Following a day of rest spent mostly indoors, I was eager to get out again, with two further rest days to follow. Setting off from my front door and staying local wasn’t going to do it for me this time… I wanted to get out and away; deciding upon a drive south down the M5, west along the A39 and to the northern fringe of the much-loved Quantock Hills.
I don’t do too many walks in the eastern half of Somerset. It’s really not that far from home but, each time I do head out that way, I either come home having lost something or find myself frustrated by a flurry of footpath obstructions.
Having just purchased a book at the time, titled Beyond Bristol Walks, I decided to head out and follow one of Robin Tetlow’s routes.
If not for the help and suggestions of my friends Matt and Joe, I believe I would’ve struggled to complete this second stage of my Ridgeway walk; trekking for two days across one weekend.
We all left Bristol in the one car and my friends had kindly offered to drop me off at one point on Saturday morning and then to collect me on Sunday afternoon and return me to Bristol. Meanwhile, they were off on their own getaway walking a good stretch of the Thames Path.
This walk began in the village of Chew Magna, where free use of the car park is available, provided you get there early. It’s an area I’m quite familiar with and a popular ‘commuter route’ linking the A38 with the A37 and beyond.
Bearing in mind this is less than a thirty-minute drive south of Bristol, it commands appreciation. My walk was to begin by following a portion of the local Three Peaks Walk, before looping back along previously unexplored footpaths.
Walks With Olly 