Showing posts with label Views. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Views. Show all posts

Tuesday, 17 March 2020

181. Wookey Hole, Ebbor Gorge and Wells (9.2 Miles)

 6/10
Parking @ BA5 2LS

Download Map


2  weeks on the trot and a visit to Wookey Hole, Ebbor Gorge and The smallest City in England Wells, With Great Views over the Mendips, history and some very muddy paths!

This again is a retake of a walk I first did in 2011 and 2015 Ebbor & Wookey Walk


The walk started grey and very overcast slowly rising along the Mendip Way and up towards Wookey Hole, difficult to spot Glasto tor!


Following along a muddy track to Milton hill with Underwood Quarry on my left, you could have continued along Mendip way (left before wood) but I decided to top Milton hill.


The misty view from Milton Hill, I'm sure on a sunny day it would have been great but today mmmm, you can see 2 new house developments being built, Bovis Homes - Priory Fields below, affordable housing 260,000 to 400,000 !!!


Arriving into Wookey the old red phone used to be everywhere but nowadays this used for defibrillator storage, heart restarter.


Due to Covid19 The Wookey Hole attractions were deserted just a few cars in the car park.


Next more uphill into Ebbor gorge one of my favourite places, I first found this place in 1991, and have visited many times with my kids on sunnier days.


The walk up today was very muddy and uneventful but a rest at the top with good views out towards Exmoor.

Ebbor Gorge and surrounding Woodland were given to the National Trust By a Mrs G. W. Hodgkinson in memory of Winston Churchill.


Not a soul to be seen or heard, no planes were overhead either! (ME)


The weather did not improve, but at least no rain and I continued onwards.


You can just see Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, still under construction.



Following on past Deerleap along Pelting Drove and along Dursdon Drove, great names eh!

 Mendip transmitting station, Pen hill ( 293 metres (961 ft) top shrouded by mist


Next one of the steepest footpaths I've come across, on the map I've suggested a detour as I slide most of the way down this clinging on to the fence and falling over at the bottom, so do the detour! ( I was fine, no one saw me, LOL)


Should read VERY VERY VERY Steep and slippy!!!


Thinking that was the end of slippy paths for the day here's another muddy, wet one. It would be fine in summer or even not after rain, but today a real chore to walk it.


Leaving the mud behind I arrived into the City of Wells and Bishops Palace.


Again all very quiet around this normally bustling area. (Covid19)


 Wells Cathedral built-in 1176–1450 and is very grand and a good place to sit and watch the world go by.


The workmanship is amazing, The 13th-century west front by Thomas Norreys. The architectural decoration and figurative sculptures is considered to be unsurpassed in Britain.




Next week blue skies and sunshine ...here's hoping!

Thanks for looking, please say hello or comment if you like it:)
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Friday, 14 April 2017

168.Woodchester Park

7.5/10

Parking @ Nympsfield GL10 3UA

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This weeks walk start in Nympsfield in Gloucestershire.


Bluebells in full bloom.


Green Glades and hardly anyone seen on walk.



Path up to Uley Bury old fort.


First view of the day.


Few more views through the trees and a few of those hilly bits. 
Old mile marker post.

 
Then Coaley Peak or Frocester Hill a great place to stop.


Looking towards Seven estuary



Most of the peaks and high points on this board we've done  !


Rodborough Common & Minchampton Butterflying heaven, i'll be back there for sure in search of the Duke of Burgundy and Adonis Blues.


Typical stone walls in the cotswolds


Then we enter Woodchester Park and lakes.



A mutilated deer carcass was found in the gardens, which prompted experts to believe a big cat is prowling the grounds in January 2012. 
Unfortunately we didn't see, just lots of dogs !


The mansion was abandoned by its builders in the middle of construction, leaving behind a building that appears complete from the outside, but with floors, plaster and whole rooms missing inside. It has remained in this state since the mid-1870s.

The mansion's creator William Leigh bought the Woodchester Park estate for £100,000 in 1854.
wiki


Some beautiful grounds and gardens.


Another couple of hills and we are back at Nympfield which The name 'Nympsfield' is a mix of Celtic and Old English, meaning 'Open land by the holy place.


A very hilly walk with plenty of up and downs but some good views to compensate.
A lovely sunny day was had with spring flowers adding to the walk .

Thats all for this week, join me again next week  :)