We are the Exeter and District Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Leaders: Margaret & Colin Piper
This walk links together a number of historical features, starting with the lake, which supplied water for the short-lived, unprofitable, Chard Canal, now a wild life haven. Along the wooded East side of the lake, striking out for Woodhouse Farm, Knowle St Giles, Bere Mills Farm and lane.
We now follow a medieval track, recognised and now signposted as a permissive path, along the lower slopes of Herne Hill to connect with a footpath which goes up and then down Herne Hill giving excellent views of South Somerset. We find the old GWR track bed at Donyatt Halt and young Doreen Ash still waiting to be collected from the evacuation train.
During lunch you may just notice some unusual features, like tank traps, pill boxes, gun emplacements, and barriers. This was one of the 1940 Stop Lines designed to contain German troop movements northwards or westwards in event of a successful invasion. Desperate times.
The return journey follows the disused rail track, past more fortifications, along a disused crumbling overgrown section of the A358, created when the road used a section of the railway to straighten its route, ending up at the north end of the lake.
After the walk we can recommend the Cerdic, a cinema converted to a Wetherspoons in Chard. Street parking or turn right just before Cerdic for a free Shoppers cp behind..
If you would like to join this walk, please notify the leaders, preferably by email, so that they can inform you of any late changes to arrangements.
Cp by Chard Reservoir. Free. No toilets. Getting there. Go through Chard on the A30, go past the A358 crossroads. Carry on, on theA30 up the hill with Tesco/LIDL on your right. Chard Reservoir will be signed left (brown sign) up Oaklands Avenue. Follow signs and go left at T junction, down to cp. Map: EXP116/128.
