Batcombe Hollow

There may be a slow thaw on but there is still plenty of snow on the ground and although the main roads are clear, anything not thoroughly on the beaten track is "interesting" to say the least - options today are therefore somewhat limited so it's local  only.

We are fast running out of "local" but there are one or two left. Batcombe Hollow is a combe we had yet to climb although we have visited the upper parts a time or two. It's about midway between Wells and Cheddar and today, because of the snow, the main road was very quiet. It's amazing how a blanket of snow keeps the traffic at home even when the roads are quite clear.


Anyway it is a steep but relatively easy climb up the bottom of the combe to the first of the two menhirs ( standing stones).

 This is the south stone. It stands on the side of the valley and is easy to spot as the path goes right past it.

We had the valley to ourselves apart from this herd of cows.

Have I ever mentioned I don't like cows? We had to pass right through the middle of this herd to reach the stone - I was ever so brave! And armed with a stout walking pole which I didn't need here but was very glad of when we got higher and the snow got deeper.

The only was of course is up and the climb got steeper and the snow deeper. At places where it had drifted it was up to 18" deep.... Mostly though it was only a couple of inches but still surprsiingly hard work.

Finally the second menhir, the north stone

Slightly dubious about this one. It has obviously been part of a wall at some time and has had holes chiselled presumably for a gate.

So which came first? The positioning of the stone which was then used much later for a boundary or was it erected deliberately as a gate post? I would have thought that there would have been easier ways to erect a gate post so perhaps the position is ancient after all.

Whatever it's origins it has a lovely position looking down the valley and past a small ( frozen!) dew pond. Those are the Somerset Levels down below all covered with snow.





This landscape isn't normally as monochrome. A grey mist hangs over everything blending the ground with the sky.

Not much more climbing to do before we rejoined the path through the nature reserve and headed back down into Draycott itself.

Just in time to head  to the pub for a well earned glass of cider and some lunch.

Wet Wet Wet

A quick look out of the window was enough to settle the matter.  Heavy rain interspersed with sleet and a driving wind.

Walk? No thank you! Not today.

Having chickened out of the planned trip ( it will keep to next week)  it seemed a good chance to go shopping - which we did.

Driving down the Cheddar Gorge was like driving down a river. I'm glad it wasn't in my car - lots of mud and debris on the road.

Cheddar itself was looking rather bleak. The shops were just thinking about opening and a few  wet and windswept tourists hurried to the cave entrance. I was however on a mission.

I'm tired of having wet feet all the time. This is the second pair of "waterproof" boots I've had that have been anything but. There is a specialist out doors shop in Cheddar and I wanted to see what they could offer.

Well they say you get what you pay for - I  only hope it is true in this case. Of course the shop didn't have my size so I've got to go back to pick them up next week - but here's hoping. The ones that were about a half size too big were still very comfy - of course the acid test will be - are they WATERPROOF!!

We will see - at this price if they are not I will be taking them straight back.  Watch this space

Some Cheesy Pictures

Dreadful title and dreadful pun I'm afraid.

Today was a quick dash out for some exercise and fresh air so didn't venture too far. On the itinerary this time was Draycott Sleights, a site of special scientific interest for its flora and fauna and where some scenes for Robin of Sherwood were filmed.

Parking the car in a sea of mud we waded up onto the hill through even more mud. At times the path was almost impassable and we finally gave up and headed straight up on to the grassland which was still very squelchy but not quite as bad as the trackway. Off road vehicles and horse riders make a horrible mess of paths for walkers.

Probably the wrong time of year to visit this area as there are of course few flowers out in December, may return in the summer to see the rare orchids that bloom here.

The views however were magnificent even on a dark gloomy day with rain in the air. The bump on the horizon is Glastonbury Tor.

 

This is Brent Knoll looming over the levels. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see it ( and Glastonbury Tor of course)  as an island rising out of the original water logged marshland that surrounded it.




Now of course the levels are  criss crossed by rhynes to provide drainage. Nice example here in the picture.

We were above the town of Cheddar ( now the title might make sense!). The reservoir is clear as is the sea in the far distance.  There were some hardy souls sailing - rather them than me today.

 One final picture - looked exactly like half a cherry tomato!  Now just got to try and identify it  - any advance on Scarlet Waxcap?