Walk from Shepton Beauchamp

Walk from The Duke of York, Shepton Beauchamp, 23^rd Feb 2010

Thirty nine members met in the pub car park on a cold wet and generally miserable day. The walk, organised by Ron and his wife Annette, took us through the middle of Shepton, along Church Street, before turning into Robins Lane. We then continued eastwards along a path across fields. On reaching Drove Lane we turned north to follow the lane, crossed Lambrook Road and reached the recreation ground by way of Brimgrove Lane. From here we followed paths to Barrington by way of Barrington Court. From Barrington we followed a path as far as Whitefield Lane which we then followed back to our starting point in Shepton Beauchamp.

During the walk we saw several signs of spring with a lot of young lambs, snowdrops, crocuses and hazel catkins. This walk was unusual in that there were no styles but there was plenty of mud and water. The walk had been about 3 ¾ miles and, apart from the weather, very pleasant. At the end, the warmth of the pub and the meal seemed even better than usual.

The next walk, at the end of March, will be from Stoke Abbott near Beaminster.

Waiting to start in the pub car park. You can see from the umbrellers and the way people are dressed that it was not nice weather. On the right of the picture, wearing the yellow jacket and no hat, is Ron our leader for the day, talking to his brother

Annette, Rons wife coming up from the back of the pub after checking that we were not going to leave anybody behind.

Walking past the front of the pub towards Church Street.

Crossing the first field after leaving Robins Lane

In Drove Lane just approaching the junction with Lambrook Road

These young lambs ran away in front of us shouting for their mothers. This caused a tremendous commotion and we had to move out towards the middle of the field to allow them to run back along the fence to the gateway and their mothers. 

As we dropped into this lane from the field we had our first view of Barrington Court

At a corner in the lane was this big puddle but we thought it would be a good spot for a group picture, with Barrington court in the background.

As always, Doreen has to try out her welly boots by having a paddle

This pile of wood is all that remains of one of the avenues of Horse Chestnut trees at Barrington Court. They had to be felled after they became infected with bleeding canker disease, for which there is no cure.

Walking along a windbreak at the edge of an orchard before joining Broadmead Lane

Leaving Barrington village through a "kissing gate" 

From Barrington it was a steady climb towards Whitefield Lane

Hilda, one of our stalwarts, prepared for the weather

Dropping down into Whitefield Lane

Snowdrops beside Whitefield Lane

At a crossway, just a few hundred yards from the end of the walk

Waiting for lunch and already signing up for the next walk.

Lunch being served.