Tuesday 3 May 2011

Axbridge.

59 Miles. Now at Clinton House CL in Cheddar

Cheddar reservoir which is the water supply to Bristol.Cheddar Reservoir which is the water supply to Bristol.

We were not looking forward to travelling on a bank holiday Monday but unfortunately it was just the way things panned out. Leaving Dulverton was OK until we reached the A361 when traffic got heavy and slow. Luckily most of this traffic turned off onto the M5 leaving us with quite a clear run until we reached Taunton where we became caught up in heavy traffic once more. We crossed the M5 a couple of times only to see it grid locked and crawling along in all 3 lanes.

A kaleidoscope of colour.A kaleidoscope of colour alongside the Cheddar Reservoir.

Upon arrival at Clinton House CL we were warmly greeted by the proprietor who gave us full instructions on how to find everything. After lunch we walked into Axbridge which is a medieval market town close to the Cheddar Gorge. The quickest way into the town was by walking around the Cheddar Reservoir which supplies town water to Bristol. The reservoir holds 6 million cubic metres (1,350 million gallons) which is drawn from springs within the Cheddar Gorge.

King John's Hunting Lodge. Built in the 1460's it was 250 years after King John and the name was acquired in 1904 by it's then owner.King John's Hunting Lodge. Built in the 1460's it was 250 years after King John and the name was acquired in 1904 by it's then owner.

On the road into Cheddar we passed a building which I was certain was an old railway station. On our walk around Axbridge we found the building plus what would have been the goods shed. The Cheddar line used to be known as the Strawberry line as Strawberries were it’s main freight. The station is now used as a youth centre and is in good condition and the original track bed is now the Axbridge bypass.

Axbridge railway station. Built in Mendip stone in 1869 for the Bristol Exeter railway. Later to become the GWR.Axbridge Railway Station. Built in Mendip stone in 1869 for the Bristol Exeter Railway. Later to become the GWR.

Tree carvings in Axbridge, Somerset.Tree carvings in Axbridge, Somerset.

A total of 1680 miles, since 5 March 2011

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