0.000 Tucker's Grave Circular February 2020 0.000 The Ancients

We start at Tucker's Grave Inn which was built in the mid 18th century, which makes it a pretty ancient building?




Unfortunately The Ancients relates to Chris describing Peter, Steve C, Larry and Steve R arriving in one car! This is Steve and Peter showing what they think of Chris!




...then there is significant variation amongst The Ancients over preparation of boots for the walk. Steve's are looking pretty clean and Larry's are ?????.......




....then one Ancient is presented his vet bill by Sue. Perhaps his memory is not as good as it used to be and he hasn't paid it in time?...




....then The Ancients and some younger members come together for the group photograph....




...then Steve talks about the ancient inn, which get's its name from being close to the burial site of a local farm worker Edward Tucker who, on 5th June 1747, hung himself in a barn a few miles away....




...we then get started...




...with two of The Ancients, Steve and Peter, setting a cracking pace and Chris seems to be struggling!
]]>

We start at Tucker's Grave Inn which was built in the mid 18th century, which makes it a pretty ancient building?




Unfortunately The Ancients relates to Chris describing Peter, Steve C, Larry and Steve R arriving in one car! This is Steve and Peter showing what they think of Chris!




...then there is significant variation amongst The Ancients over preparation of boots for the walk. Steve's are looking pretty clean and Larry's are ?????.......




....then one Ancient is presented his vet bill by Sue. Perhaps his memory is not as good as it used to be and he hasn't paid it in time?...




....then The Ancients and some younger members come together for the group photograph....




...then Steve talks about the ancient inn, which get's its name from being close to the burial site of a local farm worker Edward Tucker who, on 5th June 1747, hung himself in a barn a few miles away....




...we then get started...




...with two of The Ancients, Steve and Peter, setting a cracking pace and Chris seems to be struggling!
]]> n1 0.000 Mud Assessment #1

Mud Assessment #1 takes place in Littleton Wood. It's been pretty dry for the last few days so the mud shouldn't be too bad?




Fiona is pretty relaxed about potential mud but is concerned that water might be the problem....




...Brenda is seeking reassurance from Larry about the liklehood of significant mud. Tony isn't looking totally convinced that he is being entirely accurate...




....but our Mud Expert confirms it is only 6.5 on the Phil and Judy Mud Scale....




...and Tony has an alternative scale - how dirty are his recently cleaned boots. At the moment his assessment is not far off Judy's......




...but further on Fiona nearly loses her walking stick in some significant mud...




....which causes Fred to be rather incredulous about Judy's assessment...




...and Steve thinks she has got the assessment completely wrong....




...there's a group re-assessment including Steve getting external validation on his phone...




...which causes Judy to suggest a re-evaluation which results in 8.5 being given....




....and Phil to take evasive action....




...fortunately a little further on Steve is pleased to announce we are entering a grassy field.
]]>

Mud Assessment #1 takes place in Littleton Wood. It's been pretty dry for the last few days so the mud shouldn't be too bad?




Fiona is pretty relaxed about potential mud but is concerned that water might be the problem....




...Brenda is seeking reassurance from Larry about the liklehood of significant mud. Tony isn't looking totally convinced that he is being entirely accurate...




....but our Mud Expert confirms it is only 6.5 on the Phil and Judy Mud Scale....




...and Tony has an alternative scale - how dirty are his recently cleaned boots. At the moment his assessment is not far off Judy's......




...but further on Fiona nearly loses her walking stick in some significant mud...




....which causes Fred to be rather incredulous about Judy's assessment...




...and Steve thinks she has got the assessment completely wrong....




...there's a group re-assessment including Steve getting external validation on his phone...




...which causes Judy to suggest a re-evaluation which results in 8.5 being given....




....and Phil to take evasive action....




...fortunately a little further on Steve is pleased to announce we are entering a grassy field.
]]> n2 0.000 Brooksmead Cottage

We approach a disused barn that used to be part of Brooksmead Cottage which was built in the mid 19th century but became disused in the 1950s.




We leave the mud behind us and enjoy a wonderful view of the Wellow valley.....




...and it is definitely easier going on the grassy track....




...as we reach the barn....




...where we enjoy a refreshment stop....




...and Steve makes use of the inbuilt shelf for his drink....




...then we have a unique moment, Chris is offering Brenda a drink. It's normally the other way round....




...suitably refreshed we head down the valley, which probably means we'll be coming back up at some point?
]]>

We approach a disused barn that used to be part of Brooksmead Cottage which was built in the mid 19th century but became disused in the 1950s.




We leave the mud behind us and enjoy a wonderful view of the Wellow valley.....




...and it is definitely easier going on the grassy track....




...as we reach the barn....




...where we enjoy a refreshment stop....




...and Steve makes use of the inbuilt shelf for his drink....




...then we have a unique moment, Chris is offering Brenda a drink. It's normally the other way round....




...suitably refreshed we head down the valley, which probably means we'll be coming back up at some point?
]]> n3 0.000 Stoney Littleton Long Barrow

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is one of the country's finest accessible examples of a Neolithic chambered tomb. Dating from about 3500 BC, so it is genuinely ancient.




Steve is taking his leadership duties seriously....




...Fiona has found a rather conspicuous hat, which she suggests is indicative of those from Wellow....




...these are finding out about the burial chamber...




...which is still very accessible....




...then Steve tells us all about it.....
]]>

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is one of the country's finest accessible examples of a Neolithic chambered tomb. Dating from about 3500 BC, so it is genuinely ancient.




Steve is taking his leadership duties seriously....




...Fiona has found a rather conspicuous hat, which she suggests is indicative of those from Wellow....




...these are finding out about the burial chamber...




...which is still very accessible....




...then Steve tells us all about it.....
]]> n4 0.000 Mud Assessment #2

We leave the long barrow on a bridleway and believe it will be an easy walk into Wellow.




Brenda's view is that this definitely needs a mud assessment.....




...Steve agrees and let's on that he was a bit concerned about this section....




....Tony's boots are definitely covered with mud which would suggest a pretty high mud score....




....so much so that there's some debate between Fred and Peter about which is the safest route.....




...then Linda joins us and has welcome news - the path from here to Wellow is not at all muddy. How come she misses our tribulations?....




...then Judy, rather gleefully??, confirms that this is definitley an 8.5 on the mud scale....




...further on there is genuine pleasure on reaching the tarmac of Hassage Hill!
]]>

We leave the long barrow on a bridleway and believe it will be an easy walk into Wellow.




Brenda's view is that this definitely needs a mud assessment.....




...Steve agrees and let's on that he was a bit concerned about this section....




....Tony's boots are definitely covered with mud which would suggest a pretty high mud score....




....so much so that there's some debate between Fred and Peter about which is the safest route.....




...then Linda joins us and has welcome news - the path from here to Wellow is not at all muddy. How come she misses our tribulations?....




...then Judy, rather gleefully??, confirms that this is definitley an 8.5 on the mud scale....




...further on there is genuine pleasure on reaching the tarmac of Hassage Hill!
]]> n5 0.000 The ford at Wellow

The ford at Wellow is a well-known local feature, especially welcome as there is an opportunity to clean boots!




We reach the ford....




...and there are different approaches to the cleaning of boots. Sue and Steve have a little paddle....




...which encourages Tony and Steve to adopt the same approach....




...but Chris goes for the fully turbulant flow for a really excellent clean!
]]>

The ford at Wellow is a well-known local feature, especially welcome as there is an opportunity to clean boots!




We reach the ford....




...and there are different approaches to the cleaning of boots. Sue and Steve have a little paddle....




...which encourages Tony and Steve to adopt the same approach....




...but Chris goes for the fully turbulant flow for a really excellent clean!
]]> n6 0.000 The Wellow Brook

We have a a gentle walk along the side of the Wellow Brook.




We cross one of the many streamss that join the Wellow Brook....




...then walk along the bank of the gently meandering brook....




...with excellent geographical features -examples of erosion on the outside bank of the meander!!....




...then an opportunity for Steve to clarify what is an electricity pole. Unfortunatley Peter, Sue and Larry have used telegraph post on a number of occasions in the new walking book....




...Steve is being very generous and suggests another refreshment break....




..and Larry worries whether Chris still has any water left for Brenda...




...Fiona and Judy think Steve is being generous because an 'uppity bit' is on the way?
]]>

We have a a gentle walk along the side of the Wellow Brook.




We cross one of the many streamss that join the Wellow Brook....




...then walk along the bank of the gently meandering brook....




...with excellent geographical features -examples of erosion on the outside bank of the meander!!....




...then an opportunity for Steve to clarify what is an electricity pole. Unfortunatley Peter, Sue and Larry have used telegraph post on a number of occasions in the new walking book....




...Steve is being very generous and suggests another refreshment break....




..and Larry worries whether Chris still has any water left for Brenda...




...Fiona and Judy think Steve is being generous because an 'uppity bit' is on the way?
]]> n7 0.000 The climb to Faulkland

And they were right, there is an 'uppity bit'.




Fred is checking with Steve how steep the climb is....




...and for a moment we are distracted by some llamas...




..but then the full blown 'uppity bit' is upon us....




....and some take every opportunity to rest the legs....




...before we reach the top and Faulkland.
]]>

And they were right, there is an 'uppity bit'.




Fred is checking with Steve how steep the climb is....




...and for a moment we are distracted by some llamas...




..but then the full blown 'uppity bit' is upon us....




....and some take every opportunity to rest the legs....




...before we reach the top and Faulkland.
]]> n8 0.000 The Limestone Plateau

The final section has been devised well by Steve - it's a gentle walk across the fields and lanes back to Tucker's Grave.




We cross the flat fields...




...and enjoy a rather hazy view of Westbury White Horse....




...and felt we were being watched....




...then enjoy a wonderful view south. Then lunch beckons.
]]>

The final section has been devised well by Steve - it's a gentle walk across the fields and lanes back to Tucker's Grave.




We cross the flat fields...




...and enjoy a rather hazy view of Westbury White Horse....




...and felt we were being watched....




...then enjoy a wonderful view south. Then lunch beckons.
]]> n9 0.000 Lunch at Tucker's Grave

Tucker's Grave is not well known for an extensive lunch menu, but we are definitley looking forward to our vegetable chilli.




We settle in to what must have a small lounge area...




...and tuck into the chilli....




...and Steve welcomes his pint of Butcombe...




...and Sue tucks into her chilli...




...it's simple fare but it is very tasty and goes down well...




..resulting in a very happy group of walkers.
]]>

Tucker's Grave is not well known for an extensive lunch menu, but we are definitley looking forward to our vegetable chilli.




We settle in to what must have a small lounge area...




...and tuck into the chilli....




...and Steve welcomes his pint of Butcombe...




...and Sue tucks into her chilli...




...it's simple fare but it is very tasty and goes down well...




..resulting in a very happy group of walkers.
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