IT was such a crisp and beautiful Sunday morning as 13 Westbury Walkers (including one new member) led by Fiona Bromley set off on a ten-mile route from the Warminster Road car park, determined to make the most of the sunshine.
Weaving their way out of town via Penleigh Road, it wasn’t long before they strode under the railway bridge and out into open country across the fields to the north of Dilton Marsh.
After a coffee stop in the recreation ground in Dilton (and for some, a quick go on the swings!) it was into fields again and through sloping woodland leading up into Short Street. The route headed across the old golf course pastures and on to the Drove Track towards Upton Scudamore. It was lovely to catch so many sure signs of spring including an early carpet of bluebells, plenty of cowslips and an orange-tip butterfly – the first of the year for many of the group!
As the Palm Sunday service finished at St Mary the Virgin Church, Upton Scudamore, the walkers picnicked in the grounds. Some of them ventured inside too: such a pretty church with some stunning stained-glass windows.
‘Cardiac Hill’ was next and this section of the Imber Trail certainly lived up to its name. Stopping to regroup regularly, they eventually reached the ridge and were met by a herd of young and very inquisitive cows and some lively skylarks. Traversing the escarpment at a lower level they wandered alongside the stand of mature trees that have been graffitied by numerous visitors over the years. There was time to linger a while over the inscriptions as well as take a group photo. Just a mile or so more and the walkers rolled back down into town towards the familiar hum of the A350.
Report by Fiona Bromley.
