive & Ros February Distance 6 miles. Phone 01749 671339 Time 10am Meet: Priddy village green ST 527 510 Map: EX141 BA5 3BB

Friday 8th Pub walk from The Wagon & Horses, Old Tony & Mary February Frome Road Phone 01749 342285 Time 10am Distance 5 miles. Meet: The Wagon and ST 648 456 Map: EX142 Horses pub, Old Frome Road. If eating, please BA4 4LA contact Mary by Monday 4 February

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Sunday 10 February 2013: AGM and pre AGM walk. Please see page 3

Sunday 10th Knowle Hill, Chew Magna, Dundry Hill Bob & Rosemary February Distance 12 miles. Phone 01749 346023 Time 10am Meet: Lake, Hollow Brook car park ST 578 608 Map: EX155 BS40 8TF

Sunday 10th Around Wells Mo February Distance 4.5 miles. Phone 01749 679914 Time 1:30pm Meet: Wells, west front of Cathedral ST 551 458 Map: EX141 BA5 2RE

Thursday 14th Circular hilly walk over Crook Peak Brian U February Distance 6 miles. Phone 01749 672457 Time 10am Meet: Car park on Cross/Webbington road. Pls ST 392 551 Map: EX153 share cars if possible BS26 2HN

Sunday 17th Coleford area Bryn February Distance 10 miles. Phone 07709 282394 Time 10am Meet: Coleford, British Legion car park ST 687 494 Map: EX142 BA3 5NH

Sunday 17th Afternoon walk: Ebbor - Priddy Rose D February Distance 4.5 miles. Phone 01749 670697 Time 2pm Meet: car park ST 521 485 Map: EX141 BA5 1EL

Thursday 21st Nunney circular Margaret D February Distance 6 miles. Phone 01373 812311 Time 10am Meet: Nunney, car park on Castle Hill ST 734 457 Map: EX142 BA11 1BL

Sunday 24th Chesterblade & Cranmore Tony B February Distance 11 miles. Phone 07511 964359 Time 10am Meet: Doulting, Farm Road, off A361 ST 647 430 Map: EX142 BA4 4QG

Sunday 24th Afternoon walk: Priddy Barrows and The Brian U February Mineries. Undulating Phone 01749 672457 Time 2pm Distance 4 miles. ST 527 510 Map: EX141 Meet: Priddy Green. Pls share cars if possible BA5 3BB

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Thursday 28th South Horrington, Croscombe, Dulcote Ken M February Distance 6 miles. Phone 01749 670349 Time 10am Meet: Wells. Park on roads near Wells Golf Club, ST 572 463 Map: EX141 Old Frome Road BA5 3BW

Sunday 3rd Harridge Wood, Fosse Way, , Suzanne March Chilcompton Phone 07875 839010 Time 10am Distance 12.5 miles. ST 658 510 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4QQ

Sunday 3rd Frome Rights of Way walk: Bradford on Eric March Avon Phone 01373 812605 Time 2pm Distance 6 miles. ST 833 598 Map: EX156 Meet: Bradford on Avon, Moulton Drive (end BA15 1UF nearest canal)

Thursday 7th Castle Cary circular Dave D March Distance 6 miles. Phone 01963 351077 Time 10am Meet: Castle Cary, Millbrook Gardens car park ST 639 322 Map: EX142 BA7 7EE

Sunday 10th Glastonbury circular Janet March Distance 10 miles. Phone 01458 835238 Time 10am Meet: Glastonbury, Bretenoux Road ST 503 381 Map: EX141 BA6 8DP

Thursday 14th Wedmore-Mudgley area David & Hilary March Distance 6 miles. Phone 01458 442081 Time 10am Meet: Wedmore Playing Fields, Blackford Road ST 426 474 Map: EX141 BS28 4BS

Sunday 17th Linear hilly walk from Charterhouse to Brian U March Wells along Mendip escarpment. Using car Phone 01749 672457 Time 10am shuttle system ST 543 463 Map: EX141 Distance 12 miles. BA5 2LS Meet: Wells, Ash Lane at Mendip Way path

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Sunday 17th Ashwick, Tape Hill, T'other Side the Hill Doreen March Distance 4.5 miles. Phone 01749 840271 Time 2pm Meet: , Village Hall ST 633 475 Map: EX142 BA3 5AN

Thursday 21st Zeals area Mary & Maggie March Distance 6.5 miles. Phone 01373 474530 Time 10am Meet: Zeals Village Hall car park and ST 782 318 Map: EX142 surrounding roads BA12 6NJ

Sunday 24th Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Home Wood, the Val & Trevor L March lost village of Fernhill Phone 01761 232311 Time 1:30pm Distance 6 miles. ST 658 506 Map: EX142 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall BA3 4RA

Thursday 28th Temple Cloud, Cameley & Hallatrow. One Eric March hill Phone 01373 812605 Time 10am Distance 6 miles. ST 622 581 Map: EX142 Meet: Temple Cloud, Temple Inn Lane, near BS39 5DB A37 end of lane

Sunday 31st Lake, , Richard & Lisa March Distance 10 miles. Phone 01749 672373 Time 10am Meet: , Heron's Green car park ST 554 592 Map: EX141 on west side BS40 6NL

Code of Conduct for Dog Owners 1. Please consider other walkers at all times and ensure that their enjoyment of the walk is not affected in any way by your dog. 2. Dogs must be kept under close control when there is livestock about. 3. It is recommended that dogs are kept on a lead when walking on a highway with vehicular access. 4. If any walker feels a dog is not under proper control they should speak to the leader. 5. Follow any directions given by the leader or back marker

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