Turnpike Corner to Star

24/8/19 This is the main bit of the Mendips, the A39 to the A38. We bussed our way across Somerset to Chewton Mendip, four buses to be precise. Then we wandered down the hill into Litton and found the back entrance to the pub. The Litton, as it is now called, is a hotel as well and a posher one than your average village pub. This is it from the front.


It was a nice enough venue for a drink and we had Potholer (4.3%) and Notorius (3.8%) for £7.80. We also visited the gents, which brought up a few thoughts about recycling.


We left by the front door and went along the B3114 as far as Stoneyard Lane. This starts as an overgrown lane with some tarmac beneath it, but after we scattered various young pheasants, we found ourselves walking up a river bed. There was a path along side for us to follow onwards though. We were starting the climb onto the Mendips themselves. We did manage to do most of it on country lanes. We were walking along the Monarch's Way at one point, but were soon in the open fields and heading towards the Castle of Comfort Inn.


It was busy when we arrived, but as we drank out Butcombe (4%) and Giggle and Titter (3.8%) for £6.80, the bar started to clear as people finished their lunch. There isn't many people living up here and the surrounding roads are quite straight without many footpaths. So it was along one of these roads that we set off. We made quite good time dodging the fast cars and were soon walking across the fields and Nature Reserve of Ubley Warren. Then it was back on the road through Charterhouse. After the West Mendip Way joined us, we went on to Rowberrow Warren. We intended to head to Rowberrow Bottom, but missed a turning of some sort and eventually came out in Dolebury Bottom. The main problem with this is that it is in the wrong county. We didn't want to walk though the woods any more, partly because we could not work out exactly where the boundary was. So we walked along the A38 to what we knew was Somerset.


The Star Inn was quiet and we had pints of Butcombe (4%) and Exmoor Gold (4.5%) for £7.70 as we played pool. The landlord told us where to catch the bus and we headed back. This was the Falcon coach service which was a pleasant way to travel home.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Exford to Simonsbath (and back)

Image
28/8/21 With the help of a bus to Dulverton and another one to Exford, we were walking by 10:30. Then, unsurprisingly, it was uphill. We went via Chibbet Post and Chibbet Ford onto the moor before picking up the Two Moors Way and descending towards the River Barle. There were a few walkers on this part of the route, which is understandable given the scenery. We carried on upstream past Cow Castle to Simonsbath. As we emerged from the woods, we could see the Exmoor Forest Inn . It was almost like a plan. I think they were new owners. There were several people inside and out. We sat near the bar and had two pints of Silver Stallion (4.3%) and a Taunton Cider (4%) for £12.90. We were not in a rush, so then we had the same again. We returned along a higher route via Winstitchen and Pickedstones overlooking the Barle and Cow Castle. One of our party was pleased to spot a redstart. We also came across a hunt. We could hear the hounds and a horn, followed by a hare crossing our path and few s
Read more

Culbone to Exford

Image
14/8/21 It was a couple of early buses to Minehead to ensure we reached our final destination in time to get the bus. The idea of paying another £8 each to get back to the Culbone Stables seemed unpalatable, so I inquired at the taxi rank about getting to the top of Porlock Hill and we were soon on our way and had saved some money. From there, we walked down to Pitt Farm to join our previous route. Then we retraced our steps to the A39 before heading south. We quickly joined a quiet road and decided to stay with it as we headed onto the open moorland. We passed Lucott Cross and skirted around Exford Common before cutting across to join Coombe Lane. What started off as a track past a couple of remote campsites, turned into a proper road as we descended into Exford. As we had caught a taxi to start and followed a road most of the way, we had plenty of time before the bus. We went into the Exmoor White Horse Inn . They have riverside tables available outside which seemed busy with diners.
Read more

Minehead to Culbone

Image
7/8/21 Bus to Minehead to start and then we walked along the back roads towards Selworthy. It started to rain before we arrived in the village. We then crossed the A39 and walked cross country to West Luccombe. It was still raining. We were very wet by the time we trudged into Porlock. We managed to find some wooden chairs in The Royal Oak in an attempt not to leave too much mess. We had pints of Doom (4%), Tribute (4.2%) and Tarka (4%) for £11.50 as some families came into lunch. Not much further along the High Street is The Castle . Here we had two pints of Courage Best (4%) and a Beaky Blinder (4.8%) for £11.10 in another pub doing meals. Further again along the High Street, at the bottom of Porlock Hill, is The Ship Inn . It was busy in here and they had a fine selection of real ales. We had two pints of Proper Ansome (4.2%) and a Proper Job (4.5%) for £11.75. Rather than heading up the hill yet, we took the footpath to Porlock Weir. There is another The Ship Inn , sometimes refer
Read more