Wellington again

During our last visit to Willand I attempted the Wellington monument and kind of implied that I would actually get there some other time. And so I did. I started the barefoot running aspect of our visit to Ali's mum with a warm-up along the Exe valley whilst Ali was doing what she likes best: shopping...

...and then a few days later the opportunity came - fair weather, no need for lunch because we had taken Ali's mum to Knightshayes (National Trust) tea shop wherein lieth fruit scones, and so I set off telling myself there was no shame should I fail to make it all the way. And made it there and back. To check out the scaffolding, I told my alter ego (the less adventurous one).

The whole track

The interesting part

I figured I must have run (the term includes some walking) over 20 miles so, on returning and checking my cell phone, I was a bit miffed that I had "only" clocked up 19.55 miles.  With elevation gain 620m and average speed moving 5.3 mph.

I used footpaths where feasible and some were exceedingly muddy, but I had my waterproof bare feet on so a quick wash in the river Culm where I left it at Uffculme sorted that.

In case you have not been following my Wellington monument interest, it is currently the subject of a major restoration program and is completely covered in scaffolding.  Worth a visit just to see the amount of effort they have expended so far.

The outward route was by road to Black Down Common (home of the Culmstock Beacon) and thence to the monument. Then returning via a very pleasant footpath to within a stone's throw of Hemyock, at least it would have been more pleasant if less muddy, then to Culmstock from which I followed the river footpath via Hunkin Wood to Uffculme.  As usual you can click on the images to enlarge them.

This detail is a tunnel to protect pedestrian access to a footpath going North towards the town of Wellington.  BTW in my first post I supposed the town got its name from the first duke. In fact the town preceded himself and he was named after it.

The Culm valley looking towards the West

Within a stone's throw

In Hunkin Wood

Me (and the river Culm)

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Willand and Wellington

The Duke of Wellington got around. I fact there have been nine of him, the latest being still alive. But it was the first that most people know about and who won the victory at Waterloo in 1815. There are various monuments and other miscellania in memory of that victory - one in Phoenix Park, Dublin at 62m high, another in Trim, Co Meath, much to the chagrin of some of the locals. And the Wellington Monument, 53m high, near where Ali's mum lives and the nearby town named after the monument one supposes.  When driving to her home I habitually look out for the monument which is clearly visible from the M5, and this time I noted it was covered in scaffolding and reckoned it was worth a visit on foot. Google reckoned it was about 9.5 miles away so would be quite a challenge barefoot running.

Part of my track, monument off top right

I set off kind of hiding my intent from my alter ego (or one of them) for fear of the goal being considered too much especially in the winter. I told myself I could be just going to Uffculme. But at each crossroads I persisted in the general direction of the monument. In the event I was saved by a road closure towards the end - the road was closed presumably because of works on the monument renovation.  So I clocked up only 16.83 miles with elevation gain 484m. But I figured I could have made it there and back so, maybe in the summer...

A few days previous I had run 7.3 miles, this time to explore hitherto uncharted territory south-east of her home. Nothing of much consequence but opening up some ideas for my next visit.

Here I ascended Black Down Common, home of Culmstock Beacon, but I resisted the temptation to backtrack to the Beacon and ploughed on towards the monument.  The common is definitely worth another visit.

Black Down Common

View to the north

Note the ice!

The monument in the distance - here I turned back

Descent into sunset

Culm Davy church

Back along the river Culm and through Hunkin Wood

Approaching Uffculme

Uffculme square

Sunset at Bristol airport

Maiden Down

Here I am in Willand at Great Grandma's again with various opportunities to explore new venues. Perusing my OS 1:25k mapping in Orux I saw "Maiden Down" at top right and made it my objective, via my favourite Uffculme water meadows.

My track, 13 miles, bare foot of course

Maiden Down is a "Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)" but I could not find out its origin, although here are some historical maps of the area.

There are no rights of way marked on my OS map, but using this site and checking the box "Access Land & Dartmoor Commons" you get the interactive map below which shows "Footpath No. 10" in magenta and Maiden Down as common land. It's amazing the detail you can find on the internet for the UK. Much less in Ireland but it is improving with time.

Without the filter

With the commons filter

Footpath No. 10 was my way of entering Maiden Down. The tail end pointing due east was apparently added recently and has no signage. It led me into rough woodland and I had to plow through long grass. I disturbed some fallow deer before reaching the lake and the track which I followed to exit the area. I climbed over a gate to the public road - looking back it was marked "Private Property Keep Out" which was rather strange having done my homework on common land.

Most generally a "field" is a bounded region of influence. Thus the electric field due to a point charge has infinite bounds. Maiden Down can be regarded as a field with bounds indicated in pale orange in the above map. Given that one starts outside the field, to pass through it one must both enter and exit. If indeed it is Private, surely one ought to be impeded by a fence or notice, etc., both on entry and exit. But this was not the case, indeed is rarely the case in my experience, grounds I use for assuaging any conscience I might have for possibly trespassing.

In my various homework I found this reference to Maiden Down, suggesting that the number and type of livestock that can be freely grazed on this common land is severely limited and does not include myself, but then I did not stop to graze.

Here are my pictures, in reverse chronological order and click-able to view as usual:

Typical Devon lane

The lake in the centre of Maiden Down

Culmstock Beacon visible on horizon by leaf on left

A footpath across farmland that I followed

Chickens too

Another view of Culmstock Beacon

Uffculme water meadows

Closer to Willand

A quest for X

26th and 28th December runs

On a previous visit my quest was Culmstock Beacon. Is it, of course, good for one's psychology to have a goal and, this time, I have chosen the Exe: that river that flows of course through Exeter. Its nearest approach to Willand is at Tiverton so, if you will, Tiverton is the goal. We drive there often for shopping (no expedition with Ali would be complete without frequent recourse to shops) but I have hitherto assumed it was beyond my running reach.


26th run - clockwise in blue on my map - 9.55 miles.

Actually the X goal had not yet quite resolved itself and I set out rather to explore high ground to the west of Cullompton, returning via Brithem Bottom (all roads around in the locality appear to lead there) and Halberton. It rained for the whole duration of my run, steadily increasing in intensity. I was glad to get back. In fact I cannot think of a time that I have not been glad to get back after a long run.

Beacon lane

descending Forges Hill

rain on Halberton duck pomd

Yesterday's run - anticlockwise in red on my map - 11.14 miles, average 6 mph.

This time I wanted to explore the track of the GWR railway between Tiverton and Willand, as cycle way. Regrettably not metalled I found I was running on the remains of ballast, not comfortable barefoot. Sad that the railway no longer exists but good that at least a small stretch has been preserved as a cycle way. I met several dog walkers, two boys who commented on my feet, though no cyclists. You'd need a mountain bike I think.

Grand Canal at Halberton

joining the cycle way

once steam locomotives thundered here

where I left the cycle way for smoother ground

Tiverton

Grand Canal near Tidcombe Hall

The second canal crossing marked the furthest extent of my run. The return was, of course, via Brithem Bottom, and the roads were still icy in parts where the winter sun had not yet reached.

PV array between Willand and Cullompton

the day is dying

The river Exe remains my goal. Whether I make it on this trip I know not but, if and when I do, it will be significantly longer than yesterday's run, maybe 15 miles. Which is kind of scary.