Liz Guppy’s Challenge‘I’ve decided to do some fundraising for Children’s Hospice South West, and I’d really appreciate your support. This will be a personal challenge over the next 25 days when I will be walking a minimum of 4 miles every day to achieve a minimum of 100 miles.!! I will be doing it mostly around our beautiful local footpaths and lanes. To some of you amazing long-distance walkers this will seem small fry, but it will be a challenge for me. I’m hoping the weather stays warm and sunny so I can wear my Children’s Hospice T Shirt. (I’ve ordered a large in case it needs a few jumpers underneath 🤣). I will mostly have my two long distance walking mates to keep me company, Molly Dog and Paul so they will help me keep up the pace. I am determined to achieve this and if anyone would like to support me please follow the link to my Just Giving page and read more about why this is a personal and important challenge. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/catherine-elizabeth-guppy If you would like to donate, either on my Just Giving Page or with cash or cheque, to this worthy Charity I would be enormously grateful. Thank you so much to those who have already pledged support or made donations.’ Visit my Week Two Page |
DAY 1Fabulous sunshine. I set off from home with Molly towards the village down lanes and across public footpaths. The familiar Churches appear around every corner. Ancient Oak will be familiar to those of us who travel along the bottom lane from the village towards Horse Hill. The little twisted spire of West Worlington. I headed through the village over Edgelake Bridge and joined the woodland path. Around and back through meadows and woods to the stream that flows into the little Dart River. Then over the bridge and past the Stockham field and down to The Hams. All around the edge of the Hams and over the bridge and back to where Paul had parked to meet me. 4.1 miles in total. |
DAY 2The fall out dust from the Sahara clouded tha atmosphere to start the walk but it cleared and we got some stunning views, if a little hazy. Set out from the top of West village and headed towards Affeton. We met a very well known village resident on route to Affeton. Molly greeted him! We followed the Public bridleway over Affeton moor and on towards Cuddenhay to the North. Fabulous views to the North over to Bealy Court but it was too hazy to get good pictures. We turned right at the lane leading back towards Glebe. I am intrigued by the spelling of what I thought was Affeton on the signpost. Maybe someone will know the reason for this. Sir Hugh or Lady Angela if you read this please could you let me know. Once again the little twisted spire looking from the North over to Rull. This round was 4.4 miles. |
DAY 3Day 3 of the walk was wet and mild, A familiar walk to lots of village folk today. Molly looks ready to go at Edgelake. To keep out of the rain we started by heading round the woods with lots of mud. We took in the lovely meadows en route. Busy mole colony here. ……….and through the mud to Drayford. A little tribute here on the river bank to the man who has cleared this part of the river edge. Looked out for the resident dipper here but no sight of him today. Grey wagtail bobbing along amongst the stones though. On up the lane to Thornham chapel and lovely wild daffodils on the verges. Long hill to the top then turned back towards the village. Some of us remember when the children from the school used this lovely wild place for forest schools activities. When we arrived in the village we needed to add an extra loop before heading back to the car so headed back towards Drayford and cut back across the footpath in the Town Farm field, said hello to “Arthur “ and his friend, past the school and church yard, resplendent in crocuses, snowdrops and baby daffodils. Back to the car via the lovely meadows and the Hams. In total 4.4 miles |
DAY 4From home I walked, in Devon dimly mizzle up to the footpath which heads across Burridge Moor. Loads of mud but glorious acid yellow gorse. All along the hedge bank. Was hoping I might hear an early curlew as they nest up here but no such luck. Across the meadow and then down towards Cheldon bridge which takes you to a footpath down an old green lane. Loads of wild daffodils and primroses appearing on the banks. This lane takes you past a site of a farmstead, long gone to ground called Middle Burridge. There is an atmosphere of an old homestead with remains of a field barn where ano domini has taken its toll. A tree stump in the hedge bank resembles a narwhal whale and is a prominent landmark. Views to the north. Then on past the Iron Age settlement ( more pics another day) and down the lane to Cheldon bridge. Then a big steep climb up the lane and past the ancient monuments sign post, back across Burridge Moor and home along the “top road.” 4.3 miles all round. |
DAY 5The sunshine has returned. Well nearly. Walk from home across Burridge Moor again today. Down the lane and around the old settlement. On down to Cheldon meadows along to Leigh bridge and back through the meadows to the car which Paul had parked at Cheldon bridge. A round of 4.6 miles. The lane verges full of the promise of Spring and there was frog spawn in the ditches too. Escapees into the hedge bank from what I imagine was once a cultivated garden of Middle Burridge, now no more. Pink polyanthus, swathes of purple periwinkle and banks of snowdrops, still hanging in there. ………and many many deer hoof prints in the mud treading the once much used green lane. This really is a wild place. Long may it remain so!!!!!!! A mini amphitheatre in an old tree stump marks the way the footpath goes next. Across a field and over to the settlement. The gate into the East side of the settlement which I bypassed on this walk and headed just around to the road leading to Cheldon bridge. Cheldon church and village in the distance. Looking back North East towards Worlington. Looking West towards Cheldon Meadows. The meadows bathed in sunlight. A line of ancient oaks might have once marked a hedgebank separating the boggy wet water meadows from the meadow. Who knows!!! Remainders of an old field barn. ……..and down along the woodland path. The turning point was Leigh bridge where we retraced our steps back to the car. 4.6 miles today. |
DAY 6Fabulous sunshine as I headed for the village again across the footpaths and lanes. This first picture is actually looking South to Dartmoor before I set out. Clear as a bell! Still jolly cold and ice patterns on the remaining puddles. A familiar and beautiful landmark. The wind mills sparking in the sun. Another familiar landmark these days. Just a detail on a wall. The conifers planted in memory of the men from the village who died in the Second World War. All named on the war memorial. The resident raven and his mate in familiar pose at the top and making his familiar sound. Lording it over the valley. The raven’s view back over the valley. Well nearly!! Down through the familiar paths around the woods. And what a joy to see Jemima and her family back on the river again. A little glimpse at the spire again encounter home. 4.3 miles on this walk. |
DAY 7A southerly walk from home today. Heading in the direction of Morchard Bishop and following the lane from Three Hammers Cross ( up on the “top road”) with Dartmoor ahead of us. On the top road North lake chapel stands, as a reminder of the days when it was a good Methodist Stronghold, on the skyline. |
