At the beginning of March, David and myself (Emma) went to research and finalise one of the routes in our NEW King Arthur’s Trail trip. It was a beautiful day – blue skies and bright sunshine but with a slight breeze and a frosty nip in the air reminding us that we were still at the tail end of winter.
Starting at a beautiful small church dating back to the 14th century, we headed off into the countryside along footpaths and quiet country lanes. Signs of spring were everywhere, primroses, snowdrops and daffodils brightening up the hedgerows and verges. The air was full of the sound of birdsong – something that has become noticeably louder these past few weeks as nature gears up for spring, and males start doing their best to defend their territories and attract a mate.
As we walked on through another village, past picturesque cottages and another ancient church (where we stopped for a peek inside, of course, admiring the ornate wooden carvings on pews and a Saxon font), we soon had views over the wonderful Somerset Levels. This wide open wetland area teems with birdlife, and it wasn’t long before we saw two herons stalking a freshly ploughed field on the lookout for some tasty insects. Continuing on to a nearby woodland, we spotted two squirrels chasing each other up a tree trunk and leaping effortlessly from tree to tree over our heads. Spring really is in the air now here in South West England!
Our route then took us to a beautiful market town that was once the capital of Saxon Wessex. Built of the grey lias stone typical of this part of the world, the town looked remarkably unchanged from centuries ago. It was easy to imagine locals making their way on foot from surrounding villages for a bustling market day. After stopping to look at the stunning wood-carved ceiling in the town church (complete with Gothic fleurons, angels and wyverns), we briefly paused for a delicious pastry and coffee at a cafe just off the market square.
Heading out of town, we made our way into the Levels, enjoying stunning views across the plains. In the distance, a swan was serenely bobbing on a flooded field. Downhill through another woodland, we emerged into a classic feature of this part of England: vintage cider orchards. Cider (or scrumpy as it’s more commonly known here) has traditionally been produced on the Levels for many centuries, and there are still lots of smaller, independent manufacturers producing this delicious tipple. Resisting the urge to stock up on supplies at a farm shop, we continued along ancient trackways until we reached our destination village. Walking up a short hill, we emerged at a quintessential village square – a village green surrounded by traditional cottages, a church and a very fine country inn. The perfect way to finish our walk in the Somerset.
If you’d like to walk in the footsteps of King Arthur Trail in South West England, visit our website or send us a message. We’d love to talk through your plans.
