Marching through March – Week Two

Marching through March for the Children’s Hospice South West

Liz Guppy’s Challenge Week 2

Here is week two of my challenge. I’m so grateful for all the support I have received. The Children’s Hospice South West are benefitiing as the total has gone up to over £2000 now

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/catherine-elizabeth-guppy

This page provides my daily diary and gallery. Some fantastic views in our parish, all in walking distance.

Visit my Week One Page
Visit my Week Three Page
Visit my Week Four Page

DAY 8

Another lovely sunny day and my focus today was to get some shots of the old settlement.  Started from home and headed along the road towards Chawleigh ready to cut off across Burridge Moor again. On the way along I was aware of a very well camouflaged flock of fieldfares in the Cobley field to my right. Huge numbers of them who I suspect were amassing in readiness to set off back up North for the Summer. Brave little birds. Across Burridge Moor a flock of snipe surprised both Molly and me as they took off from the ditch on the northern boundary right beside us. Lovely to see them there but still no curlew yet! On down the Cheldon lane again to the footpath turning and round the loop to the settlement taking in the familiar Narwhal wale tree trunk (mentioned on a previous day) and lots of hedgebank places eroded by crossing animals. The settlement is an atmospheric and beautiful place and I hope you can see from the photos the distinctive banks and ditches forming the circular enclosure with it’s sculptural tree roots lining the ditches. What a fabulous spot for those ancient people to settle and with a good imagination it’s easy to visualise how it might have looked all those years ago during the Iron Age. We returned by following the lane back up the hill to Burridge Moor field and then home again. 4.3 miles all round.

DAY 9

Our third lane and footpath route to the Worlingtons from home is along the main road heading East to the bridlepath which turns South at Pedley Barton Cottage.  Along that “top road” you go past the converted North lake Methodist chapel, Three Hammers Crossroads, and Yetheridge Caravan and camping park with it’s familiar line of trees which are a landmark for miles around. There are stunning views to both North and South. The two photos here show views North to Exmoor and dividing the fields which run alongside of the road are the widest Devon hedgebanks I have ever seen. Must be wonderful for local wildlife. . There were a flock of beautiful white doves overhead as I turned down the bridlepath North past Pedley Barton and on through the meadow into the woods passing views towards Thelbridge and the houses and farms on the Drayford lane. The muddy woodland bridleway takes you over a little stream and back to the two bridges. We then went along the top paths through the woods and past the little quarry. This brings you out at a junction bearing right towards Drayford and left back towards Worlington. We went around through Drayford having a little river stop for Molly on the village green, before going back along the lane towards East Worlington, across the meadow path and past the school and church. Left past the village hall and back down the hill to Edgelake bridge and the car. Another lovely sunny walk with thoughts of following paths which had been trodden by local people for centuries before. 4.1 miles covered today

DAY 10

I walked down Rull Hill to Edgelake to start off today’s walk. Everyone will be familiar with this road so I just focussed on some small cameos which took my interest to photograph.  Hedge sculptures, the view East towards Thelbridge and the gentle curves of the lane. Risdon lake with a Canada Goose shouting for all it was worth, glossy, waxy pennywort leaves and some incredible bark patterns in a little copse. Is it Eucalyptus I wonder?  Then the high Moors of Exmoor to the North East with the daffodils on the bank at Rull and the framed view down to the bottom valley lane between the villages.
The familiar landmark of the churns at Hensley then out of the trees and the two Worlington villages are revealed. A fabulous vantage point. At the bottom we did another meadow and woodland round and along with the fantastic light on the catkins I have included some shots of the woods as we meandered along. Tree stumps and root sculptures and the bluebells peeping up noticeably now.Back again to the car at Edgelake bridge. 4.3 miles covered today.

DAY 11

The start of the very strong winds so Paul, Molly and I set off together and drove down to the valley to start today.  In the shelter of the woods to begin taking in Patrick’ s style. Then back through the village and along the bottom road towards Horse Hill.  We turned right down towards Affeton Mill, over the bridge and passed the beautiful water meadows. Up the steep climb to the Castle and, with the wind at our backs, thank goodness, we went along the lane back towards West village. By then we had met the 4 mile target so whilst I went into the church yard to have a look and take some pictures Paul marched quickly back and brought the car along to pick me up at the post box.  Somehow we managed to escape the hefty rain storms and did 4.3 miles. Good to meet a friendly local for a little chat in the churchyard!

DAY 12

Don’t be fooled that the sky was blue today. Mostly a rather lovey grey but jolly blowy again. I did set off to the shelter of the valley down the Horse Hill lane and over the meadows footpath. Mostly the wind was at my back and Molly totally excited by it. I love this little valley on the south side of the hills tucked between the fields. And the River Dart had a new and raging character today. Nice to see the roofs of the valley dwellings nestled cozily and safely under the hill. Friendly dogs for Molly to meet today and also great to see a friendly person and have a chat. Met up with Paul and we looped round the woods and up to the top of Pedley meadow where we hit the wind again. Scuttled back down and around the water meadows heading back to the car. We had to walk twice round the meadow to make those last points up to 4.1 miles today!

DAY 13

It’s half way day today. 13 out of 25 consecutive days I have walked more than 4 miles each day. Some more challenging than others with both glorious sunshine and Spring warmth to blustery squally weather with loads of mud. Not always easy going and somewhat tiring but always a delight. So today we went South of the village again and headed towards Morchard Bishop. The sideways map shows the route we had planned. Parking at Barton Cross and setting off on the New Buildings lane with the aim of sticking to the lanes today but investigating the criss cross footpaths that weave back and forth between there and Morchard Bishop with the plan of exploring them properly when there is not so much surface water and mud. The views on a good day over to Dartmoor would be stunning and the tower of Morchard church stands as a landmark almost all the way round. We passed signs to a number of farms with the name Aish and can only imagine that it is a dialect version of Ash. Does anyone know more of the derivation of this name?  It was generally downhill till we reached the point where we turned sharply back off the New Buildings Road back towards Morchard. What goes down in Devon must then go up and it was a long climb back up to the church. The old stone wall supporting the high curved and wooded bank at one point interested me so I snapped it to share with you. We passed glorious cherry blossom and Camelia in a sheltered garden en route and a distinctive field of solar panels. Back at the church we decided that we must try at least one footpath so headed back towards Barton Cross to the side of the school and on to the Two Moors Way. Mud up to our shins!!!!!! And ruts where cattle had trod. Ah well, it wasn’t very far so we walked on and through the plantation to the road. Back to the car and back for very late lunch. 4.9 miles in all .

Day 14

Today we did a loop north of the little Dart River and a couple of miles West of our Worlington villages incorporating the little village of Cheldon.  The map photo shows the route we took. (Apologies that the map is not straight on). We parked up at Leigh Bridge and started on one of our favourite footpath stretches walking East along Cheldon  meadows through the woods and along the next stretch of meadows to meet the lane at Cheldon Bridge ( about a mile) through wild daffodils, ancient oaks and signs of otters by the river bank.(Molly likes to roll!!!!!!!). We turned left up a long hill past a little field barn which I have watched “going to ground” over the last 20 years, alas.  Heading up towards the main ish road which heads along the ridge towards Chulmleigh we did a detour into the little village of Cheldon and were stunned by the church yard absolutely jam packed with wild daffodils. A fantastic sight. Back to our route and on up past lovely views across to Mounticoombe Farm to the East and on to the south and Dartmoor. At Cheldon cross farm we turned East towards Chulmleigh and shortly afterwards South past views towards Chulmleigh and again over to the moors. We passed sculptural beech woods with statuesque root systems which lined the lane. A steep downward walk took us to Stonemill Farm and back to Leigh bridge and the little River Dart again. A round of 4.8 miles.