Sixteen walkers and an eager dog set off from All Saints Church on a dull morning, walking up Valley Road to admire the art deco house once occupied by the artist, Doris Hatt - a favourite piece of Clevedon history.

Entering Court Wood via the entrance opposite Clevedon School, we found a path skirting the back of houses before veering adventurously left up some steep rocky slabs, where 2 members of the group reminisced about an overgrown rock slide - perhaps a clearance job for the Woodcutters?

We swiftly gained the main path formerly used by quarry carts - now partly blocked by a fallen tree and a metal barrier designed to dissuade bikes. Up through beech trees and a golden spread of leaves on the ground before the path narrowed and entered the quarry itself - now obviously used by exuberant mountain bikers.

A steep path through buddleias led to a wide ledge at the top of the quarry and a view up the Gordano valley to the cranes of Portbury docks. A further short steep stretch led to 2 mature bikers poised to zoom down the path we had just walked up. With everyone safely up and over, we joined the main track leading to the Keeper's cottage, stopping by a newly constructed stone bench for elevenses and a view - this time over the Gordano valley to the Channel.

Just past the cottage, the group stepped through a gap in the wall and into the woods before joining the main path back to All Saints, enjoying the carriage bridge, and the view of Clevedon Court on the way.

Report by Liz Byrd
Photos by Malcolm Case