106.Chew Valley And Stanton Drew Stone Circles (10 miles)

 7/10

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Parking @BS40 8SU Chew Magna

 With bad weather forcast we headed the 10 miles or so towards chew Valley Lake ,parking up at Chew Magna,from here follow our track ,you cross mostly Farmland wet and muddy today,as it had rained heavily the night before

Heading towards Stanton Drew Crossing the River Chew

 Through the small village to Stanton Drew Stones Circle.........I know ,who knew !

 The largest stone circle is the Great Circle, 113 metres (371 ft) in diameter and the second largest stone circle in Britain after Avebury.

  it is considered to be one of the largest Neolithic monuments to have been built.

The date of construction is not known but is thought to be between 3000 and 2000 BCE which places it in the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age !! 

Lion or cat ?

 And free to wander.

 a distant Deer although lots of birds,

Buzzard,Redwing,Long Tailed tits,Starlings to name but a few.

Blue skies look so much nicer !

Rusting farm machinery

Ramblers :{ one day we'll be there !

 He already there !!! lagging behind as usual :)

 Great views

A Ford at Bishops sutton ,not many left !

Footbridge over River Chew

Black Headed Gulls @ Chew Valley after a Quaver !

 The perils of walking

A Back To Base

A good walk would have been better drier as many fields with muddy crossing points make it tricky/But a stout pair of boots won't make any difference you'll still be covered but great fun !!

Thanks for looking..... if anyone is ??

105.A Mendip Ramble (10.2 miles)

 8/10

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Parking @ EastHarptree BS406AA

Headed towards East Harptree and the Mendips for this feature packed walk .

After leaving the village we soon start to climb the hill towards East Harptree Woods our first view over chew valley lake .

Shortly after reaching the woods The Smithen chimmenys and old lead works are in view and a good place to take a breather !

 Frozen Pool beneath chimney 

 After short rest continue on into woods following ,today muddy, track

After leaving woods across field towards small Transmitter,Looking to Right a Trigpoint Devils Punchbowl. 294ft

To the Left Penn Transmitter through the Cloud 

 Black and white version

 This uninspiring photo is of Priddy Circles, no longer in full view after farmer in the 1970 ploughed field destroying what was left ! He got finned £1000

Next feature 

Priddy Nine Barrows and Ashen Hill Barrow Cemeteries,Bronze age

 Priddy Mineries

Penn transmitter another angle

 Priddy Mineries totally different landscape here ,great for butterflies in summer.

There's a nice little lake here and our dinner stop,while munching away this Tornado GR4 shattered the silence 

 A rare hard Path leading away from first lake 

 Waldegrave pool

 After leaving Mineries head in and through Stockhill Wood,Nightjars and short eared owls apparently. Then onwards towards  Niver Hill  .BANES Highest point.

 Coming back down hill ,Chew Valley Lake all the Way

 Taking some of the Mendips home with us ! A great walk ,summer could be dryer .

Thanks for looking