Cheddar historical walk
Thursday 17th February – Cheddar
Walk Leaders: Roger & Jean
The walk begins from The Riverside Inn in Cheddar and follows roads and paths to explore the historic areas of Cheddar. We walk via the Memorial Cross and Kings of Wessex Academy and through to the Lower path of Cheddar Reservoir where we will stop for coffee. Our return takes us back into Cheddar exploring the medieval streets and properties, climbing Tuttors Hill and arriving back at The Riverside for lunch at 1pm.
Report
We were so lucky to have a mild sunny morning (except for the very last stretch when there was a shower of rain) on the day before the country was hit by storm Eunice. 16 walkers were led by Jean and Roger around Cheddar looking at the hidden parts of the town which were unknown to most of us.
We headed to the 15th century market cross and on to admire St Andrews church, then round the grounds of the Kings of Wessex school where Jean pointed out the site of the Saxon Palace and the ruins of the 14th century chapel to St Columbanus. We walked along footpaths towards the reservoir only to find that in the past week the way up on to the path round the reservoir had been fenced off so we made a detour across the playing fields and saw the construction work being done on the Cheddar pump track**. We bravely faced the wind for a blow of very fresh air beside the water before starting our return walk into historic Cheddar. We walked along Lower North Street admiring the 16th and 17th century farmhouses. We stopped at Hanna More’s cottage (Hannah was an educator, writer and social reformer 1745 – 1833). A few walkers took a shorter route back to the pub while the rest climbed up Tuttors Hill to see the view over Cheddar, but a shower of rain rather spoiled this last stretch. We were rather wet by the time we arrived back at the Riverside Inn! The walk was 4.7 miles in all. A very good lunch was enjoyed by the group in the conservatory of the pub. Thanks Roger and Jean for a good guided walk. Report by Nicky
** A pump track is a circuit of rollers, berms (banked turns) and other features designed to be ridden by riders "pumping" (generating momentum by up and down body movements, instead of pedalling). They were originally designed for mountain bikes and BMXs, but now, due to concrete or tarmac constructions, can also be used by skateboards and are accessible to wheelchairs. Pump tracks are relatively simple to use and cater to a wide variety of rider skill levels.