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  • Andrew's TravelsSomersetTraveler
    View from north side of Cheddar Gorge
    View from north side of Cheddar GorgeView of Cheddar Reservoir from south side of Cheddar GorgeLooking into Cheddar GorgeThe Somerset LevelsView up the Gorge from Cheddar Village

    Mendip Hills; Cheddar Gorge

    June 28, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the UK; it is 400 ft (122m) deep and 3 miles long; there are various individual show caves here, but they are closed at the moment as it is not possible to have a one-way system through them.  The Gorge is a very popular walking area as there is a lovely circular walk which takes in both sides.

    We start at the National Trust booth in Cheddar Village, going uphill initially and then heading east on the well-trodden path.  There are good views as we move along it before we turn downhill to the Black Hill Nature Reserve and cross the B1315 (aka the cliff road) to walk west back down the other side of the gorge.  There are even better views here, especially of the Cheddar Reservoir, at the Pulpit Rock.  We head back to Cheddar via the steep steps of Jacob's Ladder next to Pavey's Lookout Tower.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSomersetTraveler
    Wells Market Place and part of the Bishops Eye - the entrance to the Bishop's Palace / The Gatehouse
    The Main House and Croquet Lawn / Section of wall and moat1Views of Cathedral from Bishop's Palace lawn / View of Cathedral from Vicars' CloseWells Cathedral from the cloisters gardenNave and Scissor Arches / Chapter House staircaseQuire / Cathedral Clock / Ancient font

    Wells

    June 28, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Wells is the smallest city in the UK (excluding the City of London) and is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills; it takes its name from 3 local wells - one in the Market Place and two in the grounds between the Bishop's Palace and the Cathedral.

    We pass some prettily decorated Almshouses on our way to the Market Place and the main city attractions.  We pass through the Bishop's Eye and start at the Bishop's Palace, adjacent to Wells Cathedral; the Palace has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years.  The Palace is surrounded by a moat and walls and we walk over a bridge and through the Gatehouse; there is a magnificent croquet lawn in front of the Main House, which is itself next to the Chapel and the ruined Great Hall, and we walk along some of the moat for views.  After leaving, and on our way to see Vicars' Close, we pass the Cathedral West Front (unfortunately covered with scaffolding); Vicars' Close was built in the 14th century and is the only completely medieval street left in England.  

    Then it is back to enter the beautiful Cathedral, which is dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle and built over the period 1176 to 1450; the nave is modern looking due to the "scissor arches" - these were a 14th century solution to sinking tower foundations.  The Chapter House is closed due to the pandemic, but the attractive staircase leading to it is visible.  The Cathedral has a large garden in the middle of the cloisters, a beautiful Quire, a magnificent Cathedral clock (with one of the oldest medieval clock faces in the world, dating from c1390) and an ancient font.

    An excellent place for a visit.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSomersetTraveler
    River Axe exit from the caves
    Profile of the Witch of Wookey Hole / Intrepid climbersInside the cavesHere be dragons! / King KongOld paper making machines / Old style amusement arcadeThe Old Mill / Old signs

    Mendip Hills; Wookey Hole Caves

    June 27, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Wookey Hole is a village one mile to the west of the city of Wells and is dominated by the Wookey Hall Caves, a series of limestone caverns, a show cave (for visits) and various tourist attractions.

    The show cave is of major interest; the River Axe flows through the cave system and it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for both biological and geological reasons.  The caves have been used by humans for around 45,000 years and the emerging waters have been used for a corn-grinding mill and a handmade paper mill.  The show cave is notable for the Witch of Wookey Hole, a roughly human-shaped stalagmite that legend says is a witch turned to stone by a monk from Glastonbury; there is a legend associated with this....  There are many chambers and  the first successful cave dives in Britain were made here in 1946.  The caves have been used and/or referred to in many TV programmes.

    The rest of the site is popular with families as there are attractions such a dinosaur valley and a small museum about the cave and cave diving, a theatre with circus shows, a house of mirrors and penny arcades housed in the old mills there.

    A good morning out for us and something for everybody is here.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSomersetTraveler
    Chew Valley Lake from East Harptree Church
    Chew Valley Lake and Herriott Mill Pond from Herriott BridgeTudor Farm, South Widcombe / East Harptree Clock TowerSmitham Lead Mine ChimneyEbbor GorgeSomerset Levels from the Gorge view point

    Mendip Hills; East Harptree and area

    June 26, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We're staying in an Air BnB accommodation in East Harptree, a small village in Somerset, for a few days. This post summarises some local walks we did in the area.

    From the church we walk along the bottom section of Harptree Combe, seeing the very scanty remains of Richmont Castle and an old Victorian Aquaduct, on our way to the larger village of West Harptree. We take the paths to Chew Valley Lake and cross this via Herriotts Bridge, where there are good views of the Lake and of Herriotts Mill Pool, a local nature reserve.; the Chew Valley Lake was created as a water supply resevoir for Bristol in the 1950s. From here it is down to Widcombe Common and then along the small River Chew to Tudor Farm across to Townsent and back to East Harptree; we pass the clock tower built in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. We leave the village sgain and the double back along the top section of Harptree Combe.

    Later on, it is a short drive to East Harptree Woods to see the Smitham Lead Mine Chimney; this was built in 1867 as part of an unsuccessful lead mining venture.

    Next day, We do a walk near of Ebbor Woods and then head to Ebbor Gorge for a circular walk around this; not surprisingly, it is very steep in places, but there is a good view of the Somerset Levels from one point at the top.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSomersetTraveler
    Glastonbury Tor / St Michael's Tower
    5Inside the roofless St Michael's Tower / The wind whips through it!Glastonbury town centre / Somerset Rural Life MuseumGeorge Hotel and Pilgrims Inn / TribunalWall mural / Shop window displayTypical Glastonbury shops

    Glastonbury

    June 25, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Glastonbury is a quirky town and steeped in history and myth concerning Joseph of Arithamea, the Holy Grail and King Arthur.  Most people, however, associate it with the music festival which, by coincidence, was meant to be this weekend; there are still many "new-age" types and hippies here though...

    We walk via the back route to access the nearby tor (hill) from behind; the conical hill is topped by the roofless St Michael's Tower, built in the 14th century to replace the original wooden church, before returning to town down the front of the hill. We pass a 14th century tithe barn, now the Somerset Rural Life Museum, on our way to the Town Centre.

    Glastonbury is a market town and extremely attractive, with many old buildings - not least the Abbey and the two churches of St John the Baptist and St Benedict. We wander around enjoying the ambience.

    It has surpassed expectations.    Read more

    Trip start
    June 25, 2021
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