29/3/13 - Good Dam

Distance - 5.8 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk From - Jarrold Exmoor and the Quantocks

Wimbleball Lake

Traffic reports from an 18 year old student suggested that today would be the busiest time on the roads this year.  So we set the alarm, left early and did the 140 miles to Somerset in 2 hours 15 minutes.  Maybe the traffic is bad in Manchester.

This time did not include the stop at Taunton Dean services.  Sonia asks me if there are toilets at the start of this walk.  I know how many miles, geocaches and what the terrain will be, but the toilet situation is beyond  me.  So we stop for a break and it gives me the chance to get a coffee.  Sonia says that the deal for a pastie and any hot drink at £2.95 looks a bargain, so I spend 5 minutes deciding before being met with a "£5.95 please". 

Turns out the offer was for a hot drink and a pastry.  Once I had made up my mind for a BBQ steak one the size of my shoe, a croissant wasn't going to cut it.

We park up at Haddon Hills Picnic Area.  There are toilets.

Start at the top

Its also nearly at the top of the hill, which means that the walking to the trig point couldn't be easier.

The future of hill walking - park at the top

Molly at the Trig

 

We pick up four caches that have all been recently maintained and in excellent condition on the way to Haddon Farm and the lane.  This is a stiff descent and it doesn't look like there is any vehicular access for the farm.  I take Sonia's mind off the drop down by leaving her thinking about "how they get the tractors up there". 

She thinks that hard that she slips over, saving her bottom by landing in a crab style all fours.  I rescue her and she says "surprised you didn't take a photo for your bloody blog".  Should have been quicker.

We arrive at Bury that has a lovely ford and old pack horse style bridge and then have a long walk along the wonderfully titled River Haddeo.  This is pleasant walking along the valley floor.

Bury Bridge

Bury Bridge

Other side of the River Haddeo is out of Bounds

At Hartford, we get a little confused which involves a retrace your steps crossing on an old wooden bridge, before we end up having a very steep climb to the dam.  This is having a lot of work done to it and the workers hut provided a great place to share our sandwiches with the dog.

The Dam from the workers hut

A simple case of then following the track back to the car park - climbing up hill all the way.  I saved a cache till the end and it turned out to be a monster sized one.

Nearly back at the car

We move on to our ultimate destination, Appledore, where we have rented a fisherman's cottage for the Easter break.  Architecturally, it is rather unusually laid out in a one down, three up configuration.  But on the way up from the car I spied two pubs and a chipper - so it will more than do us.