WESTBURY Walkers’ most recent outing led them to a part of the Mendips formerly used for mining lead.
On Sunday 11th September, 14 members of the Westbury Walkers met at Charterhouse Mineries in a less well-known but very attractive part of the Mendips for an 9 mile walk led by Eileen Dew and Paddy Yerburgh.
The area had been worked for lead since Roman times until 1908 and the Victorians left a legacy of pools (buddle pits), mounds, condensation flues and spoil heaps which are still visible today.
Following a very wet Saturday, the day was dry and warm as the walkers set off from the car park and followed a track northeast to cross the B3134 and continue along a quiet road for about a mile before turning left and heading west to Ubley Farm.
At this point they had to follow an enclosed path which some weeks earlier had been so overgrown that it had taken the walk leaders well over an hour to clear the brambles and other vegetation when doing a preliminary walk.
“This time more of the vegetation had, thankfully, been cleared as they made their way to Leaze Farm via a farm road which provided the group with stunning views of Blagdon Lake, the Bristol Channel, Welsh coast and Brecon Beacons.
Turning south and again crossing the B3134 the walkers climbed steadily to reach Raines Batch where they turned right passing a wireless station as they continued following a ridge path to the base of Beacon Batch.
Here they stopped for lunch before retracing their steps for a short distance and taking a right turn across several fields and headed south to reach the aptly named Velvet Bottom with its fine grass – the result of rabbits grazing.
The area is apparently still so contaminated by lead that few other animals can safely feed there when the water table is high – water pollution was apparently one of the reasons for the decline of mining in the area. Owned by the National Trust, it is a strikingly beautiful and tranquil spot and provided a delightful final section to this varied walk.
Report by Paddy Yerburgh
