Catcott Walk in May
Monday 22nd May – Catcott
Walk Co-ordinators: Peter and Diana
A gentle fairly flat 5 mile walk across fields and along footpaths and farm tracks with some quiet tarmac roads. Views of the Mendips, Crook Peak and Brent Knoll as well as passing through the Shapwick Owl and Hawk Reserve.
Report
Thirteen and one rallied to the Wagstaffes’ call
To the King Bill Inne at Catcott village fair,
Nicola mine host’s cheery smile welcoming all.
With charming ease, back-marker style,
From each, the King’s pound Diana extorting.
Leader Peter, knowingly, Catcott’s Domesday fame recalled;
And conjuring rebellious Monmouth camping there
To soon, with Polden’s men dragooned,
Find eternity on Sedgemoor’s moor.
Down the village hill, past St Peter’s Church,
There since 1192;
Round the corner by the pub of yore, past old Post Office,
With letter box of black not red,
And next the ancient house, added chimney big buttressing.
Past houses haunted, so it’s said,
Since Sedgemoor slaughter long ago.
On to fields, knee high grass with patches here and there
Of buttercups bright yellow shining.
Across more leas greener shimmering brightly,
Over rhynes and streams by sleeper crossings,
Stately oaks and elms abounding;
Blackthorn hedgerows proudly whitely blossomed.
Distant Mendip’s Burtle Hill hazy.
The sun rising higher hotter by the minute,
Ladies divesting, men too,
Ooh la, la!
Knobbly knees exposed by shorts,
Nettles stinging, briars scratching,
Easterly distant watching moody sentinel., the Tor.
On along less travelled lanes, now awash cow-parsley
And some stalwart bluebells still,
On along be-builded Stony Croft, expansive works,
House-martins darting here and yon among the eaves.
And lo! Behold a distant solitary crow.
Then the rural idyll landscape blotted,
High swishing blades obtrusive – energy producer
“Improving“ Polden’s green and quiet lands.
Catcott retrieved!
By way of 1192, Peter’s consecrated temple,
Walls subsiding , pews of ancient oak resilient.
Porch with stocks, bane of miscreants past.
Near five miles and styles two, only two?
And gates sixteen traversed.
King Bill, victuals all enticing,
Well earned eggs and ham and chips,
And slaking ales, and much besides.
Big, big thanks to Wagstaffes two.
A very pleasant walk and more, much enjoyed by one and all.
……
P and D and Nicky too, if my tale is long and trite,
Then, well, serves you right!
Report by the Group Poet “Stan”