u3a Walking Group – 2023
Details, Maps, and Photos, of walks in 2023
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Autumn 2023
Wednesday 04th October 2023
Start/End Meet in East Lambrook Car Park at 10.30 am.
The village car park is opposite the entrance to East Lambrook Manor Gardens, East Lambrook, South Petherton TA13 5HH.
There is also a pub car park for the Rose and Crown pub next door TA13 5HF but please only use this if you are lunching there.
Approx. 3 hours leisurely walk….. 4.5 miles
Approx. 14 miles from Street and 26 minutes drive.
This walk is from East Lambrook to Stembridge, then to Kingsbury Episcopi and back, and is about 4.5 miles long.
There is a shorter option of 2.5 miles if you arrange with a friend to leave a car at Kingsbury. See details below.
We walk through the village to Stembridge using small local roads and footpaths through fields and orchards. There are some wobbly stiles and one or two narrow bridges over streams, but the walk is mostly level. From Stembridge we continue via footpaths and a small section of road to Kingsbury Episcopi passing the village lock-up.
We will then walk to St Martin’s Church which is very interesting and then continue via the River Parrett Trail back to East Lambrook. This again is a level walk over fields.
Summer 2023
Canal Walk, August 2023
Start/End…Maunsel Lock Car Park and Tea rooms. TA7 0DH…..Look out for the house with a small white sign turn right to the Tea-rooms. Approx. two and a quarter hour’s walk. 3.5 miles Toilets available. Approx.14 miles from Street and 26 minutes drive.
Avalon Marshes, July 2023
Start / End – Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay BA6 9TT
A flat route of 3 miles ….7 miles and 16 minutes away from Street
I have shortened the published walk to 3 miles as it is quite hard work with tall grasses and sticky clay mud in a couple of places.
I recommend walking poles and good footwear.
Compton Dundon, July 2023
Start / End – Compton Dundon Village Hall car park Ham Lane, Compton Dundon TA11 6PQ
Thank you to Maz for leading this walk.
A straight-forward local walk of 3.6 miles and approximately 2 hours.
There are a few standard stiles and a fair amount of summer overgrowth.
Curry Rivel, June 2023
Start /End – The Firehouse car park, Church St. Curry Rivel, Langport TA10 0HE.
There is also plenty of on road parking nearby.
12 miles and 22 minutes drive from Street.
Approximately 4 miles. Aiming at around two and a half hours.
It is an AA recommended route which is varied in terrain.
A good walk involving a mixture of field, track, and tarmac… with the first section being a gentle climb to reach Burton Pynsent Monument.
We are rewarded by excellent views over the Mendips.
Then we descend through amazing beech woods, before a short steepish road on tarmac to the second half of the route which is flat,
There are two stiles en-route.
Nunny, June 2023
Start /End … Nunney,
Old Quarry Gardens car park (free) BA11 4NL (Approaching from A361 …Car park on left just before the 30mph and Nunney village sign….. 35 minute’s drive from Street)
Note a 2.1 metre height restriction but lots of on-road parking available.
Approximately 3.5 miles, aiming at around two hours
Clearly it is a well-known and well-trodden popular route. The path is wide enough and has grassy sides. There are no stiles….Instead there are a large number of kissing opportunities! The Combe section needs attention because the exposed tree roots which proliferate and are a trip hazard…… so walking poles and boots are recommended. It is a fairly level walk.
A highlight is a free visit to the Castle?
Babcary, May 2023
Start /End … The Red Lion car park Babcary, TA11 7ED.
(9 miles away & about 17 minutes from Street.) A route of 3.7 miles walking, aiming at around two and a half hours.
A straightforward easy to find! local starting point.
A simple circular walk which I reccied yesterday. Mainly fields with some tracks. The grasses are quite thick and nettles and brambles are around this time of year, so I suggest wearing trousers with arms covered. Two or three standard stiles, and a gentle climb and descent. Cattle and sheep are possible.
We pass through the Babcary Meadows Nature Reserve en-route.
Mendips, May 2023
Start /End … Blackmoor reserve car park. Velvet Bottom. (no useful postcode)
We are up in the Mendips having had the car do the climbing!
The route goes through old lead mining land. This walk is largely flat but is quite stony and tricky in parts.
Poles and/or care will be needed from time to time. Also sturdy footwear or walking boots.
I found this a very interesting and an unusual landscape.
There were loads of wild flowers including early wild orchids. (I think!)
Please take care….My Android phone (Google maps) took me the wrong way.
You need to approach the car park from the West. (Charterhouse) and not the East which is only an impassible byway.
Meare, May 2023
Start /End … Blakeway Stone works along Ashcott road BA6 9SU.
(6.2 miles away & about 13 minutes from Street.) Route of 3.7 miles walking aiming at around two hours.
The circular walk has only 2 bridge type stiles and 1 normal stile. There are various pedestrian and kissing gates and lots of field gates to open and close but all simple enough. There are NO hills.
Wookey, April 2023
Start /End … Ring o Bells Inn @ Wookey (not Wookey hole) BA5 1JZ
(8.4 miles away & about 25 minutes from Street.) Route of 4 miles walking aiming at around two hours.
It starts and ends, at The Ring of Bells, High Street, Wookey BA5 1JZ.
Parking will need to be on street but shouldn’t be a problem if a little time is allowed.
A short walk along the road leads to footpaths across fields following the river Axe part way, and then heading to a short ascent to the Yarley Tree! Here there are super views of the Mendips and over to Glastonbury Tor.
We then wend our way across more fields and descend back to Wookey. There are quite a few stiles and the walk is approx 4 miles taking just over 2 hours. The village is pretty with a lovely church, fords, and a working mill nearby at Burcott, selling freshly milled flour, spelt and bread when open.
There is a climb across the field to the tree and then a downward stretch towards the end of the walk. Naturally, people can take the slopes at their own pace.
Spring 2023
Somerton, March 2023
Start /End … Somerton main (Unicorn) car park (3 hours free) TA11 7PR near the library and Co-op. (5.3 miles 11 minutes from Street)
Approximately 3.6 miles, aiming at around two hours max
There are no stiles although one fallen tree that has to be negotiated with care.
There was mud in the wooded section and I would say to use wellingtons or walking boots (perhaps with gaiters) and poles. Today was a bit tricky and squidgy on one or two occasions with exposed tree roots as a trip hazard.
However, the route is perfectly manageable with attention.
Westhay Levels, February 2023
Start /End … Sweets Tea rooms and Museum.
Blakeway, Wedmore BA6 9TX (16 minutes drive from Street)
Stay on the B3151 going towards Wedmore….the entrance gates are on the right.
Approximately 3.5 miles, aiming at around two hours
Walton, January 2023
Start /End … Walton Village Hall car park, Meadow Lane, Walton, Street BA16 9LA. (Permission kindly given)
It is 4.2 miles and should take a little over two hours in a clockwse circle as shown by the attached map. Walking boots or comfortable wellies needed
