April Roundup

Last day of the month, cracking weather, so a good excuse to get out and try and up the average for the month.

I set off from Watchet, along the coast at low tide, heading east towards Kilve. The beach here is fascinating, constantly changing but a geologists dream. A big group of what appeared to be geology students lurked at Kilve taking notes from their instructor.

I switched to the cliff path to make the going a little easier, as the holders and shingle take their toll after a while. On reaching Lilstock there is a lookout tower used by the military to watch gunnery practice just out into the channel.

Hinckley Point Nuclear power station looms large, but I divert inland towards Stogursey in the hope of a lunch stop. Fortunately I find The Greyhound is back in business and serving food, so settle down for a rest and fuel stop.

Heading off before I’m tempted to start checking for bus timetables, a short walk across the fields gets me go Nether Stowey. A tea shop beckons so I can get a coffee fix, sadly unavailable at the pub (Nescafé doesn’t count).

With a bit more zip in the step I head up through the combes to cross the Quantock ridge. Magical today, the sun streaming through the trees (Shivelight as it’s known, thanks to Dot for reminding me with her aptly named exhibition recently, and Robert Macfarlane for keeping the word alive in his writing).

I got to spend time up close and personal with two herds of deer, both about a dozen in number as I headed down towards Bicknoller. Not quite as flighty as normal, they only kept about 50 metres of distance from me for quite some time.

Crossing the steam railway I passed through Sampford Brett and Williton before arriving back in Watchet for a well deserved pint of Guinness (or three) with the remnants of the Creatives Club in the Esplanade.

That brought the tally for the day to 26.5 miles. A little further than is intended, but it was oh so enjoyable.

I’d set an objective of averaging 10 miles a day during April, and the total turned out to be 325, so just about on track.

Not sure about May, I think it will be an easier month so that I’m ready for June’s expeditions. Don’t want to overdo things! So perhaps no objective other than to try and be active as much as possible and see how things go.