Forthcoming Meetings

10.30 Tuesday, 18th April

Newton St Cyres - 7 miles

PACKED LUNCH REQUIRED

Meet at 10.30 at the village hall car park in Newton St Cyres.

Newton is on bus route 5 to Crediton. The No 5 bus to Crediton via Newton St Cyres leaves the Bus Station at 9.54 reaching Newton St Cyres 18 minutes later.

Length of walk – about 7 miles, on a reconnoitre we took 4 hours including a coffee break at the radio mast. We could plan for coffee towards the top of Whiptail Wood, and a picnic lunch by the radio mast, before the descent back to Newton.
This is an excellent circular walk which traverses the woods and hills/valleys to the south of the village using the only public foot/bridle-path shown on the OS map. It rises from 35m in Newton to 245m at the Waddles Down Radio mast from which there are superb views of Exeter. The gradients are not too steep, but there is an uneven and potentially slippery section along the Shuttern Brook in Northridge Copse. The other possible tricky part is in the descent from Waddles Down through Newton Wood. Here the track had been used by heavy vehicles for forestry work, and they left deep ruts which were semi-filled with very wet mud: boots and trekking poles advised!!
The final leg of the walk takes us through a grassy field, where some of Mary Quicke’s “girls” feed as preparation for her cheesemaking, and an apple orchard beside West Holme.
There is a good café at Quicke’s farm run by Cakeadoodledo – open for breakfast and lunch to about 4pm.

Edward Maunder

10:30am Friday, 28th April

Peak Hill Circular - 6 miles

PACKED LUNCH REQUIRED

Start from Peak Hill car park (OL115: 011873 ); circular walk via Mutters Moor, Bulverton Plantation and Greystone Hill Plantations.

Jan

10.30am Monday, 8th May

Newbridge, Dartmoor - 7 miles

PACKED LUNCH REQUIRED

Circular walk from Newbridge car park (OL28: 710709) via Spitchwick, Leusdon, Pondsworthy and Dr Blackhall’s Drive.

Judy

10.30 Wednesday, 24th May

Winsford, Exmoor - 7 miles

PACKED LUNCH REQUIRED

Start Winsford car park (OL9 903350).
The walk climbs steadily from Winsford through woodland to the summit of Winsford hill, then descends along the rim of the spectacular valley called The Punchbowl, climbing again over Bye Hill and along the top edge of the steep-sided Exe valley before descending through woodland back to Winsford.

Roger

10.30am Monday, 12th June

Somerset Space Walk - 8 or 6 miles

PACKED LUNCH REQUIRED

The Somerset Space Walk will be along the canal from Maunsel Lock to Taunton. There would be three options depending on people's preference for travel and distance walked:

(1) Catch the 9.24 XCountry train to Taunton station, pre-booked taxi to Maunsel Lock, walk back to the station (About 8 level miles) [This will be Mars to the sun and then the sun to Pluto]

(2) Drive to Swing Bridge car park, pre-booked taxi to Maunsel Lock, walk back to the car park (Just over 6 level miles)

(3) Drive to Swing Bridge car park, same pre-booked taxi to Maunsel Lock, walk back to Pluto in Taunton, catch bus to Bathpool (every 30 mins) and a short walk to the car park. (8 miles)
We would need to have numbers in advance so as to book the transport from station and car park - the local company would prefer to know 48 hours before
Flora has done a lot of local research and will be a joint leader with us.

David, Tina and Flora

Friday, 30th June

Newcourt Circular 5.5 miles

PACKED LUNCH REQUIRED

Catch Exmouth train from St Davids (10.15) or Central (10.20) to Newcourt Station.
Route via Rydon Village, Clyst St. Mary, Sowton Village, Bishops Court & Clyst St Mary, Sandy Park, Digby Station and Newcourt.

Michael Hind