LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I parked the car in lay-by just north of Dunkerton Bridge on A367 at 10.58am and walked down the hill, southwards to a Bus Stop and caught the bus to Clutton (Cholwell). The bus dropped me in the lay-by at south end of Cholwell Village and I walked south on the A37 along Upper Bristol Road to a public footpath, on the south side of a house, going north/east to Clutton Village. At the village I turned right on Marsh Road with St Augusta Church on my left as I turned. At the end of the bungalows where the road bends right I negotiated the kissing gate and continued straight ahead for 2.5km (2 miles) to Hallatrow Village, passing Willow Farm and a branch line of a disused railway track bed to Camerton, with Greyfield Wood on my left and Highbury Hill on my right at Long Lands. The path turned south at Stephen's Hill passing the same railway track bed before Hallatrow Village. Just before the village I walked along a short lane and crossing the busy Wells Road (A39) to another short lane. Here the footpath soon reached thr branch line of the same railway track bed which I followed, sometimes on the old track bed and sometimes on my right. When I reached Goosard Lane/Bristol Road I climbed the steps, through a gate and crossed the road to a gate which took me through the sewerage works to an old disused, Somerset Coal Canal. The walk along the old towpath was delightful with lots of flora and wild life. Soon after Dunford Farm the canal ended. I crossed the farm track and continued to follow the old railway to Radford Village. Note the 'Jenny's Path information boards. At the road 'Radford Hill' I continued slightly right to Weekesley Lane and turned right into Radford Village. Just before the bridge of Cam Brook I turned left for a change, along Durcott Road to a public footpath sign post on the left. I turned left again and walked under the dismantled bridge of the old railway and immediately turned right to follow the track into Camberton Village, firstly arriving at the roads Canal View then immediately Red Hill. I went straight across the road to a gate, where I followed the track bed again to a road The Hermitage. Beyond I continued to walk east, passing the old Camerton Coal Mine on the right, to a prominent wooded hill, which is the remains of the coal mine spoil heap. The old coal mine site is now the Camberton Batch Nature Reserve, with a statue in remembrance of the coal workers. I skirted the wood with Sheep House Farm on my left, soon to reach Bengrove House. I walked down the house road to a kissing gate on the left, just before Cam Brook bridge. The path led me to Stoneage Lane, where I crossed the road by turning right then soon left to keep north of the Cam Brook. I crossed the brook after a short distance and skirted south around another wooded hill by another disused mine where the site is now a car dismantlers. As I reached Withyditch Lane, the path and the lane were surrounded by trees and foliage. I passed a farm track and Splott Farm on my right to a small bridge over Cam Brook. I used the footpath on the right of the lane just before the bridge to keep to the south side of the brook. I continued on this path for over 1km (1 mile), south of the brook, to reach Church Farm and All Saints Church at Dunkerton Village. A picturesque farm and church. Soon after crossing the farm road by the Cam Bridge, I spotted an animal in the corner of my eye which raced across the field to the safety of the brook. Was it a fox, an otter, who knows but I wished I had seen the animal more clearly. When I reached Dunkerton Bridge I crossed the Cam Brook on the busy A367 main road and walked up the road to the lay-by and my car by Edelweiss Farm. The end of another day walking for me on the 'Limestone Link' footpath. Another varied and challenging walk through wonderful countryside scenery which I enjoyed enormously. Recommended, not to be missed.

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