Initially, we head up the coast to Sand Farm, just below Sand Point, before heading inland on public Right of Ways, to try and negotiate our way round various waterways and the M5 motorway (twice) as it weaves its way across the Somerset countryside. Sand Farm to Collum Farm, to Ebdon, cross-country to Boulton, footpath under the motorway, sea wall to just below East Hewish, subway under the motorway (if we are lucky), footpaths to Moorside Farm then road walking past Ham Farm, Broadstone Farm, Channel View Farm, Poplar Farm, Dowlais Farm then over a bridge on Parish Brook and in to the village of Clevedon. Although we could take a shorter route by following some of the larger roads, we decided it would be preferable to walk in the countryside.
The plan is to avoid walking on roads as much as possible by using public footpaths. However, as we know to our cost, this is never straightforward in England. From Weston Super Mare our destination is Clevedon, where we will base ourselves for the last two nights of our adventure. This will enable us to walk the last day in reverse, walking light on the last day, leaving the big pack at the accommodation and using only day packs. Hurrah!
Crossing over from Sand Farm, to our left we could see the remains of Woodspring Priory. An Augustinian priory, founded about 1210 at a place called Dodlinch, thought to have been close to Woodspring, the priory had moved to Woodspring by 1226. It was dissolved in 1536 but substantial building remains are still visible.
When you are crossing over the open countryside it is often difficult to guage exactly where you are and, in the absence of further sign posting, often difficult to remain on the route. A further hazard is the herds of young heifers that you often meet in the fields. It is fine to know that they are just being inquisitive but when you hear the drumming of their hooves from behind as they charge acoss the field towards you 'just being inquisitive', it is a job not to panic and take to your heels. Our main strategy now is to turn and face them, 'make ourselves big' and hope it stops them long enough for us to leave the field. On this section we came across no less than three different herds all them being 'inquisitive' as well as the ubiquitous 'bull in the field' sign and no sign of a bull..
We had been warned in advance that this is more often than not flooded and it proved to be the case. However, with a little bit of creative thinking and a physical struggle, we were able to use it by walking along the middle spar of the metal handrail that lines the walkway. Because of the low roof, this meant that we were doubled over for the length of the subway, some thirty to forty feet, with our rucksacks dragging along the roof. The water was about two feet deep, slightly more in the middle, but we managed it without acquiring wet feet. Perhaps the most difficult part was actually accessing and leaving the walkway through the densely growing nettles and thistles that surrounded the entrance without being stung.