Today was the day that we would really start the final chapter of our journey by heading south to Stawell in Devon. We are joined today by Andrew, Matt and Jen with Mark being our driver for the next two days.
We left Clifton and headed south to Stawell in Devon. Clifton is one of the oldest and most affluent areas of Bristol, much of it having been built with profits from tobacco and the slave trade. Situated to the west of Bristol City Centre, it was at one time a separate settlement but became attached to Bristol by continuous development during the Georgian era and was formally incorporated into the city in the 1830s.
We crossed the River Avon via the Plimsoll Swing Bidge with views of Brunel’s swing bridge and a good view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the distance. We also passed within a stone’s throw of Ashton Gate (home of Bristol City).
We walked (upwards as ever) with good views of Bristol behind us and through a few small villages to get to Blagdon which was called Blachedon in the 1086 Domesday Book – the name comes from the Old English bloec and dun meaning ‘the black or bleak down’.
We decided that the quickest way to Cheddar was over the Mendip Hills – despite the rain and the rocky paths we made the top safely to Beacon Batch – the highest point of the Mendip Hills at 325m. Of course there was a downhill section of slippery rocky path (not enjoyable) as we made our way down into Cheddar and a local deli for sandwiches and cake.
We try and have our lunch each day after the half way point so that we have “less” walking to conclude our day. The rest of the walk from Cheddar to Stawell was mostly flat, well irrigated farmlands. We passed Chilton Priory (also known as Stradling’s Folly) which was originally built as a folly, and subsequently enlarged to become a country house. By the time we arrived in Stawell it was quite dark and we were all pretty tired after 11.5 hours on the road.
Tomorrow we continue south through Devon to Sampford Peverell.