UERSA - Walking Group

CONTACT DETAILS FOR THIS GROUP:

Trevor Preist

email: preist.exeter@gmail.com

Walking Group July - September 2019

There are five walks and a visit to Kelly Mine, Lustleigh; the first walk has already happened.

Completing the programme can be difficult at times and attendances are lower than they used to be. This is partly seasonal but also reflects that, for some, aging means less walking with shorter walks preferred.

Since we started, the group has collectively managed to walk around the circumference of the Earth – 24,000 miles – and at that rate by 2150 we will have walked (metaphorically) to the Moon. How is that for a challenge!

July 2019

Trevor

See below for a summary of the Newsletter. The full version is in a pdf file on this link.

Please see the Walking Group section on the Newsletters and Archives page for an archive of previous newsletters.

Forthcoming Meetings

11:45 Tuesday 2nd July

Totnes Circular - 5 miles

Packed lunch required.

We will walk some of the Franklin Totnes Trail, a circular walk in the country west of Totnes. It is muddy in parts so boots are suggested.

Start at Totnes Morrisons supermarket cafe at 11:45am.

10:00 Tuesday 23rd July

Exeter Stroll - 4/5 miles

Meet in Fore Street Heavitree, outside the Coop, for a gentle stroll via Ludwell Valley, and the Riverside Country Park to the Welcome Café (on the Canal near the lock to the river) offering refreshments for those who wish. You can return home or to Heavitree by bus from Exe Bridges. For those with energy to spare I will lead a direct route back after refreshments.

11:00 Monday 12th August

Budleigh Circular walk - 8.5 miles

Packed lunch required.

Meet at Budleigh Town Hall. The Town Hall is on Station Road (the turning to the left at the beginning of High Street). The bus stops at the Town Hall which has a paying car park open to all. There is also a free car park adjacent to The Green nearby.

We will walk along railway line and farm tracks to East Budleigh, leafy lanes up to Squabmoor Reservoir then returning via Dalditch Lane to cycle track, across Golf Course to join Coast Path down into Budleigh.

If the weather is good and the sea calm join me for a swim to round off the day!! I will have some towels available for folk to share.

If coming by Public Transport: train or No 57 bus to Exmouth then the 10.35am 157 Sidmouth bus to Budleigh for our 11am start.

10:30 Tuesday 27th August

Bickleigh/Cadleigh - 7 miles

Packed lunch required

Start point: Bickleigh Bridge OSREF SS937076. Sandwiches required.

Parking: Bickleigh Mill overflow car park, under disused railway bridge opposite Mill Tea Rooms. Start time: 10.30.

Description: Bickleigh Mill to Cadleigh and back. Mud on early riverside stages possible; steady climb with good views over Exe Valley; 6.75 miles.

10:00 Wednesday 4th September

Lustleigh, Kelly Mine - 2 miles/2 hour tour

Packed lunch or pub

Not a long or strenuous walk, but the basis for a visit to an interesting industrial heritage site. Meet at Lustleigh Church at 10.00 am and then walk past the cricket ground out of the village and through the water meadows up to the Kelly Mine where we'll be given a 2-hour guided tour (no charge, but donations welcome). Return to Lustleigh in time for a late lunch at the local pub or tea room or, if preferred, eat a packed lunch on a convenient patch of grass!

10:30 Wednesday 11th September

Crediton Circular - 7 miles

Packed lunch required.

This walk is about 7 miles, and we meet at 10.30 outside the Crediton Coffee Company café in Market St, Crediton, where the farmers’ market takes place. (Market Street is a turning to the left from the High Street, just before the Ship Inn.) Picnic lunches recommended, but the cafes in this square also offer food including cream teas!

Stagecoach bus 5 (e.g. 9.55 from Exeter bus station) takes about 25 minutes to reach the Lloyds Bank stop in Crediton High St.

This walk mainly takes place in very peaceful undulating countryside north-east of Crediton. Being undulating means uphill stretches as well as downhill ones but gradients are not too bad. We start by crossing Lord’s Meadow, then some narrow roads past Creedy Bridge and northwards past Haske Barton to a local summit (154m) with fine views and coffee. After a wood we descend to Heath Bridge over the river Creedy. Then a right turn up a farm track to a lunch spot with more fine views. This track continues southwards to Upton Hellions church (remarkably old and said to have no electricity, but that is probably not true unless the wiring and switches are just for show!). The walk continues along narrow roads (green lanes?) back to Creedy Bridge and then Crediton.

Reports - 2019

May Day 2019 – Avon Estuary Walk

Nine of us gathered at Bantham for a walk along the Avon Valley led by David and Tina Smith. The forecast was mixed but at 10 am the scene was idyllic. Everything was still, with sunshine through the haze and a few sailors loitering outside the Sailing Club at low tide (waiting for opening time?).
The ferryman (part-time) arrived to take us across to the Bigbury side and the view of Burgh Island - he could only carry five at a time so a second trip was necessary,
The path took us up the side of the valley, steep in parts, and eventually we were above the meandering river with stunning views towards Aveton Gifford., our halfway point and the first bridge across the river. The sides of the valley had some, but not much, cultivation. Not many signs of habitation either other than the itinerant golfers on the long thin course.

Avon Valley

We dropped towards the river and then climbed back up to the reassuring news from David that there was only one more (less steep) climb. Judy & Nigel, keen naturalists were quick to point out interesting moths, butterflies and beetles and the absence of livestock (apart from one field with a lot of calves) meant that we saw plenty of wild orchids.
The return on the other side involved an initial steady climb but then it was a more direct contour route back, high above the river, which now covered all the previously exposed sand banks.
Back at Bantham beach which has retained its natural state with the only concession to consumerism a Gastro-bus (happily open) and later in the season a pop-up Surf Shop hiring boards and giving lessons. After refreshing tea & coffee we were on our way home meeting the first rain of the day.
Many thanks to David and Tina for such a wonderful walk and day out. They had researched the walk last year and full details and photographs are available on http://www.geograph.org.uk/geotrips/1378
Trevor

Quantocks Walk - 11th June

Five members braved the elements and joined the walk of 8-9 miles in the Quantocks from Lydeard Hill. The weather forecast had threatened heavy rain, but all that we encountered was mist and light drizzle, with gusty winds. The walk followed moorland tracks and forest paths and access roads, returning via the Drove Road, which dates back centuries - it was probably used by King Alfred's army. A Bronze Age monolith suggests it was a very ancient trackway. The rhododendrons and foxgloves were prolific, Occasionally the mist cleared giving us views east to the estuary of the River Parrett or to the broad valley to the west and the edge of Exmoor. The walk was notable for a picnic area with tables (and flushing loos) and for the company of a stray dog, Eric, whose energy put the walkers to shame. One of us sacrificed his trouser belt to restrain Eric until his distraught owner arrived.