Somerset Walking & Activity Group

A second attempt of the walk which was cancelled in 2010 due to the weather. Walking along lanes, in fields with a couple of gentle hills. Possibility of 4 pubs and a few mince pies!
Park somewhere along Holcombe Hill (towards Edford), but please try to car share so as we can be considerate to people's driveways. Meet at the village store at the crossroads of Common Lane with Kingsway.

A moderate walk for the new year taking in the Quantock Ridgeway and Bicknoller post and the impressive Holford Beeches. A walk for poetry fans of Coleridge and Wordsworth who both walked these hills and a chance to blow away the Christmas cobwebs!
Park and meet at Holford Green (No charge for parking); turn left off the A39 by the Plough Inn.

A flat circular walk from Taunton town centre via river Tone to Norton Fitzwarren. Includes a mixture of fields and roads, taking in Longrun Meadows, the ancient monument of Norton Camp and part of the Taunton canal. Optional Pub lunch at the Cross Keys (TA2 6NR) approx 12.30pm, roast £7.95 or 2 courses £8.65.
Park and meet at the large car park on Canon Street, Taunton (free on Sundays).

A moderately easy walk which passes an old line kiln. It follows the River Tone through water meadows and a nature reserve. A long part of the route is along the old Western Canal.
Cake to be announced on the day!
Refreshments at The Martlett, Langford Budville.
Park, meet and start in the lay-by on Langford Heathfield. Alternative parking along the roadside.
Please note that this walk starts at 11.00am

The Admirals Landing Pub, Admirals Court, The Marina, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3EX at 7.30pm. All SWAG members are welcome to attend or put an item for the agenda. An email will be sent out in the new year with more details.

Starting from the car park at the top of the steep bit on the West side of the lane with open views across the Mendips if the sky is clear. Moderately strenuous as the second half of the walk is mostly uphill.
Park and meet in Deerleap car park (free)

A walk from Butleigh and back through Compton Dundon via fields and woods.
Park along the High Street in Butleigh (free parking) and meet on the Village Green, adjacent to the Post Office, on the junction of the High Street and Water Lane. Pub stop after the walk.

Moderate grade walk with a couple of steady climbs through Shipham, Dolebury Warren, Black Down and Rowberrow Warren.
Park at Shipham Hall, New Road, Shipham. Somerset Area AGM to follow walk at 2pm.
Please note: this is not a SWAG event, but members are welcome to attend.

An opportunity to join SWAG and the Quantock Orienteers for a day of orienteering at Cothelstone Hill.

The aim of orienteering is to navigate between control points marked on a special orienteering map and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. Great fun and good for anyone wanting to improve their navigation skills. No experience is necessary and the Quantock Orienteers will talk us all through the basics at the start to get us up and running (or walking!).

Please bring: walking clothes and boots, lunch and drinks, a compass if you have one (not strictly necessary but will make navigating much easier), a whistle is a useful safety measure if you get lost or injured, money to pay your entry fee.

You will be provided with: A map and a "dibber" (which is an electronic device that records when you go to a control point)

Dogs are welcome.
Cost: £7 to take part and £1 for Dibber hire

Orienteering starts time at 11am but please arrive by 10:30am so we can walk to the start of the orienteering together - start point is at Grid Ref: ST190326. (Please note SWAG parking and meeting point is different - see below)

Deadline to let us know if you are attending is 5th Feb 2012.

Park and meet at Cothelstone Hill car park at 10.30am.

Starting from Wheddon Cross, the walk will go through Snowdrop Valley.
Park and meet at the Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions car park, TA24 7DT car park in Wheddon Cross. Tea shop or Pub after walk.

A flat walk with a short hill. The path follows the River Yeo along a high embankment which is dry even when the levels are flooded, though the surrounding droves will be muddy. Bird life abounds supplemented in the winter months by visitors from the Continent.
Free parking on the road, please do not block people's driveways. Meet at Long Sutton Village Green.

This weekend 10 years ago was the first SWAG walk so this is a chance to come along and join us on a walk led by an original member and help us celebrate the 10th Birthday of the group.

A figure of eight walk of 2 halves around Enmore, Bridgwater

The morning walk is a 3.5 mile easy ramble through farmland taking in Goathurst village, returning to the Tynte Arms for Sunday carvery (approx 12.15). After lunch we set out again (approx 1.30pm) for a 4.5 mile moderate ramble via Wind Down woods and hills.

You can choose to walk all day or just join us for the morning or afternoon route. If you would like a pub lunch, please confirm with us by Monday 27th February.

Meet at Tynte Arms pub car park, Enmore Road, TA5 2DP.

Starting from an unspoilt corner of Exmoor, passing sights of archaeological interest, moorland, streams and deep-cut combes.
Park and meet at the free car park by the Green in the centre of the village.

This walk starts at the Boatyard in Uphill, going through the nature reserve following the River Axe towards Bleadon village, taking a steady ascent up Bleadon Hill before returning to the village of Uphill.
Park and meet at the Car park at the Boatyard in Uphill or street parking nearby (No charge for parking)

The next programme will run from May to August 2012. Please send your ideas as soon as possible.
Click here to submit a walk.

A walk in the Brendon Hills, through fields and Woodlands with some steep climbs and superb coastal views.
Start (and finish) at The Notley Arms in the middle of Monksilver.

Walking from Cheddar Reservoir passing Batts Combe quarry, Black Rock and taking in the far reaching views across Somerset along the top of Cheddar Gorge.
Park and meet at Cheddar Reservoir car park (no charge for parking)

We will be exploring Somerset farmland, an orchard and the river Parrett. This walk will contain hills.
Park and meet at Ham Hill car park. Parking is free and plentiful so no need to use the pub car park. Returning to the visitor centre and Prince Of Wales pub at the end of the walk.

A walk taking in the village of Minterne Magna and The Giant at Cerne Abbas.
Park and meet at Hillfield Hill Nature reserve car park

A hilly walk taking in Hemyock village and Dunkeswell Abbey, very good views Wellington Monument across the valley. Will be very muddy if the walk follows any rain!
Park and meet in the Village car park next to Baptist Church (no charge for parking). The two car parks are small so please car share where possible.

This is a varied walk that goes through villages, woodland and moorland. Pines Café, Buncombe Hill at the end of the walk.
Park and meet at Cothelstone Hill Car Park.

In our anniversary year, we are hoping to stay at the first Youth Hostel SWAG went to in 2002. Therefore, we invite you to Golant YHA over the May bank holiday 2012 (arriving on Saturday and leaving Bank Holiday Monday). Golant is a 3 star hostel and overlooks the Fowey Estuary. Click here for further information.

For those of you who have not experienced a YH weekend led by us, it is fairly relaxed over the types of walks we do during the weekend. Expect some moderate rambles between 6-12 miles (going on past weekends).

20 beds have be reserved for the weekend. However, if the hostel cannot accommodate this, he will reserve as many beds as he can or book the nearest hostel which has 20 beds available. Please note that he must pay a deposit by the end of this year. Therefore, please let us know before 13th January 2012 if you would like to stay. At the time of writing, it is unknown how much the full stay will cost. Typical hostel prices have ranged from £20-40 per night, so please make sure you can afford it. Once the bill has been paid, it is your responsibility to pay him and you will have to contact the YHA separately if you need to cancel the bed (and try to get a refund).

If you don't fancy the hostel, other members are considering local B&Bs, hotels or campsites too. If you wish to stay in alternative accommodation, you will need to organise this yourself.