Monthly Meeting – January 2018

Synopsis of Graham's Talk…

Graham did give a narrative of his own walk and highlighted the places of interest he passed through, including some information about the overnight stops he made.

He targeted himself to cover around seventeen miles each day.

He dedicated his walk to his wife Julie, whom he sadly lost a few months before his walk.

Graham managed to raise in excess of £10,000 for The Macmillan Trust.

The Macmillan Way is a long-distance footpath in England that links Boston, Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset. The route's distance is 290 miles (470 km). It is promoted to raise money for the charity Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The fully way marked route follows existing footpaths, bridleways and byways, and small stretches of minor roads when these are unavoidable. It runs across open fen country for its first 30 miles (48 km) and for the rest of its journey it then follows the course of the oolitic limestone belt.

The Macmillan Way starts from Boston and then runs across the Fens to their western edge at Kate's Bridge near Bourne before joining the limestone belt. From Boston it heads to Stamford and then along the shore of Rutland Water to Oakham. It then leads south and west via Warmington to Stow-on-the-Wold, then through the Cotswolds via Cirencester and Tetbury to Bradford-on-Avon. Then through Somerset and into Dorset via Castle Cary and Sherborne to Abbotsbury on the coast.

The route links with the Viking Way at Oakham, the Thames Path National Trail near Thames Head and with the South West Coast Path at the finish.

The Macmillan Ways are a network of long-distance footpaths in England. Others are:

• The Macmillan Way West from Castle Cary in Somerset to Barnstaple in Devon, 163 kilometres (101 mi) (Boston to Barnstaple is 557 kilometres (346 mi));

• The Macmillan Abbotsbury Langport Link, which creates a 38.5 kilometres (23.9 mi) short-cut for walkers from Abbotsbury to Barnstaple, a total of 202 kilometres (126 mi);

• The Macmillan Cross Cotswold Pathway from Banbury to Bath, 138 kilometres (86 mi), mostly on the main Macmillan Way;

• The Cotswold Link, 33.5 kilometres (20.8 mi) from Banbury to Chipping Campden where it links to the Cotswold Way National Trail.

The following text is taken from a blog we've found about part of the walk.

The Macmillan Way West part is a 102 mile long distance path forming a link between the main Macmillan Way at Castle Cary and the South West Coast National Trail at Barnstable. There is an intermediate link with the northern terminus of the South West Coast path at Minehead. By walking the main Macmillan Way from Boston in Lincolnshire as far as Castle Cary and then picking up the Macmillan Way West, it is possible to walk across England coast to coast from Boston to Barnstaple.

From Castle Cary the Way heads westwards across quiet meadowlands. Much of this initial walk closely follows the little River Cary until it goes southwards beyond the delightful town of Somerton soon to start its long journey across the open-sky country of the Somerset Levels, first following beside the River Yeo and then, from Langport, the River Parrett. The Way keeps beside the River Parrett for about six miles, following the course of the Parrett Trail, but after crossing the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, it heads into the busy little town of North Petherton.

From here the Way immediately starts to climb up on to the beautifully wooded south-eastern flanks of the Quantocks, passing the interesting Fyne Court Visitor Centre (start of the Quantock Greenway), before going on to more open country, with the outstanding viewpoint of Cothelstone Hill at its centre. The Way now drops down into the vale to follow along the partly wooded western slopes of the Quantocks before climbing up to follow part of the 'spine track' along the tops again. Near the northern end of the Quantocks the Way drops down through the village of Bicknoller and heads across valley country to the bright little town of Williton, just south of the coast at Watchet.The Way now heads west again, across gentle hill country, passing close to historic Cleeve Abbey and through the small village of Withycombe before entering the bounds of Exmoor National Park.

Climbing steeply into partly wooded, partly bracken-covered country, the Way passes through the ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort, before dropping down to the delightful and deservedly popular village of Dunster. The Way then climbs up steep Grabbist Hill and after a fine ridge walk there is a choice of routes - onwards to Barnstaple, or down northwards into bustling Minehead. The main route heads further along the ridge and then plunges down through woods to Wootton Courtenay. From here the serious business of the Exmoor crossing begins. The Way now leaves the valley and starts the steady climb up to Dunkery Beacon. From here the Way heads westwards and then south for about fourteen miles across some of Exmoor's wildest and most beautiful country to arrive at Mole's Chamber, little more than a bend in the road where a miners' inn once stood. From here the Way follows a road for a short way before dropping off the moor and following the Tarka Trail down deep wooded valleys beside clear streams much loved by Tarka's creator, Henry Williamson. The final stage of the Way follows the banks of the River Taw to the fine 16 arch bridge at Barnstaple.

Leading cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Relief launched this footpath at Castle Cary, the former home of the charity's founder, Douglas Macmillan, when it was decalared open by Mr David Heath MP, CBE, Member of Parliament for Somerset and Frome. This new path joins up with the existing Macmillan Way which runs 290 miles south westwards from Boston in Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset. At Barnstaple it links with the South West Coast Path National Trail. Since opening in 1996, the Macmillan Way has raised over £180,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief, through the sale of guidebooks and by sponsorship money raised by walkers using the Way.

The above text is adapted extracts taken from the introduction to the Macmillan Way West Guide Book. © Macmillan Way Association. Use gratefully acknowledged.