One of the first foggy November days arrived on the day of the walk and this added a certain mystery but also meant a lot of imagination was needed for the promised views of the Gordano Valley and the River Severn.

The route took us over the golf course and through woodlands, and eventually up to Walton Common. This is an important site for the Brown Argus butterfly, but we’d have to return in the summer to see that. We did, however, encounter the local warden and his band of volunteers clearing the scrub. He explained that photos from 1947 showed the area to be free of trees, the intention is to get the site back to limestone heath, an important habitat.

St. Paul’s church invites walkers to use their facilities and even offers ‘walker’s packs’ so we stopped to look at the church and surroundings before the long steady climb back to the golf course. James had kindly invited us to mince pies and coffee so we rushed back for those which we enjoyed in front of his welcome home fire. A lovely warm end to the brisk walk.

7 walkers, 3.5 miles. 523ft elevation.
    
Report by Carol Wood
Photos by Jeff Eastmond