Wedmore

St Mary's, Wedmore

We met up with friends for this walk from the centre of the attractive ancient village of Wedmore. Its place in history was assured by the Treaty of Wedmore signed in 878 between King Alfred and the Danish King Guthrum which defined the Saxon and Danish territories and also resulted in the Danish king being baptised. Alfred had defeated Guthrum at the battle of Edington in (relatively distant) Wiltshire.

The walk begins from the handsome church of St Mary's which dates mainly from the early 15th century, although the lowest level of the tower is much older, perhaps dating from about 1200. Just to the left of the tower as you look from the nave is 1520 wall painting of St Christopher, which was re-discovered when the church was renovated in 1880.



At the bottom of Church St you turn right and then follow the road towards Wells passing the "Wedmore International Business Park" on the left. This scruffy structure seems to be operating under false pretenses: it's certainly in Wedmore, but it is hard to credit any of the other words.

Soon you turn into Mutton Lane, climbing steadily and then turning left into Mill Lane. This begins as a tarmaced road with houses, but soon becomes a green lane. At 70m, this is the highest point for miles around and there are splendid views to the northeast over the Levels to the Mendips. Nyland Hill (76m) can be seen in the middle distance.



At the end of Mill Lane, you turn right and right again and follow a lane west towards Sand. Now there are further nice views over the Levels to the south.



Approaching Sand, you swing right to return to Wedmore. We were very taken with this thatched cottage of 1820.



Distance: 3.25 miles.

From: Shortish Walks: The Levels and South Somerset by Robert Hesketh (Bossiney Books).

Map: Explorer 141 (Cheddar Gorge).

Rating: three and half stars.


Reflections

Wedmore is the main place on the Isle of Wedmore, reflecting of course the era before the Levels were drained. Although I have been to Wedmore many times, this clockwise walk along relatively high ground has for the first time made real the idea that it was once literally an island, at least when then the surrounding marshes were flooded. A book on the Somerset Levels by Robin and Romey Williams (Ex Libris press) contains the assertion that sea-going ships ventured as far inland as Wedmore in the fourteenth century, but this really is difficult to credit.

At a more general level, a walk like this invites reflection on why the countryside looks the way it is - and brings you up against your own ignorance. More reading beckons!

"How are you on trees?" I was asked. Pretty rubbish really. I think I will add a tree of the day to my flower of the day as part of a drive to improve.


Flower of the day

The delightfully named Meadow Sweet. I have seen it before without knowing the name, and also hitherto failed to take a reasonable picture.