MW - Prep
Mendip Way- Prep
THURSDAY 25TH MAY 2017:
So, to follow up on my Hadrians Wall walk I decide on the Mendip Way – a short, sharp walk that I can fit in over 3 days – although at an advertised 50 miles that is a decent hike. I travel to Bristol and catch the Airport Flyer bus to Weston-Super-Mare (or Weston as it seems to be called), a direct bus link just introduced, although I am the only passenger!. Another short bus hop and I arrive in Uphill village.
Arriving at my Guest House for the night I find…a building site – literally! I can barely get through the front door due to builders benches and tools, however, I find a very nice chap, Herb and ask if the place is actually open! I think Herb is one of the builders, really not sure, but he seems at home in the place and we contact the owner and get a key for the room. It is a bit of a strange place, not a home as such but a restaurant with some guest rooms.
Anyway, I dump my stuff and go off for a tootle. I walk down to the beach, only a few minutes away, then walk along the beach for maybe a mile or two until I reach Weston again. I am looking out on the Bristol channel and with the tide out it looks like you can walk all the way across to Wales - that is if you can get through the “sinking mud” as signposted everywhere...sounds nasty! Weston is a typical British seaside resort, Grand Pier included, so I do my bit – chips on the beach and ice cream.
After a wander around I head back along the beach to Uphill and see if I can find the start of the trail, with no success. The weather is hot and sunny and I head back to the room for a chill out and to prep for the next day. Later in the evening I go back out to the beach where the tide is now high (having a 12 metre range!) and it is a lovely scene – lots of families on the beach with the setting sun. Real nice. A walk back up the road and a bit of a search and I find trail signs but no matter how hard I look I can’t find any plaque marking the start….somebody must have moved it!. The village is called Uphill for a reason – a big hill! I hike up to the church perched on the top and have a mooch around, Great views over the whole area on a glorious evening. Good end to the day. Back to room and zzzzz.
