LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I parked in Pawlett village on Monmouth Farm Close and checked with neighbours that the van was not in their way. From the van I walked to Old Main Road and turned right, soon to continue along chapel Road to the junction of Ham Lane and Stretcholt Lane where I continued straight towards Yearsley Farm. I turned left through a gate within a gate, before the farm on the public footpath and followed it to Black Rock Clyce and the River Dyke. I took a slight diversion around some interested bullocks. With a spring in my step I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and fresh air of the big wide open spaces around the River Parrett. With the tide 'in' I couldn't see any mud, but plenty of water instead. The water at high tide seemed at the same level as the fields on the other side of the dyke, very spooky. I was walking along a very important strip of land, obviously doing a very good job. I turned right and left, at 'the island' and continued along the dyke top towards the sluice on the Huntspill river. Then I suddenly noticed three bullocks standing on the dyke, staring at me walking towards them. As I continued I noticed many more bullocks on the land side of the dyke and they had noticed me because they were slowly stirring. They started moving towards me, about 50 of them, with increasing velocity as the seconds passed. They were soon at a gallop, if bullocks can gallop. I quickly weighed up the situation, turned round and ran for a gate in the corner of the 'island field' where the dyke is a 'V' shape. The bullocks knew the cause was lost because they soon stopped. I climbed the gate and entered a wheat field. With no other pubic footpaths around I tried to reach Sloway Lane, about three fields away. I circumnavigated the field as there were no other exits apart from the gate where I had entered the field. The field was completely surrounded by a hedge and a ditch. I found a place to cross the ditch but it was far too wide and deep sided for me to attempt to cross. It wasn't worth the risk. After studying a couple more adjacent fields, I decided to re-trace my steps along the dyke back to Chapel Road. As I was passing Yearsley Farm on the dyke, to my horror I noticed more bullocks around the gate at the other end of the field. I was trapped, there were bullocks in both directions, young curious bullocks looking for adventure. Again, I had to make a swift decision and I'm not a strong swimmer. If I had swum across the River Parrett the tide would have gone out and in again, twice. I noticed a gate in the field boundary, so I headed straight for it. As I approached I noticed a farm track from the gate towards the farm, but as I looked on the map, there were no public footpaths anywhere apart from the dyke. I decided to trespass through the farm, hoping that the farm dogs were asleep. The farm was large with plenty of pig sheds. All my senses were on full alert; you could have heard a pin drop. The way wasn't obvious through the farm and I had to turn a few corners. As I passed near the farmhouse I could see the farm road, much to my relief. At the end of the farm road I turned left onto Stretcholt Lane which was exactly where I had been over two hours earlier. At the end of Stretcholt Lane I turned left at Stretcholt village onto Solway Lane and walked through the village. As I left the village I passed Collins Farm on the left which had a large concrete block almost blocking the road. If the blocks are still there it is very dangerous, so take extra caution when navigating the bends just before Collins Farm. The narrow lane continued for almost a mile (>1Km) to the bridge over River Huntspill. I continued on Solway Lane for 150 yards (150 metres) to a sharp right bend, then another 150 yards (150 metres) to a finger post and stile on the left, almost hidden in the hedge. I crossed the field diagonally to the right to a passage leading to St Peter & All Hallows' Church on the left. If time allows I'm sure a visit to the church would be interesting. At the triangular island on Church Road in Huntspill Village, I turned left and followed the lane north, passing Plymor Hill Farm on two sides on the left. Where Church Road takes a sharp right I continued ahead along Langlands Lane, a very narrow lane but oddly the speed limit changes from 30 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour. At the end of the lane I continued ahead on a narrow green track to Maundril's Farm. Again if time allows from the triangular island turn right and immediately take Silver Street on the left to a dead end. A study of the Ordnance Survey map shows that a public footpath can be followed to Maundril's Farm, meeting up with my route via Church Road. I walked along a narrow passage between the buildings of the farm and continued ahead to and through Alstone Village to Brue Bridge and the A38 main road at River Brue. I turned right at the main road and immediately found a bus stop outside the Murco garage where I waited for a bus to take me back to the van.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: at Pawlett