WALKS Sat 27th – Oakridge and Wavering Down Sat 31st – East Quantockhead Sat 19th - Middle Hope Meet at 2.00pm Recreation Ground, The Vinery, Meet at 11.00am in the field by the pond, Frog Street (TA5 1EJ). Meet at 2.00pm in the National Trust Sand Point car park, Beach Visitors are welcome to join our walks for a £2 donation Winscombe (BS25 1AZ). A 3 mile cliff-top walk with a coffin squint and a unicorn. Road, Sand Bay (BS22 9UD). Charges apply (NT Members free). towards the Mendip Society Heritage Fund. A 4.5 mile walk with some steep climbs but worth it for some Optional lunch to follow at The Hood Arms, Kilve TA5 1EA. A 4 mile walk with brilliant views and an extinct volcano. Hard Please wear suitable clothing and boots, and also ensure that fabulous views. Hard Book with Terry before August 30th. Easy Contact: Richard & Denise 01275 472797 ST 330 659 the walk grade is suitable for your fitness level. Contact: Pauline 01934 820745 ST 421 571 Contact:Terry 01749679128/ [email protected] ST 137435 th All walkers must take personal responsibility for their own Sat 26 – Please check on the website

safety (and that of any accompanying children), informing the AUGUST 2019 SEPTEMBER 2019 th leader of any personal health matter which might affect them Wednesday 30 - Another Wellow Wander on that walk. Unless stated otherwise well behaved dogs on Sat 3rd – Around Long Ashton Sat 7th – , , and Rickford for Lunch Meet at 1.30pm in the Station Road car park Wellow (BA2 8QB). leads are welcome on walks. Meet at 2.00pm on Old Weston Road, Flax Bourton (BS48 1UL). Meet at 11.00am in the Ubley Sawmills car park (BS40 6PE). A 5.5 mile walk heading north towards Limpley Stoke and Assistance Dogs are welcome on all of our walks A walk of around 4 miles through woods and fields, which could be A 6 mile walk with a steep climb to start, then fairly flat with views returning via the track of the old Somerset and Dorset muddy in places. Moderate over This walk includes a lunch stop at the Plume of Railway. Moderate JULY 2019 Contact: Ann 01179 736497 ST 521 697 Feathers in Rickford. Expect to be back about 4.00pm. Hard Contact: Martin 01249 720809 ST 738 581 Contact: Martin 01761 462528 ST 529 579 Sat 6th – Walk around Winford Wednesday 7th – Holford (in the Quantocks) NOVEMBER 2019 Meet at 2.00pm at Winford Church (BS40 8AY). Meet at 10.30am in the car park (next turning left) past the Combe Sunday 15th – Chilcompton and Holcombe Please park carefully in Church Road & Church Lane. House Hotel, Holford (TA5 1RZ). Meet at 2.00pm in the lay-by on the B3139 east of Chilcompton Sat 2nd – Dolebury Warren and Woods A 4 to 5 mile walk with extensive rural views. Moderate Please book with Clive before the walk (for car share?). Moderate and near Norton Green Nursery (BA3 4RR). Meet at 1.30pm at Pear Tree Works, Bath Road, Upper Langford, Contact: Richard & Denise 01275 472797 ST 543 650 Contact: Clive 01275 848052 ST 154 411 A 4 mile walk past Holcombe church. Moderate (BS40 5DJ). Contact: Peter 01761 221995 ST 658 520 A 4 mile walk limestone grassland, and wooded slopes. Moderate Wednesday 10th – Stockhill Sunday 11th – Charterhouse Contact: Gill 01934 742508 ST 463 597 Meet at 2.00pm in the Stockhill Plantation car park on the Old Meet at 2.00pm in the nature reserve car park (approx. post code Sat 21st – Bristol Road above Wells (BA5 3AR). BS40 7XR), this is quite small so park on the road if necessary. Meet at 1:30 pm in the Village Hall car park (BS39 5AY). Sat 9th – Uphill A 5 mile walk with no real climbs. Moderate A 4 mile walk round Velvet Bottom and Long Wood ending with a A 5.5 mile walk Inc. the Hollow Marsh Nature Reserve. Moderate Meet at 1.30pm The Dolphin, Uphill Way, Uphill, Weston-super- Contact: Peter 01761 221995 ST 548 513 visit to St Hughes church at Charterhouse. Moderate Contact: Tim 01761 452017 ST 596 558 Mare (BS23 4TN). Contact: Peter 01761 221995 ST 505 556 A scenic walk of about 4.5 miles Moderate Sat 13th – Please check on the website Sat 28th – East of Nailsea Circuit Contact: Rose 07796 910123 ST 316 584 Sat 17th – Meet at 2.00pm in Nailsea & Backwell Railway Station car park, Sat 20th – Hutton Meet at 2.00pm in the Church car park, Church Lane (BA3 4LL). charges apply, (BS48 1TJ). Wednesday 13th – Around Meet at 2.00pm by The Old Inn having parked opposite in A 6 mile walk through woods and the top of the Mendips with a A 5 mile walk through mixed farmland with streams and Meet at 1.30pm at Shipham Village Hall, New Road (BS25 1SG). Orchard Road (BS24 9RX). stop half-way round for a break. Moderate views. Moderate A walk of about 4 miles with hills and fine views. Moderate A walk of about 4.5 miles with some small hills. Moderate Contact: Beryl 01761 412045 or 07800 630004 ST 597 531 Contact: Richard 01275 852786 ST 478 692 Contact: Mary 01934 843789 ST 444 579 Contact: Rose 07796 910123 ST 349 587 th OCTOBER 2019 Sat 16 – Around th Sat 24th to Mon 26th – Mendip Ramblers Bank Holiday Friday 26 – A Special Interest Guided Walk in Stockhill Meet at 1.30pm at the Village Hall, Coronation Rd (BS24 0PG). Walking Festival Woods & The Mineries to See and Hear Night Jars Sat 5th – to Ham Wood and Bowlish A 5 to 6 mile walk with steep hill at the start but rewarded with Starting at 10.00am each day there will be 3 walks of 3 to 11 fabulous views. Moderate From 8.30pm (until possibly 10.30pm) Meet at 2.00pm in the Commercial Road car park, off Old miles and starting at 1.30pm 1 short walk of 3 to 4 miles. Contact: John 01934 842868 ST 340 569 Meet in the Stockhill Wood car park off the B3135 (BA5 3AS). Market Road, (BA4 5DX). All walks will start from the Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre, This evening walk will be led by our local naturalist A 5 mile walk climbing to Windsor Hill, the Somerset and rd Charlton Road, Shepton Mallett BA4 5PG ST 624 434 Sat 23 - Kilmersdon Chris Sperring to hear and hopefully see these elusive Dorset Railway tunnel, Ham Woods & Bowlish. Moderate For detailed information please go to: Meet at 1.30pm in the village hall main road car park (BA3 5TD). birds that nest on the Mendips in Summer. Contact: Gill 01934 742508 ST 617 436 www.mendipramblers.co.uk A 4 mile walk past Jack and Jill hill to the chapel of Babington Be prepared to walk through the woods and the Mineries. House. Moderate Tea and cake will be available after each walk, th Insect repellent, and suitable clothing and footwear is essential. Sat 12 – Winscombe and Barton and please don’t forget to make a donation. Contact: Terry 01749 679128 ST 735 458 Nothing squeaky or rustling, and no dogs please. Meet at 1:30pm in the car park behind the Woodborough Inn, Any queries contact Kevin on 01749 672996 (BS25 1HD). th The cost is £4 and numbers are limited so please book online Sat 30 – Clevedon www.themendipsociety.org.uk using the RESERVE BUTTON. A 6.5 mile walk with two short climbs, one steep, and 5 stiles of Meet at 1.30pm in Ladye Bay, Clevedon (BS21 7BU). Please leave a contact number in case of bad weather. Please visit our website which 2 are stone. Moderate A 5 mile walk along sea front at Clevedon to include Poet’s walk Contact: Judy 01749 672196 (on the day only 07443 639048) Contact: Phil 07733 539018 ST 421 576 and the newly developed coastal path. Views of Sand Point and

ST 554 514 www. themendipsociety.org.uk Weston Bay as well as South Wales. Moderate Contact: Pauline 01934 820745 ST 409 730 TALKS WINSCOMBE Wednesday 28th August at 2.30pm Wine Tasting Visit to Fenny Castle Vineyard, Castle Lane, Visitors are very welcome, and it is not necessary to book. These will be held at St. James’s Church Hall, Woodborough Worth, Wookey BA5 1NL £3.50 (Members £2.00) with free refreshments. Road, Winscombe BS25 1BA, and will commence at 2.30pm In this two hour tour James Cumming will lead us through the Contact: Richard Frost 01275 472797 ------varieties of vines, first planted in 2011, and talk about the route WELLS Thursday 12th September 2019 at 2.30pm Fenny Castle Vineyard has chosen through the English wines ‘The Glastonbury Pilgrims Way a New Somerset Trail’ industry, before offering us a tasting of four different wines and These will be held at the Wells Museum, Cathedral Green, by Chris Sidaway a variety of ciders. Places, for which there is a charge of Wells BA5 2UE and will commence at 2.30pm or 7.00pm A talk about a new walking trail being planned which will follow £15.00, must be pre-booked with Terry by 26th August at: ------the route that Medieval Pilgrims took from Puriton on the River [email protected] or on 01749 679128. Due to limited

Tues 8th October 2019 at 2.30pm Parrett to Glastonbury Abbey. parking at the vineyard you can park at Terry and Gill’s house, “A Photographic Exploration of Mendip” It will explore the archaeology, history, natural history and Ben Knowle Farmhouse, Worth, Wookey BA5 1NL (first left on An illustrated talk by Bernard Sellick & David Daggar culture of the Polden Hills and beyond. Chris Sidaway was Castle Lane) before 2.00pm and then walk up the lane.

Both serious and experienced photographers, they have spent involved in setting up the River Parrett Trail and the Coleridge Sunday 27th October – A visit to the Somerset & Dorset Joint 2 years exploring Mendip with their cameras to reveal Way and sees this as a way of complementing Somerset's Railway, Silver Street, Radstock BA3 2EY surprising facets of the area, past and present, giving us a new Heritage Trails and invigorating the local economy. Meet at 11.00am for a great day out for all the family with lots to impressive way of looking at our unique landscape. A walk is also planned to coincide with this talk. do and see on this famous and iconic line over the Mendips which

th th Thursday 28 November 2019 at 2.30pm closed in 1966. For only £6pp & £3 for under 15's there is all day Wednesday 6 November 2019 at 7.00pm unlimited steam travel and access to all the station’s buildings. “The Future of the Area of Outstanding ‘A History of Knitting Patterns’ An illustrated talk by Sarah Harris There is a buffet coach that provides refreshments. Natural Beauty” Parking is directly opposite in the school in Charlton Lane. An illustrated talk by Jim Hardcastle, who is manager of of the Spinning Weal, Clevedon. This is more fun than it sounds, social history expressed Contact: Richard Frost on 01275 472797 or at the AONB Team. Introduced by Les Davies MBE. [email protected] through the earliest patterns to the current revival of the craft; a This a joint event between the Mendip Society, the Mendip

nostalgic journey for those who once suffered the indignities of Hills AONB, held in conjunction with the Royal Geographical Please note that the Mendip Society may put the knitted swimsuit! A ‘laugh out loud journey’. Society. No entry charge but donations to the Mendip Hills on extra events and walks. Fund, doors open 6.30pm. Limited seating in the hall so These will all be publicised on our new website booking is required on [email protected] EVENTS or on 01458 445233. www. themendipsociety.org.uk Tuesday 6th August - Visit the Sandford Levy Mine & Cave We will also use the website to announce any Tuesday 10th December 2019 at 2.30pm Programme Meet at 2.00pm in the car park of the Mendip Activity Centre, changes to events or walks if necessary ‘The Inventor of National Parks - Who was John Muir?’ Lyncombe Drive, Sandford BS25 5PQ. An illustrated talk by Terry Gifford (E.g. for exceptionally bad weather). We will be led on this 2 hour tour by Phil Hendy, who is the Known as the father of the American Conservation Movement, Important: Please note that our old website caving contributor of the Mendip Times. July – John Muir never lost his Scottish Accent. www.mendipsociety.org.uk is now obsolete His idea is said to be Americas gift to the World, so why his There will be a bit of stooping and walking, and stout shoes or and should not be used. wellingtons plus old clothes are recommended. opposition to them in Scotland? What ideas did Muir have in the There are only 10 places and you must be over eight years old. 19th century that relate to landscape issues in the 21st century? Chairman: Richard Frost November 2019 Get your booking of £5 per head asap to Richard Terry is editor of the complete works of John Muir and an authority 2 Chapel Close, Winford BS40 8EE on the Scot who became known as Americas Wilderness sage at: [email protected] or on 01275 472797. Tel: 01275 472797

Tuesday 14th January 2020 at 2.30pm th Email: [email protected] www.themendipsociety.org.uk Sunday 18 August – Hocus Pocus at ‘The World of Rock Climbing Photography’ by Ian Smith Come and see the newest ‘Wicked Magic’ show’. Hon. Secretary: Judith Tranter with an introduction by Terry Gifford We have a group ticket at £7.99 for all ages which must be 2 Walton Lodge, 27 Castle Road, Clevedon BS21 7DA Ian Smith is a rock climbing photographer, and an editor of guide paid in advance to Richard Frost. Meet at 7.00pm at the Tel: 01275 874284 08454 092951 books for the Southwest & North Wales. In this illustrated talk he Wookey Hole Theatre to enter as a group. The theatre café Email: [email protected] gives us an insight into the subject, its challenges, rewards, issues opens at 5.30pm for food. Our booking must be confirmed by & rivalries. Ian as an editor will reveal behind the scenes ethical th Membership Secretary: Peter Janes Registered Charity No. 262867 debates and the publishing competition. Great photos of Fairy Mon Aug 5 so book with Richard asap on 01275 472797 The Cottage, Harptree Hill, BS40 6EJ or at: [email protected] Cave, Lands End and others. So this promises to be an Tel: 01761 221995

opportunity for you to learn the secrets of the climbing world. Email: [email protected]