Autumn Walking Break Taunton 19th to 21st September 2025
The base for our holiday was the gothic Corner House Hotel on Park St complete with gargoyles and turrets. It was originally a house built for a retired Bishop of Winchester but unfortunately, the poor chap died before he could move in. Bishops of Winchester become a common theme throughout the following days. Our first walk in glorious sunshine included a tour of the town. Sue gave us a brief history of many of the interesting buildings we passed. Taunton Minster was a particularly impressive sight. Apparently, the donkey used to move stone during the building work was hauled to the top of the tower on the Minsters completion to admire the view! The walk continued along the Bridgewater and Taunton canal and the river Tone.
On the second day the rain held off until late afternoon. We started walking out into open country via Vivary park (formerly fish ponds for the Bishops of Winchester!). We continued via several beautifully planted flower meadows to the Queens Arms at Pitminster. Before lunch there was a chance for those who wanted to see Pitminster church with a beautiful window depicting Christ asking the disciples to become ‘Fishers of Men’. Walkers then enjoyed a very hearty lunch and the odd pint or two of ‘Old Lane’. The second leg of the walk to Orchard Portman gave us beautiful views of the Blackwater Hills. We stopped to admire St Nicholas church at Corfe. Return to Taunton was achieved via a rather delayed bus.
On the last day we walked in a westerly direction to Cotford St Luke through more land owned at some point by the Winchester diocese. Sue demonstrated her horse whispering skills when we needed to go through a field with some skittish occupants! Cotford St Luke is a modern village on the site of a former hospital. Lunch was taken in the hospital chapel which has been tastefully converted into an eating venue (Chapale available, the local ale). The last leg in glorious sunshine took us to the Quantock brewery at Bishops Lydeard.
Thank you, Gordon and Sue for a brilliantly organised trip. A lovely hotel with French inspired food, two excellent stops for lunch on Friday and Saturday and a good location near the centre of Taunton for those who did not wish to attempt all the walks. Your planning, attention to detail and kindness is legendry.
Janet and Diana