Today I had the pleasure of Belinda's company for a walk. There was a particularly heavy frost, turning the ground white and the pavements sparkling, as though they were encrusted with diamonds! The sun came up, casting a golden glow over the browns of the skeletal trees and hedgerows, which gave a satisfying contrast to the ice and frosted ground...
There is something about an early morning walk, especially this time of year, that is magical. It may be hard to prise myself out of a lovely warm bed, but the results are so worth it! I keep reading articles on how walking and connecting to nature is so good for your mental health and I have found this to be true. Not only is it physical exercise in the fresh air, but when you have an interesting companion, the talking is very therapeutic...
We walked up towards Windsor Hill, away from the town into the surrounding countryside. We saw a field full of woolly sheep and these two delightful highland cattle (see above right), who had no trouble keeping warm with their long, dense, hairy coats!
On my way home, I walked through the park and took time out to look at the pond, which was half iced over. Instead of all the usual ducks - they must have been sheltering in the park, there were many seagulls, miles away from the sea, who looked confused by this frozen water!
With Jenny away visiting family, I had the pleasure of Belinda Ollis Blackwell's company, as we tried to find the Ham Wood Viaduct, which is lost in the woods, North of Shepton! We are lucky to have some wonderful woodland right on our doorstep. Belinda is a very talented lady in the world of style, marketing, design, blogging etc. and she is also a budding author - see The Mirror of Eden...
We first walked to Windsor Hill Wood and through the old railway tunnel and then found our way to Ham Wood. It was an overcast day that continually threatened rain, but was warmer than it has been lately. I find woods magical, whatever the weather or season. There is a stillness and calmness that descends when you look up to see the magnificant trees, that make you feel so small...
This time of year there are some fabulous wildflowers, in particular, bluebells. In Ham Wood we saw a fantastic blue/purple haze of bluebells, that was breathtaking. But there are also pale lemon primroses, white wood anemones, enchanting violets and wild garlic. With lots of ground, rocks and branches, all covered in soft green moss, it was no wonder that Belinda and I both took loads of photos!
We found the viaduct - we walked over the top and looked down to a deep ravine and took a path down to the bottom to get a better view. I imagine when the woodland canopy is fully out it would be harder to see it! It was built in 1874 as part of the Somerset and Dorset Railway's extension to Bath, originally as a single track. However, it was widened when the line was doubled between Shepton Mallet and Binegar in 1892.
Our walk in the woods also landed us in an old quarry. We also saw the remains of an old kiln, other derelict structures, and signs of human activity - pity they don't take their rubbish away with them! The wood is well managed with paths and steps taking you through and back to the fields above Shepton...
Paula graced us with her burst of energy again today. Another great spring morning, brought to life with all the wildlife you could wish for! There was the most beautiful sight of three young dear playing and bouncing around. Their white tails clear, as they chased around carefree... Almost in seconds, they sensed us, and disappeared - a fantastic sight!
Soon after we saw a huge rabbit and I mean huge! Not like the sweet little spring bunnies we are used to... Further along we met two huge gorgeous long horned Highland cows - their large wet noses under their huge heavy fringes of ginger hair - made for some great pictures...
We stopped and petted some sheep, that seem to throughly enjoy a mini Bowen treatment that Paula managed to administer over the gate!
We talked and walked miles today - great fun. Seems like the weather might change from today and rain is coming... But that's fine as a nice restful Easter plan is in place for me...
Although Jenny was away, I didn't want to miss out on my walk - I needed the exercise! However, I knew that unless I set myself a mission, I would just meander! So, I telephoned one of the members of the One Craft Gallery, who lives at Windsor Hill on the outskirts of Shepton, and asked if she minded an early morning visitor for a cuppa! Luckily Lizzie, our wonderful maker of hats, said yes!!
And that is how I became surrounded by all these fabulous hats! As you can see she let me try some on. Lizzie is camera shy so wouldn't allow me to take pics of her, but her hats do speak for themselves...
Another treat for me was to see her working studio and showroom - full of life and creativity - just like a studio should be! All her hats are entirely handmade from fantastic materials, that she orders from all over the world. You can tell by Lizzie's enormous noticeboard, (see above, top left), she is brimming with ideas. She is always developing and designing new hats and accessories, and she also manages to keep up with all the current trends! She has a dedicated following of customers who buy hats from her for every season!
Where Lizzie lives it is very rural and is quite a trek, up a narrow lane. I walked briskly and enjoyed it, even though I was on my own - as I had a purpose! So, perhaps, if you can't find a companion to 'walk the talk', the answer to is to arrange to call in on a friend who will welcome you with a hot drink and some company!!
Lots of fun and games this morning!!
Paula (Cuthbert) our holistic therapist at Skin & Tonic, was invited as a guest .. She brought her wonderful energy and zest with her!
Given that it was 7am, it seem to rub off on Helen and myself, as you can see! The zip wire has recently been restored in Collett Park so we couldn't resist...
We headed up a steep lane from Bowlish that we have named 'cardiac hill', in the hope she would soon get out of breath, and hopefully quieten down - it didn't work!
She does amazing things from the Garden Room situated at the rear of the salon. Kinesiology being the huge success story, with a growing clientele. It involves muscle testing for food intolerances, amongst other things. I am very lucky to have her at the salon. It's great to have a session regularly to see what I might be lacking in my nutrition and lifestyle! She also does V.H.T., Reflexology and treats racehorses!
We revisited the old Windsor Hill railway tunnels today, finding a second one - not sure what Helen thought as I grasped her arm quite tight as we went through...
We showed Paula parts of Shepton she hadn't seen before and ended up in the Market Place as the market stalls were setting up. She was most impressed! All in all a great start to our day...
Today we had a plan! We followed a walk in a booklet that I bought at the Tourist Information Centre published by the Town Council entitled 'Walks Around Shepton Mallet'. It became our longest walk ever - three and a half hours! It took us to Bowlish, Windsor Hill Wood, Windsor Hill Tunnels of Somerset and Dorset railway fame, through Ham Woods ending up at Croscombe and back to Bowlish via Ham Lane East.
It was a beautiful sunny morning and we walked some leafy lanes and footpaths and by fields with their neat rolls of silage ready for collection. Then we found the old railway track and went through a long and extremely dark tunnel - quite scary, even with company!
We entered Ham Woods which looked stunning with the sun filtering through the trees and found all sorts of remains of the workings of Ham Hill Quarry. I think we saw part of the Ham Wood Viaduct over which the railway used to run. Jenny spotted a large deer bounding through the wooded slopes! We ended up at the bottom of a very steep gorge and kept going through the wood, past The Forest School, which is the centre of activities for local school children, and eventually ended up on the main Shepton to Wells road.
On our way home we encountered a cow - half jersey and half friesian with her perfect calf. The farmer's wife told us it had only been born yesterday! They need to make the most of their time together as in a day or two they will be separated and the mother will be back with the milking herd.
I came home hot and thirsty and after a conversation with Jenny on the healthy options she had been trying at the weekend, I made a refreshing drink by blending a peeled lemon, piece of skinned fresh ginger root, ice, and mineral water together. I added a small amount of agave nectar for sweetness, sat down and enjoyed! Our walking must be doing us some good, as I completed a 10k swim down the River Dart, and Jenny kept dancing until gone midnight at the Pilton Party, this last weekend with no ill effects!!
