14 MEMBERS of the club led by Mike Pearce set off on a walk on Sunday 8th January which had been shortened to 6.5 miles due to flooded fields and very muddy paths.
The group met at Brabazon Way, Bowerhill, Melksham – all roads on this estate being named after aircraft due to its connection with WW2.
The walk started with a very muddy 100m across a ploughed field, past allotments then onto a good path down to the canal past a picnic site. Turning left on to the towpath towards Devizes after approximately 1.5 miles the walkers turned right over a swing bridge and up Rusty Lane which had been recently making the climb much easier as they made their way towards Seend.
They turned left at the crossroads past some friendly horses, then across two fields coming out into Seend village on the A361 passing the horse pond on the way. The group then crossed the A361 turning right down the footpath beside Seend Park – a superb 17th century property built in 26 acres with views across to Salisbury plain. A coffee stop was taken in the church.
The route then took them back over main road into Rusty Lane again, past the village hall and recreation ground where they turned left again to pass behind a school heading towards Seend Cleeve. Lovely views were enjoyed of Roundway and Beacon Hill at Devizes.
From there they passed a disused iron ore quarry (1884-1920) where the ore was originally transported by tramway to the canal and later on to the railway station. They then followed a footpath towards Seend Park Farm. crossing a couple of well flooded fields and Semington Brook.
Lunch was taken in the nearby large oak barn built in 2000 for the millennium, which contains an eclectic mix of road signs and teapots and the lead strips with dates of the flood levels on the gate post. After lunch it was back over swing bridge to the canal, turning right for ten minutes, passing the picnic site again and back to the cars. Despite the very wet and muddy conditions underfoot, the rain fortunately held off.
For more information please email westbury.walkers.uk@gmail.com
Report by Mike Pearce
A GROUP of the Westbury Walkers met at the entrance to the Leisure Park Warminster with two new walkers making nine in total for a special New Year’s Day walk.
The seven-mile walk was led by Jan McCann. The walk took them along the lake and when they tried to get out through Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve the Lower Marsh Road was flooded!
So, they walked back to climb the field to Damask Way passing six black cows, then turned left and followed the lane down to Henfords Marsh where they turned right, passing Hunters Moon and then over the wooden bridge with a very fast flowing River Wylye beneath them.
The group then turned right and walked to the corner of the field next to the by-pass going under the bridge and headed for Southleigh Woods, doing a slight detour to look at the pretty Dower House at Jobs Mill. Turning right they followed the lower path for half a mile, to the very large redwood trees, which were much admired. They then walked up and out of the woods to enjoy the views of Lords Hill and Longbridge Deverill.
They were then due to go to Robin Hoods Bower/Cathedral with its unusual collection of monkey puzzle trees but were told by some helpful dog walkers that it was impassable as the water was up over their wellington boots! So, they found their way back to the earlier path and sat having lunch on a large tree trunk, overlooking the valley towards Crockerton. They then walked to the edge of the woods passing near the pylon (that shines red at night).
Crossing over a lane, keeping to the left of Woodcroft Wood with its intriguing wooden house, they descended down a narrow footpath before turning right and climbing up alongside the bypass to cross over the bridge and then turned left down the steep hill to another muddy area at the bottom, passing Hunters Moon again and the wooden log cabins on their right.
They then turned left into Upper Marsh Road back to Christchurch where they turned right down Weymouth Street and back to the parked cars.
Despite the very wet conditions under foot and the necessary detours, the walk was very much enjoyed by the group and the two new walkers.
For more information, please email westbury.walkers.uk@gmail.com
Report by Jan McCann
