Walks2023 – S&G u3a

u3a Walking Group - 2023

Details, Maps, and Photos, of walks in 2023

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Autumn 2023

Summer 2023

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.