Walks we have done
Read about walks we have enjoyed.
Walk report 8th April 2026
Westhay-Meare-Shapwick (8.5 Miles)
Walk leader Christine Wise .
Walk along the Somerset Levels
Eighteen members had a lovely level walk one Wednesday in Mid-April which turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far. The walk was based on a Sue Gearing walk. She is the person who places walks in the Mendip Times, but we did an added extension. We started out from the Avalon Marshes Centre at Westhay and first walked along a couple of uneven fields to the fishing lakes. We then walked by Fenwood Mere, across a couple more fields to the village of Westhay. A quiet country lane then took us to Mere where we extended the walk by visiting the Fish House. At first glance, this looks like a Tithe Barn, but it is where Monks were accommodated. Behind the building was a Mere (hence the name of the village) or lake where the monks were able to earn a living by fishing. There are still raised mounds which shows where the edges of the lake were. The monks sold their fish to the monastery in Glastonbury. Anyone wanting to visit the Fish House, can get the key from the adjacent farm.
We then retraced our steps across a lane and fields to Ashcott Road and on the way had a welcome stop at the Railway Inn. The path then took us through Shapwick Heath Reserve and along the path of the old Somerset and Dorset Railway. We saw some wildlife but a highlight was when we stopped to listen and, although we could not see them, we heard a bittern and a woodpecker. Back to the start at the centre and a welcome drink and ice creams all round.
The walk was around 8.5 miles
Walk report 14th February 2026
Locking Parklands-Yarberry-Christon-Elborough (7 Miles)
Walk leader Jenny Thorpe .
On Saturday 14 February 2026, Valentine's Day of course, 23 of us set off from the old RAF chapel in Locking, now called the Radio Wing. We headed through the arboretum towards the old officer's quarters in Locking Grove and past the water tower.
We crossed the main road towards Elborough but followed the country road along the edge of the motorway southbound. Past some goats and on to the public footpath.
We then crossed the motorway bridge and headed along the bridlepath along the south of Banwell Hill, taking in the views of Crook Peak where we took a pitstop for a drinks break and some home made gingerbread cookies.
We descended down towards Yarberry across the fields, ducking under a fallen tree on the way.
On to the country lane where we headed back towards the motorway, along the edge of fields.
We'd completed the first leg completing the first part of the figure of 8 as we looped back accross the motorway bridge but carried on up the muddy bridlepath along to the top of Christon Plantation.
We left the mud behind as we descended down Windmill Hill with stunning views of Weston and accross to Wales.
We stopped off in Hutton Millenium Green for our picnic, which helpfully had lots of picnic benches and stunning views. We were all spotting the various landmarks.
Then we set off heading through a sheep farm and the woods in Elborough, before descending through fields with views of Locking in sight.
We crossed the busy Banwell Road and headed up towards Locking, navigating a couple of bridges over the rhynes.
We arrived at the top of The Bury and walked around the back of Locking parish church and the allotments before returning through the village and past the shops. We finished the final stretch along the A371 back over to Locking Parklands.
The weather was glorious and everyone had a smile on their face as we ended the walk.
Hinton St George
Ten people turned up at Village Cross in the historic village of Hinton St George for the walk around the Saints. They set off down a dark path, soon passing the writhing limbs of an ancient yew before descending steps into a field beside a well-placed bench. Venturing downhill they headed towards Lopen and then across the Fosse Way to Seavington St Michael where they stopped for morning coffee. It was then on to Seavington St Mary where they stopped for lunch but not before several fields and quite a few stiles. It was then on to Crimbleford Knap where they re-crossed the Fosse Way and through an orchard. Although many of the group convinced themselves they were returning on the same footpaths they had previously been on, a quick look at the map proved otherwise. A climb up the last hill took them back into Hinton St George. They had navigated several plank bridges and numerous stiles but all had enjoyed the walk.
