Crook Peak 2

Four of us set off for Crook Peak, a six and half mile walk. Our first attempt at this walk was in September 2009. This time we decided to do the walk in reverse hoping to make it easier going. We headed off along the river towards Loxton. The sun was shining and although we feared the worst, it was a scorcher! We came off route a little for Sue to show us a cave set back into the hillside. Pete's gadget came in very hand, that is to say the torch on the end of his walking stick. We continued on through the woods that made our steep climb to Crook Peak more gradual. We were rewarded with stunning 360 degree views. Being a clear day the breathtaking views were of the Bristol Channel, Wales, the Somerset Levels and the Cheddar Reservoir. After a stop for lunch we took the steep walk up to Wavering Down , where a stone seat was strategically placed with superb views and etched into the stone were the words 'Only a hill but all of life to me'. We continued the walk through Kings Wood, downhill back to the Cross main street, and then on to the beer garden of the White Hart.

It was a good walk which took us just over three hours, brilliant weather, excellent views, another good Sunday walk for the One Step Beyonders.

Burrow Mump

It was a lovely sunny Sunday, and just the three of us decided to travel a little further to take on the 5.5 mile Burrow Mump walk. Apart from King Alfred's castle it was a very flat walk, but not without incident! About a mile and a half into the walk we were walking down a drove, hedges to the left and open fields on the right, we had just stopped to check the map when a shot rang out, then another whistled into the hedge in front of us! We retreated back a few yards to gather ourselves while more shots were fired, small metal targets were pushed into the ground about ten yards in front of us, there were no warnings or signs anywhere. We saw a Landrover drive off and the shooting stopped, quickly we walked on clearing the field, we did see people still standing in the copse where the gun shots came from.

Next crossing a farm yard we were confronted by barking dogs, we crossed a field of geese without incident tho' we did fear the worst! There was some lovely countryside but the best views were from the Mump, it was stunning. We sat on the terrace of the King Alfred pub by the river for a well earned pint. We will visit the Mump again, perhaps next time we'll take a quieter route! Definitely One Step Beyond!

Barton St. David

Our First Anniversary Walk! This was our second walk from Barton St. David but one we looked forward to. Just five of us parked up by the village hall in Barton for the 6.5 mile walk to King Weston, Copley Wood & Butleigh Cross. It was a lovely sunny day and we made good time through the fields towards King Weston, with lots of wild life to look at. As is the norm with our walks, Copley Woods was a different matter all together! Let's just say that the pathway out of the woods seemed to disappear, thanks to Brian we forged on and did emerge from the woods more or less where we thought we would! Having stopped for lunch we walked on to Butleigh Cross, the views were amazing. We crossed a hidden stream? or not, who knows! and made our way back to the quirkey 'nnI notraB' to sample a pint or two of the local ales and end a smashing walk. Here's to our next anniversary! One Step Beyond!

Hinton Blewitt - Extended Walk

Seven of us set out from the picturesque village of Hinton Blewitt, meeting in the lay-by opposite the Ring o' Bells. We decided to extend a walk we had done previously to Cameley making it over 5 miles. The weather was kind to us as we crossed the fields and the River Cam, the fields were full of mushrooms and several of us helped ourselves as we made our way to the village of Cameley! The beautiful 12th century church of St. James gave us shelter from the rain, David tested the acoustics with an entertaining song or two and we ate lunch in the porch. Rain stopped, we then skirted Cameley Lodge, and took to the hills above the lakes, passing some fine views, we made our way back round to the cars and just for a change, a welcome pint of ale at the pub.

This walk started from Priddy Green on a sunny Sunday morning, nine of us set off on a beautiful walk looking down over the Somerset levels. Bev had led us on this walk before but this time it was extended to around 5 miles, crossing Deer Leap and taking in the top of Ebbor Gorge. We picknicked with stunning views over Cook's Field Nature Reserve. With the Sun on our backs we strode out back to Priddy and the promise of a well earned pint outside the Queen Vic', unfortunately the wasps had other ideas and we were forced to retreat to the New Inn!

Barton St David

We set off on a beautiful sunny day, cloudy but warm. This was a walk that I had made up my self, so we were a little apprehensive, would be a success or a nightmare? We walked passed St Davids church with it's 15th Century Tower, unfortunately it was locked so we couldn't go inside. We headed to Kingweston, one of the main reasons for our walk in this area. We wanted to see the church that we had seen there when we first came to Somerset. It's a lovely area but the church wasn't as pretty as we remembered. We pushed on to Copley Woods; what an experience that was. Paths that led nowhere, areas fenced off and over grown paths. After walking round for about an hour we decided to stop for lunch, as some people were getting a little hot and bothered. The only way we managed to leave the woods was by using our compass. We then headed for Butleigh Cross the views from there were breath taking. We headed back to Barton, we were supposed to finish the walk along by a river, but the river had run dry or we crossed it without noticing! Returning back to the village we had a quick drink in the Barton Inn, where the locals kept staring at us. The walk had taken us 4.25hrs and we had completed about 7.5mls. Madness!! We treated ourselves to some fish and chips and a cup of tea in Knights chippy in Glastonbury on the way home and had another pint in 'The George Inn'. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and hope we can share the experience with the rest of you soon.

Chewton Woods.

On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning Pete and Shirl set off from their favourite Inn; 'The Kings Arms' at Litton. The walk took them through the village where they wished two cyclist a good morning and carried on through Chewton Woods, not a soul insight. The path came out on to a nature reserve called 'Hollow Marsh' where butterflies and bees in their hundreds covered a field of wild flowers. Two deers crossed their path and pheasants scurried away. They had lunch in a field with fantastic views towards Ston Easton. They carried on the walk to 'Hinton Field Farm' where they were forced to ask a lady riding a horse if they were in the right area? They discovered that the stile with footpath marker had been removed. Their direction was up towards 'Shortwood House' and Coley. With fantastic views of the lakes at Litton they descended down to the lake side where they spotted two fishermen in a boat. The lakes were the lowest they had seen them. Happy memories of walks gone by as they passed the fisherman's log cabin and the wall where the group had posed for a picture, on the Christmas holiday walk. They then greeted a young couple with a baby and a dog. The total number of people they saw on the walk was eight, not many on a three hour walk. Finishing in style with a drink and a bowl of chips. We must do this walk again it's a beauty.