Our Walking Groups are open to all Cheddar Valley u3a members, but if you are new to the group you would like to walk with, please contact the group leader or walk leader first, to ensure you can cope with the distance, speed and terrain. Please see your news bulletin to find contact details.

EASY WALKING GROUP

The Easy Walking Group walk on the 4th Wednesday of the month, in the morning.   Normally walking for about an hour and a half on level ground with no stiles, covering about 2 to 3 miles. Walking shoes or trainers are adequate.  Dogs are usually welcome, and we have a coffee stop at the end of the walk.  The group leader is Chris Barker.

Easy Walking Group Wednesday 23^rd September

We are going to Black Rock Gate at the head of Cheddar Gorge, and doing a "there and back" walk through Black Rock and part of Velvet Bottom. This is an almost flat walk through woods and the open valley of Velvet Bottom. There is some climbing over the dams in Velvet Bottom, but nothing more than a few feet, and there are no stiles. The walk is about an hour and a half, and is dog-friendly. We can have coffee afterwards back in Cheddar, at the Riverside.

Meet to carshare at the Sharpham Road playing fields carpark, ready to leave at 10.00am. 

Meet and park at Black Rock Gate, at the head of Cheddar Gorge, on the B3135, map ref 482 546, what3words ///detriment.attends.label There isn't a relevant postcode.

Start time 10.30am 

If you have any questions, especially about where we are going, contact Chris Barker on on the usual numbers,

MODERATE WALKING GROUP

The Moderate Walking Group meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month, to set off at 10.00 am at the starting point, The walks are for the same length of time as the easy walking group, but cover more ground, usually 3 miles or more, with some hills and the odd stile. Walking shoes or boots are required. Dogs are usually welcome. Our walks are usually followed by coffee at a nearby location. If you can walk around the top of the Cheddar reservoir in 45 to 50 mins our pace will suit you.

Moderate Walking Group Wednesday 2^nd September

We are walking from the East Harptree forestry Commission carpark, a circuit that passes the Smitham Chimney and the area of historic lead mining around it, across farm fields and down the steep-sided valley that is Harptree Combe, wooded with a stream running down it. The walk goes round the ruins of Richmont Castle and back up across fields to the carpark. The walk is about three and a half miles, goes downhill and back up again, and has no stiles. It is dog-friendly, and I am reliably informed that the numerous fallen trees that were across the path through the Combe have been cleared. We can have coffee at the Queen Vic in Priddy or the Castle of Comfort Inn.

Meet and park at East Harptree Forestry Commission carpark, nearest postcode BS40 6DA, map ref 558 541, what3words ///wished.approvals.songbirds

Start time 10.00am 

Any questions, or if you need or can offer a lift, contact Chris Barker

Recent walks: Wednesday 26^th November 2025

The Easy Walking group tried out the new bit of the Strawberry Line behind Kings of Wessex school, and the new bridge over the river.

Moderate Walking group February

The Moderate walking group went to Shipham on February 4th, and did a circuit around Churchill and Rowberrow. There was plenty of mud, but glorious sunshine all the way. The pictures were taken in Dolebury Bottom, before a coffee stop at The Swan, Rowberrow. 

Recent walks: Moderate Walking group November.

We walked a four mile circuit up past the Priddy 9 barrows and across to the Ashen Hill barrows. We managed to avoid the rain and puddles, though it was breezy on top of the hill. Coffee afterwards in the Queen Vic was very welcome.

Recent walks: Moderate Walking group October.

Moderate Walking group Wednesday 1st October:  The Moderate Walking group went to Wedmore on 1st October, walking on lanes and footpaths, some of which were quite challenging. There were 4 stiles of varying degrees of difficulty, a field with bullocks racing round but keeping their distance, a path through a tunnel of trees and bushes, where the secateurs came in handy, and finally the scramble down Madwoman`s Lane, which for once was dry, not muddy, and with no stream running down it. The photo shows the group looking very happy at getting to the bottom!

16 walkers had a great time walking from Priddy, on a circuit that included Deer Leap, where the photo was taken. The view was magnificent, the weather was ideal, and there wasn`t much in the way of hill as we were already up on the top when we started out. We had coffee at the Priddy Good Food farm cafe, which was good too.

Chris Barker Easy and Moderate Walking groups leader.