174.Rodborough Common & Thames + Severn Canal

 7/10

Parking At  Rodborough GL5 3SF

Download Map  Kmz  or  Gpx

Thought this week i'd head up to Gloucestershire, starting at Rodborough nr Stroud then on up to Rodborough Common a area i've walked around a few times butterfly hunting, a very good spot for The Duke of Burgundy, Adonis and other assorted butterflies.
Only Red Admirals around today and lots of dog walkers, but all well behaved.

Blue skies and sunshine, reflection on van.

Started half way up hill, with some great views out over Stroud, with Bristol Channel,River Severn in far distance.

Best spot for The Duke of Burgundy's

A bit of maneuvering around the cows which wander around the common and the golfers, but it's fairly flat on top and easy with great views.

Minchinhampton high st.

A beautiful day, it looked stunning.

Some good well marked footpaths even a tunnel for the dog.

Autumn colours starting to show through.

After venturing down of the hill we come to Stroud and plenty of remnants of the Industrial Revolution. It was a cloth town: woollen mills were powered by the small rivers which flow through the five valleys, and supplied from Cotswold.

 Golden Valley railway line from Swindon to Cheltenham Spa.

Thames and Severn Canal linking Stroudwater Navigation is under restoration it received a 82 million pound lottery fund but as you can see from following pictures needs a bit of work still. 

There are some really pretty sections, 
with extremely clear water. I saw Trout and kingfisher.

Jubilee bridge

There are working hard... well the 4 guys i saw weren't but i'm sure the are, it'll be great when it's finished.

This is the Capels Viaduct, this part has been restored and looks great.

Underneath

Some great reflections.

This is after we leave the waterside behind, we then climb up to where we've parked. Another walk over and a beautiful day was had. 

That's all for this week, join me again next week  :)

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173.Barrow Mump/River Parrett (8.5 miles)

 7/10

Parking TA10 0QS  Aller

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This week into darkest Somerset and the famous Barrow Mump and River Parrett Trail, a short walk and mostley flat apart from the Mump.

Starting off we soon get a view of the the Mump, Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate. Both words 'burrow' and 'mump' mean hill.

Lots of open wide landscapes with many droves, droves mean green lane or water ditch linking fields for drainage or access.

The Hills behind are Exmoor.

Really great to see some wildlife, the Fox a male i think was digging something, i carried on into field got within 40 ft of him and he darted off.

Crossing main road this is other side of Barrow Mump.

After a few fields and the River Parrett we come to the 

 24 metre or 79 ft high hill. The site has been called King Alfred's Fort, but there is no evidence of it being a fort or having any link with Alfred the Great, apart from its ownership by the nearby Athelney Abbey which he established and was linked to Burrow Mump by a causeway.

Leaving the hillside behind and follow alongside River Parrett, make sure you don't cross road bridge. Take the immediate left by The King Alfred pub.  

Don't make my mistake!

Follow on to more open somerset levels fields and droves.

The last view of the Mump before i'm back at Aller, was hoping to see some Common Cranes but unfortunately only saw Grey Herons. Aller moor is often frequented by the Cranes up to 40 birds can be seen , sometimes!

That's all for this week, join me again next week  :)

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