Yarcombe to Stathe
After a night in a B&B, I left Yarcombe, with the sun just trying to break through the clouds. It was a lovely temperature, and I was hoping to make the most of it before the afternoon’s forecast.
I started off along a lane, before joining a footpath. Along the footpath, I came across this sheep. The sheep had managed to get itself tangled in the gorse and brambles that were coming over the fence. It was stuck and couldn’t move away. Not liking to see the animal in distress, I quickly got out my pocket tool and used the saw to cut the sheep free. The sheep was surprisingly calm whilst I did this, and sat the entire time. Once it was free, I was back on my way.
The footpath was beautiful with the fields sloping down below, giving me views of the Devon countryside.
I then took some lanes through Marsh and towards Bishopswood.
As I crossed over a stile, I realised that I’d left Devon and made it to Somerset. Two counties down!
I followed the footpaths to Blackwater. They were a lovely collection of fields, and not too wet underfoot either!
After reaching Castle Plantation, I took the footpath towards the East Deane Way. According to the map, the footpath was meant to be a track. However, I found very overgrown woodland.
After battling my way through and I soon joined the next track, which was much better!
After leaving the woodland, I stopped on the side of a lane for some lunch.
Whilst I was eating my lunch, I was treated to a deer running out of the hedge and up the lane, it was beautiful to see! I was really surprised when it jumped out.
This lunch stop didn’t stop treating me there, I’d spotted the rain coming towards me and was putting my waterproofs on, when a beautiful rainbow appeared. It was funny to see it looking so flat and wide, with the land being flatter. I’m used to seeing them higher in the sky at home!
For the afternoon, I joined the East Deane Way all the way to Stathe. The East Deane Way is a 44 mile circular route in Somerset. I covered the section from Birkenhall to Stathe. It was nice to walk on a recognised route, as the footpaths were a more well walked than the mornings selection.
The afternoon rain arrived, so I was glad that I’d put my waterproofs on. The rain was heavy at times, but I enjoyed walking along listening to my audio book.
After a few hours of rain, it brightened up to be a beautiful afternoon.
Along the East Deane Way, I found another new style of stile. This one was a wooden squeeze stile with a step in the middle. I have to say that it’s much better than the Devon stone stiles that I met last week!
The East Deane Way finally took me to Stathe, where I arrived at the campsite for the evening.
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