Summer in Devon - Ebbor Gorge

 It was slightly overcast when I took Misty out, but still nice and warm. Ian said it had rained in the night but I didn’t hear it. While I was showering, push showers Ian’s pet hate, he prepared bacon and eggs which we ate outside. We then tried to bandage Misty’s foot with some stuff Ian had bought at the pet shop. She didn’t really like that at all, especially when he put the little boot on top again, so we decided to rest her as the day was overcast. At first we thought we would just walk up to Wookey Hole and back, about a mile. Once there we had a coffee and an ice cream. You can get married down Wookey Hole if you so desire. We then decided to push on into Ebbor Gorge, Cheddars little brother. 

Entering the danger area

Plan A was to walk around the gorge floor following one of their paths, but all the Ash trees are dying and liable to fall over at any minute so those paths are closed. Plan B was to climb the steps up to the rim of the gorge following the West Mendip Way. There were a lot of steps up, but at the top is a dangerous cliff edge viewpoint where you can see down into the gorge, and for miles on the horizon. We could also see Dame Shirley in the distance.

Lots of steps

Down into the gorge

Over to Glastonbury Tor and The Pyramid Stage

At the top

We climbed even higher after that and followed the edge of a farmers field till we came to The Monarchs Way. This is apparently route followed by Charles 2 after his defeat by Cromwell and runs for 588 miles. Our first obstacle on the approx one mile we spent on it was a field of cows right across the path. I took Ian’s hand and he did some cow whispering to lure them away. I was so brave. After that we dropped back down to Wookey Hole again and their toilets.

Monarchs Way

The way down

Facilities used we walked the final mile down to Wells touring site where Misty was waiting, having wrestled the bandage off her foot. 

We lazed, napped etc before Ian went for a shower. I had spotted a nice little pub/restaurant about a mile away in the village of Wookey (nothing to do with the hole!) so we decided to test Misty, unbandaged. On the map there was a footpath from the main road just outside the site. As we walked up the main road, Misty limping, there was no sign of any footpath. But wait! A small, unmarked (they are not keen on telling you about footpaths in this part of Somerset) hole in the hedge. The hole led to a forbidding gate. That negotiated we were on a lovely meadow where Misty gambolled, unlimping, to her hearts content. We passed through a small holding with a gorgeous wildflower meadow, through some sheep and chickens, over a farmer’s field high with grass beside a river, and to another forbidding gate right by the pub. A very satisfying hidden footpath. 

Lovely wildflowers and the smallholders cottage

Dogs were not allowed in the pub but they had a beer garden so I sat while Ian checked out the food. The old creaking sign with a decapitated sheeps head should have given him a clue. Loads of ‘locals’ sitting round the bar who stopped talking and stared at him as he entered. Yes, we had strayed into An American Werewolf territory. Luckily they weren’t serving food, so we carried on round the corner to the Ring ‘o Bells, who were serving, took dogs, and had an all round friendly, welcoming to strangers, atmosphere. It was standard pub grub in enormous portions, Ian had the lamb (no mint) steak, I had lasagne. 

Food at the lovely Ring ‘o bells

Very very full, we set off to walk off some of it by taking the secret footpath in reverse. During our meal the farmer had completely cut down his whole field of grass and was leaving in his tractor by the top entrance. We arrived back at Dame Shirley and sat outside drinking coffee until quite late in the balmy summer night.

OS watch 

Up and round Ebbor Gorge

Top secret path to Wookey

Neighbour watch

No sign of the chihuahua today. Two old ladies kept me talking about labradors for hours. A couple of units have flowers on them and look messy. Been to Glastonbury? There are a few motorhomes and caravans on stilts. They do not look safe. Not for me

Slaughtered lamb watch

For anyone looking to avoid it, it’s called The Burcott Inn, in the town of Wookey, not Wookey hole