NINE people from the Westbury Walkers led by Judy Hosegood set out for an eight-mile walk from Hapsford Bridge, near Frome on Sunday March 11th.
They walked south west by the side of Mells stream through the old quarry to Great Elm, then onto Mells itself, pausing at the war memorial, designed by Edward Lutyens with the following inscription written by Robert Bridges, the poet laureate, ‘We died in a strange land facing the dark clouds of war and this stone is raised to us in the home of our delight.’
They walked on through the village before climbing uphill over fields before joining a road, after which a footpath took them east towards Buckland Dinham. They stopped for lunch and admired the view of Cranmore Tower, Mells village, Alfred’s Tower and the more distant hills of Wiltshire.
Along the way, they saw plenty of early spring flowers, including wild garlic and white violets. From Buckland Dinham they walked through the valley admiring some deer resting in the shadow of the old brick chimney marking the workings of a long disused coal field.
If you would like more information on the Westbury Walkers please email Paddy at westbury.walkers.uk@gmail.com
Report by Judy Hosegood.
