Yeovil, Somerset - 86 miles 5,200 feet 3 days

20th July

Over this past few years my friends Gill, Daphne, Jeanette and myself have done a 3 day cycling trip. We started off visiting the relatively (but not completely flat) Suffolk a few times, progressed to the Cotswolds with some challenging hills. Last year an undulating Wiltshire, and this year Somerset. We used to book a supported ride with a company doing the bookings, and transporting our luggage, but more recently do it ourselves.

We booked 4 nights in the same hotel, "The Manor" in Yeovil. It is grade II listed, but in reality it's a Green King, so not luxury, but adequate for our needs. Ensuite rooms, breakfast, a garden, restaurant, a large car park, and somewhere to store 4 bikes one of which needs electricity to top up the battery. Also an easy walk into town for a choice of restauants.

I suggested 4 nights rather than 3 this year, since there were a few gardens as well as NT properties I hoped to visit on both of our travel days. We all enjoy a garden visit, so others were included on our cycling days too. They are a useful coffee stop! Unfortunately the weather has been so hot with no rain for several weeks that any garden was never going to be looking it's best, and the hotel was very hot. But we had a great time regardless. (But might go earlier in future).

DAY 1 Monday

On our first day we normally do an afternoon ride, but this year, we just decided to have a leisurely day and arrived at a Hestercombe Gardens, Nr Taunton, which on Mondays is for NT Members. (we are all members). A garden with several areas, and in part designed by Edwin Lutyens and the planting by Gertrude Jekyll. A wander and then a fabulous lunch, a further wander then time for afternoon tea. We were there for 4 hours!

Cool clothing for our travel day and lunch at Hestercombe Gardens.
Jeanette borrowed my hat at times.

Daphne on her way down the grand steps designed by Lutyens.
The lawn sadly looking the same as ours at home.😞

Echinops are happy in the drought.

some welcome shade under the pergola with
it's beautiful stone pillars columns. What a nightmare to build.

White Gaura in the foreground. Its also happy in very dry conditions.

Home made iced tea. We had a few of these this week,
but this the only home made version.

Got my hat back. 😎

We reached Yeovil at 5.30, and after a pre dinner drink in the garden, had a very average meal at our hotel. Gill and I ventured out for a walk after dinner to check out other restaurants for the next 3 nights.

DAY 2 Tuesday Yeovil loop to NT Montecute & Priory, via Hardington Mandeville

Quite a lumpy ride ahead!

We left Yeovil to the south, using a cyclepath though a country park, then an 11% gradient climb faced us. A wonderful downhill to East Coker of course, then another brutal climb this time peaking at 15%. Ouch.

Daphne recovering after our 15% hill climb.

We dropped into a village called Hardington Mandeville, passing a thatch with an unusual dog sculpture.

Dog carrying a big stick! 😂

At a junction, we turned right at "Windmill Cottage", then dropping down still further a visit to a church, with big open views.

Windmill Cottage

An interior door covered in green felt to keep out the draughts.
Never seen this before.

St Mary's Church, Hardington Mandeville

resting in some shade.

A massive downhill followed, to cross Chinnock Brook, (which is never a good sign since now we have to get up again). A steep climb which included a right hairpin into Ridge Lane, and kept going. It was tough, and hot of course. I made it, with Jeanette ahead on her ebike.

Through West Coker with just a short stretch on the A30, turning off to climb most of the way to Higher Odcombe, but enjoying an easy downhill into Montecute Village at 13 miles. This was only every planned as a cafe stop, but since the others had not been before we decided we could drop in here on Friday on our way home.

Views nr Higher Odcombe

parking up at Montecute

Gate house at Montecute, as we leave after our cuppa.

We had a slight time pressure since I had noticed that an old Priory, also owned by NT was open for just a few days, including this week. I had pre booked tickets for this morning since you were not able to just turn up. It closed at 12, and it was already after 11. It was just a couple of miles further on at Stoke -sub-Hamdon.

At the old priory, we were surprised that no one else here.
I assumed a guide would be there.

Just a quick look around then, since it was very hot, and we left to continue heading for lunch at a cafe I had pre booked at The Old Dairy Cafe in Bower Hinton for 1pm. (There are not a lot of options round here, so thought best to book!)

The cafe was only about 2 miles from the priory, so after a few more miles, and we had NOT come to the cafe, I stopped to check the map. We had completely missed turning LEFT out of the priory, and continued right. Agghh. But all of our Garmins were happy, since we were still on the correct route, BUT missed the lunch stop. Disaster.

I found a farm shop called Hamish's, closer than turning back, but still a few miles away. Gill aka "Mrs Google" planned a route on her phone to get there, and used my phone holder on her handle bars. We soon passed "Windmill Cottage" this time on our left, and continued with Garmin still happy that this was our planned route (which it was). Then Gill's route took over .... into a track called Isles Lane, which we could see was about 1.5 miles long. It was horrible. 😂

It was worse than it looks here since were just about
to get back on our bikes. Gill way ahead.

I had also phoned Hamish's just to check they were open, and we arrived shortly before their last orders taken for lunch. Phew!

Jeanette aka "Map Woman" stepped up to plan the remainder of our route back to Yeovil, using OS maps, which she was able to share with us all to send to our Garmins. (after she had changed it from Private 😉😂). It was only 8.5 miles, mostly easy going apart from a big climb into Yeovil.

So day 1 turned into a bit of an adventure. A great day out, and a welcome drink in the pub garden to cool off before we headed or for dinner at 7 to an Italian restaurant, called ASK.

DAY 3 Wednesday Yeovil loop to Sherborne via South Cadbury

Today's planned route was to visit the town of Sherbourne, and to use our NT cards once more, to visit the House and Gardens. (free Wednesday only). Our lunch stop was a late change of plan since the cafe I had in mind had changed to weekends only, since I originally planned it! But thankfully I had checked it just the other day, so had time to make a plan B.

A slightly complicated start as we used a pedestrian bridge over a dual carriageway to get out of the town centre, then a long gradual climb, where we stopped to do a "piece to camera" for our film.

Another undulation day ahead, but mostly in the middle section.

Daphne reminiscing about yesterdays trip.

heading to Mudford

A peak through a gate to this pretty farmhouse.

Loved the weather vane on the old school house

calf looking looking very brave.

Another pretty church in Chilton Cantelo

Onwards passing through Speckington, West Camel and Queen Camel, with a few houses named "Camelot", as we get closer to Cadbury Castle. There is no Castle, but a hill fortress steeped in history over 4000 years old, including King Arthur, but now a hill, with trees. It seemed that it would only be properly visible by walking to the top,s so we just peddled around the base mostly, but with some climbs too!

Typical of many thatches we saw, and we also saw
several having new roofs on our travels.

Coffee break not far now, to a farmshop called Teales just of the A303. A useful stop to know about when driving too. They had donuts. Just saying.

lunch in the orchard at Teals farmshop.

Back over the A303 for a gradual climb then NOT gradual at all. A brutal 17% climb on Kembers Lane to a Beacon View Point! Great!! Gill's Garmin was showing it as Black at this point. 3 of us walked the last few metres to the top, just in time before a tractor and trailer was heading down. There is no way he could have got passed us coming up, since it was so narrow.

We enjoyed a long downhill section now and the views opened up occasionally. Something I had noticed on the map was a Lavender farm (not open today), but we decided to do a detour at Sandford Orcas, to see it we might see the fields from the roadside.

It was a big climb to get here, and not worth it, but a wonderful downhill
as we doubled back to our route.

Heading now downhill into Sherborne, a pretty valley road with open views. So many roads have hedges blocking the views.

Photos of Sherborne town area, where we were in search of lunch. A difficult place to photograph since the stone is dark and the sky was non descript today.

We heard singing from the Abbey. It was end
of school term and packed with parents and children.

We had a nice salad each at Oliver's cafe at the top end of town, then a visit to the Castle Gardens at around 3pm. The grass all parched of course but some areas were very colourful with planting, which they kept watered with their own private supply from their lake.

Sherbourne Castle

A rest by the lake at Sherborne Castle
before our final few miles to Yeovil.

2 climbs on our route back to Yeovil via Bradford Abbas, where we joined a section of the route we used yesterday.... knowing a hill to conquer. Quiet a tough day overall, and hot again of course. A delicious Tai meal tonight but it was all a bit rushed and we were finished by 7.45!

A starter for 2, was shared by all 4.

Delicious Duck in plum sauce
with a ball of sticky rice. Yum.

DAY 4 Thursday Yeovil loop to Sherborne via South Cadbury

Today's route started 30 mins drive from Yeovil. I had checked Google Street view for parking next to a church which worked well. The planned route was 32 miles, but we shortened the final part by 10 miles. Just too hot, and done enough hills! lol. no one complained.

Views opposite the church, with nice recession this morning.

Before we set off, Gill's turn for "Piece to camera" talking about yesterday's travels.

An easy start to today's ride as we rode through Ilminster, but then a short sharp climb, when a driver overtook me, only to slam his breaks immediately since Daphne just ahead. I had to then walk a bit before I could get back on. So unnecessary!!!😡

A few more easy miles on our route this morning, passing over streams so all flat on our way to our first stop of NT Barrington Court for coffee. Not far, but since we drove to the start, it was mid morning when we reached Barrington Village. A beautiful village, and they also had loads of Scarecrows around their front gardens.

A bit of a wiggle to find the entrance to Barrington Court since I had attempted to get in the back entrance, which we did. The house closed with staircase renovations going on, but once more, some lovely gardens, and stable block. (My hubby tells me I've been here before.... I don't believe him.😂)

The old stables. A great sketching project with the wonky gates.

The White garden, a nod to Sissinghurst, with Cosmos the main plants atm.

little round windows visible on the wall elevaion.

Looking from the white garden to the old stables

The house to the far right is closed for renovation.
The red brick house WAS once the stables!

Fed and watered, and with bottles topped up, our route turned a little slower especially as we passed through Westport to an off road section. It wasn't nearly as bad as yesterdays, with a good base, which then changed to grass!

The start of our off road section. Fingers crossed!

We slowed further still, as we started a climb to "the Burrow Hill Tree".

I waited with Jeanette at the top, just beyond a gate in the shade. I nearly missed the tree!! It was only when Daphne arrived and pulled over AT the GATE, I saw her take a photo.

Bottom of our climb to The Burrow Hill Tree.

This couple handy to show the scale of tree.

the cloud around the tree seemed to echo it's shape.

A huge descent now followed through Stembridge and soon we arrived at our next planned stop of East Lambrook Manor Gardens. (originally owned by famous Garden Designer Marjory Fish). This is an RHS Partner Garden, so 3 of us got in free, and just £8 for Jeanette. The current owners took over about a year ago.

We spent around 45 mins here before having lunch at the Rose & Crown pub across the road.

Lutyens name again.

😎😂

Too hot to sit outside.

With 10 climbs on my Garmin today, we were not yet done with climbing! We continued over the A303 towards Lopen, than a BIG 15% climb to Hinton St George.

The wet scarf over the head trick, to cool off after a big climb.

Daphne attracted to a left turn to see the tower ahead.
I joined her whilst the other 2 stayed on the route to the right.
(dead end)

Hinton St George.

Big open views on our way to Diddington, BUT another
tough climbing coming up.

Decision time. Everyone feeling the heat now, and legs are weary. We decide to cut out the last loop, which has a couple more big down and ups. Instead, thanks to "Mrs Google", we turned right onto Boyton Hill ... which is downhill, for a 7 min ride back to the start.

On our drive back, the word ice cream was mentioned, and within seconds Gill had found a farm shop coming up. Screeched to a halt.

Dinner tonight in a Mediterranean Restaurant with the best food of the week, although the Tai was also very nice.

We did it. Cycling over, but our travel day still had a beautiful garden to come. But first we drove to revisit Montacute, thinking we would do some sketching. There was just nowhere with any shade, so we ended up in the cafe, not terribly inspired, but passed a bit of time before we drove to meet up with Gill's husband John at the Piet Oudolf Field. They were heading now to Devon.