A relay walk has taken place along the 50-mile length of The Mendip Way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the designation of the Mendip Hills as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The route was split up into sections and walked on a sunny weekend of the 8-9 October by over 40 people from organisations responsible for its upkeep and promotion, including members of the AONB Service, local Rotary Clubs and Walkers are Welcome groups, the Mendip Ramblers, Mendip District Council, and The Mendip Society.
The relay was also a chance to mark the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in recognition of the West Mendip Way being devised by local Rotary Clubs for the Silver Jubilee. In more recent years, the East Mendip Way has been waymarked and maintained by the Mendip Ramblers.
Two groups kicked off the relay from either end of The Mendip Way – one setting out from Uphill Sluice in Weston-super-Mare along the West Mendip Way, with another group leaving from the Cheese & Grain building in Frome along the East Mendip Way.
Two relay batons – beautifully crafted out of a local Ash tree that had been felled due to Ash Dieback disease – were carried by both groups where they met in the city of Wells, where both the West and East Mendip Way routes join.
In the beautiful setting of Wells Cathedral, people joined together outside the Wells & Mendip Museum for a speech by Les Davies MBE and Sue Gearing and the unveiling of a new plaque to mark the joining of the two routes, and to raise the profile of the route and the organisations working together.
Tim Haselden, Project Development Officer at the Mendip Hills AONB Service said:
“We had a great weekend; it’s been brilliant to come together with other parties to recognise the heritage of both the West and East Mendip Way routes, whilst celebrating the entire 50 miles for the AONB’s 50th Anniversary. The Mendip Way rivals any long-distance footpath in the country and we’re keen to promote it as a sustainable eco-hike that supports local businesses, culture, and home-grown food along the way”.
Alan Webb, President of Wells Rotary Club said:
“45 years ago, four Rotary Clubs waymarked the West Mendip Way. As the gloom of the pandemic was lifting, we felt it was a good time to re-survey the whole route and link with other groups and the AONB Service to relaunch the walk and commemorate it with a new plaque. My thanks also go to the Trustees of the Museum who were very supportive”.
Mike Plaskitt, Chairman of the Mendip Ramblers said:
“Mendip Ramblers are pleased to support the initiatives in the AONB by taking part in the walk relay, running a walks programme in the Mendip area, and maintaining the Public Rights of Way, including those that make up the East Mendip Way. We can be contacted through our website at mendipramblers.co.uk“.
The Mendip Way takes you through some of the best spots in the AONB, including Crook Peak, Cheddar Gorge, and the village of Priddy, and across to the lofty Cranmore Tower and the edge of Shepton Mallet in the east. The 3-5 day walk offers stunning panoramic views, rugged landscapes, encounters with nature, and a range of settings and places to visit, eat, and stay along the route – from the coast of Weston-super-Mare, to the trendy town of Frome.
Find out more in October’s edition of Somerset Life magazine, on The Outdoor Guide website, or at themendipway.co.uk.
