Holidays
Walking in the Mendip hills, group holiday 11-15 May 2010
Twenty-seven people found their way to the Webbington Hotel near the charming medieval village of Axbridge Somerset which provided a delightful base for three days walking in the Mendip hills. The hotel is situated at the foot of Crook Peak which at 175m provided a wonderful 360 degree view of the area for anyone wanting to make the climb on the first evening. You could see the Bristol Channel and beyond to the west, the plains of the Somerset Levels to the south and the undulating Mendip hills to the east.
On the first day our walks started in Wells, about 12 miles to the S.E. The central square was bustling with market activity and the magnificent cathedral and Bishop’s Palace were to the far end as we approached. Both walks, shorter and longer (7.5 and 9 miles), set off along the moat around the Palace before diverging, the shorter sticking to the lower woods and villages, the longer climbing north to Pen Hill before returning down Ebor Gorge and Wookey Hole to Wells, for tea of course! Refreshed, a number went to the cathedral service of evensong which was sung only by the men of the choir but beautifully all the same.
The second day the longer walk started at Cheddar Gorge and ascended to the village of Charterhouse and on to the highest point of the Mendips, Beacon Batch, 325m. Most people chose the easier walk which started at Link and lead gently up through woods to the hilltop fort on Dolebury Warren. A fairly steep descent to the village of Rowberrow then followed with a chance to enjoy a pre-lunch beer before lunch by a stream in Rowberry Bottom. The walk continued up to Black Down and almost to the trig. point on Beacon Batch! A gradual descent led back to the carpark in Link.
Walks on the third day started from the hotel and took us along the lower paths below at the edge of the Levels and through the local villages of Compton Bishop and Cross. Both walks climbed to Wavering Down where the longer walkers had lunch ( taking shelter from a bitter wind behind a drystone wall) before continuing to the top of Crook Peak.
The holiday enabled us to enjoy the richly varied and often dramatic scenery of the area and apart from the occasional shower was dry and sunny. Tea shops were memorably good, especially Derricks Tea Shop with its chocolate scones and Somerset cider cake! A good time was had by all! Margaret Baxter
Group Holiday to Kolimbari, Crete
A group of thirteen G & H Ramblers is going on this HF holiday on 28 September. It is not known whether there are any spare places, but if anyone wishes to enquire about a late booking they should contact Muriel Clark on 01483 424286. Muriel Clark
Spring Holiday 2011 to Tintern, Wye Valley