Moorlinch to Wells

Weather today: Same old easterly wind, light rain most of the day

Daily Miles Covered: 15.5

Total Miles Covered: 237.2

Things of Interest: Somerset levels

Personal Comments: We waved goodbye to The Crown Inn at Catcott, where once again we got mains hook up for van, and a free stay on the car park. A special mention for Steve Roby, who gave us a donation, bought us a pint, and paid for our meal, all in the name of Macmillan Cancer support, well done Steve.
As we left Moorlinch it was a grey day, a day you wouldn't want to go walking if you didn't need to! Along the A361 for a short while, until we came to a suitable path to take us away from this madness. Sanity returns as we progress through fields which technically are below sea level. With the wind making it hard work, we find ourselves again near to the A361, this time we bite the bullet and follow it to Glastonbury.
Once there we see people dressed rather strangely ( I should talk ) Druids, and Hippy types, ah well each to their own. Near the centre we see a sign to the "best fish and chip shop" in the southwest, so we have to go in and stoke up. We didn't linger, as it didn't feel right, maybe it was because the sun wasn't shining. Leaving the town uphill we once again we find the A361 briefly this time. Turning off it we walk northeastwards for a dead straight 3 k., with the evil wind still in our faces. Climbing slightly, we see our first glimpse of Wells cathederal, and what a magnificent building it is, this is our destination for the night. Once in Wells it is market day, so we stroll down the main street taking photos. I entertain the masses by going base over apex slipping on a drain, I landed on my back, good job I had a rucsac on. I hope the wind disappears for tomorrow.

Hawkridge Reservoir to Moorlinch

Weather today: Strong, cold easterly wind. Cloudy with rain mid pm.

Daily Miles Covered: 14.5

Total Miles Covered: 221.7

Things of Interest: Sedgemoor Drainage system near Bridgewater

Personal Comments: Left Hawkridge reservoir (near Spaxton) kitted out for a bad day of weather. The easterly wind was strong in our faces all day as we battled eastwards towards Bridgewater. Glad to get Bridgewater behind us, (not the most prettiest of places!) we headed towards the "Samaritan's Way" which took us over the M5 and out onto the Somerset Levels. This area is a network of canals and ditches designed to drain sea water in this 'below sea level' area. A well known drain that we passed is called "Sedgemoor Drain".
We travelled through the village of Sutton Mallet and ended our walking day at Moorlinch - no too far from Glastonbury.
The highlight of the day was buying some new reading glasses to replace the one's I lost on day one - the lost glasses crisis is over!!
As it's Friday, we might have to find a local pub later tonight and sample some local cider. Cheers!

Washford to Hawkridge Reservoir (via Quantocks)

Weather today: Biting easterly wind all day

Daily Miles Covered: 12.2

Total Miles Covered: 207.2

Things of Interest: The Quantock hills, and views to die for.

Personal Comments: Usual early breakfast, and off to meet Dave, Andews friend, who tags along with us for a couple of miles. We leave the cider farm, and thank Jill for her hospitality. We set off with wind proof clothing on, I consider gloves to wear but because of map reading, I put it off until later. We reach Williton quite soon and progress through the by-roads to reach the other side of town with no problems. Here we say goodbye to Andrew, for a while. When we reach Chilcombe via various paths, there is nothing for it but to attack The Quantocks. Let me tell you people some of these paths uphill many not be too long, but they are steep. The views looking back down the valley bottoms of a patchwork England, fields of various colours, how do they make it for the money, fantastic, I wish you all could see what I saw
Once on the top, with the wind increasing in strength, I can see there being no brass welders out of work today! Moving slowly with the wind full in our face, it reminds me of an Aesop's fable we learnt at school, about the wind and the sun and the man with an overcoat on, there is no way the sun will win today.
Lunchtime comes and we escape the bitter wind behind a tall hedge. Robins are about, so we feed them with bread, I think they liked it. Pressing on through a forest to take us ever downwards, we see stags, the bound over fences 6ft. high, I wish I could do that. At the end of the forest, the sun is still shining, the wind is less fearsome on the valley bottom.
A couple of more miles takes us to the reservoir where Andrew picks us up. We motor back to Crowcombe, Andrew sets us up on a pub car park f.o.c. I know but what can you do when you're weak willed!

Dunkery Beacon to Washford

Weather today: Bright with the return of a cold easterly wind

Daily Miles Covered: 17.6

Total Miles Covered: 195.00

Things of Interest: Wild Red Dear, Wild Exmoor ponies, steam train (West Somerset Railway)

Personal Comments: Left Dunkery Beacon (The highest point of Exmoor) with an easterly wind 'biting shrewdley!" Followed the Macmillan Way to Wootton Courtenay, then up through a steep forrest to Dunster. A quick pastie and carton of tomato soup then marched on, climbing steeply up through another forest rewarded with views over Minehead and accross to South Wales. Continuing along the Macmillan Way, we traversed more fields and tracks where red deer and wild ponies roamed.
Travelling further eastwards, we ended up at a hamlet called Washford where there was a cider farm next door called 'Torre Cider Farm' where we were greeted with a pint of the stuff as a reward for a 17 plus mile walk.
A pint of strong cider on top of a 17 mile walk? - I hope this blog ends up ledgible!
All in all, a good hard day's walking with plenty of tough climbing!

Poltimore arms to Dunkery Beacon

Weather today: Beautiful sunny day, s.w. gentle breeze.

Daily Miles Covered: 12

Total Miles Covered: 177.4

Things of Interest: Exmoor National Park

Personal Comments: Back to the Poltimore Arms, after spending a pleasant evening at The London Inn at Molland, with Mine Host Toby and customers, Neil especially, who gave us a donation. Uphill most of the way at the start, to level off for a spectacular view across Devon and Somerset. We leave Devon soon, it seems we havent been in it for long. We find a path to take us along the contours, we like these, unlike our old adversary, the coastpath which crosses them.
We soon find ourselves traversing Exmoor, what a wonderful place to be on a spring day, with no clouds in the sky, I feel alive. I call these "days of your life". Wild ponies and buzzards are ever present on Exmoor, we see many, but no red deer yet. Onward to Exford where we meet Andrew and co. having a cider, I decline. The sun is still beating down so I top up my sun tan cream, knowing full well I could get burnt under a light bulb!
A stiff climb after lunch takes us back to the top of Exmoor, going with the contours again, we soon arrive at Dunkery Beacon, the end of todays walk, what a lovely place to be on this sceptered isle, roll on tomorrow.

Barnstaple to Poltimore Arms (Start of Exmoor)

Weather today: Bright, sunny intervals but still a cold wind.

Daily Miles Covered: 12.4

Total Miles Covered: 165.4

Things of Interest: Distant views of Exmoor becoming nearer by the step!

Personal Comments: Continued our trek after day off. Left Barnstaple and passed through attractive Godleigh, Stoke Rivers and Brayford villages to end up at a crossroads where a remote pub called the Poltimore Arms represented a safe haven and watering place for the night before tackling the high summits of Exmoor tomorrow! On walking up the the pub door, a "friendly" sigh said 'closed all day monday' - what day is it today? - yes, Monday!!
Never mind, driver Andrew comes to the rescue - we're off tonight to a little village called Molland where a working farm run by Maggie Woodward has been made available for us for an overnight stop over. - Oh, and there is a pub nearby called the "London Inn" which we might be forced to take refreshments in!
Pretty tough walking today, especially the last two miles up a steep hill as we commence our climb up Exmoor.

Woolfardisworthy to Barnstaple

Weather today: Showers early, Sunny all day after 10.00am.

Daily Miles Covered: 20.6

Total Miles Covered: 153

Things of Interest: The Tarka Trail, family cycle trail with sea views.

Personal Comments: Left Woolfardisworthy with leadened skies, showers of hail and rain, it didn't inspire us much. We had to get to Barnstaple, so the quickest route would be via bridlepaths and country lanes. Inadvertently we came across the A39, we soon left it as it was a case of, your life in their hands. We progressed on ever eastwards until we came to the River Torridge, which would take us into Bideford. Lunchtime was by the river, eating our sandwiches and a compulsory banana (Phil says it will give me energy!) Little Egrets seem to love the tidal rivers and this place was no exception.
Over the river bridge, we picked up the Tarka trail, with 12.5 miles done we thought Barnstaple would be a mere 3 miles away, wrong. The next marker we saw was 7 to go, we looked in disbelief at each other, knowing full well that would take us over 20 for the day, ah well.
Andrew phoned to tell us that he ws near The North Devon Leisure Centre, so we pressed on. At Fremington Quay we thought about an ice cream, or maybe a pasty until we saw a sign saying 50p. for tap water to cover staff costs!, so we filled our water bottles with tap water at a toilet next door and on we went.
Barnstaple was now in view, under the A39 and on to the town centre, again Andrew had the kettle on and a most welcome cup of tea was had. The night stop was a campsite at Berrynarbour, but before that the van came to a grinding halt, luckily it was just outside Ye Olde Globe pub, so what can you do?, I know it's a tough job but we went in anyway! Watered and fed we motored to the site for an early night and 8 hours sleep, tough day.