| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: | |
| When: | Fortnightly on Wednesday mornings 10:15 am-1:00 pm Week 1. All year. Re-starts 15th April 2026 |
| Venue: | Various locations |
| Cost: | No charge |
This group has come out of hibernation! Watch here or the Activity Group Events panel of the front page for details. Those who have carried on walking on Wednesdays are welcome to join us - but please first join the u3a if you are not presently a member.
PLEASE NOTE - Starting on Wednesday 16th September 2026. I will be collecting £1 per person for each walk. This flat charge is being applied across all groups from 12th September. The alternative - a termly payment - would not be appropriate as we don't have terms, and people should in my view only pay when they come. I will however accept an upfront larger payment from those who would prefer it that way, and tick off walks they attend.
Forthcoming events
Dogs are not allowed on u3a walks, sorry.
All walks undertaken at your own risk..... You will need to be capable of walking 4 to 5 miles (which includes a break).
Full list of dated earlier walks. Click here.
Walks from September 2025 onwards are listed below.
Wednesday 19th August - Langport to Muchelney and back.
Rain at last...13 of us this time. We followed the old railway line through odd showers to the road and on to Muchelney Church, which is next to the Abbey (see below - spot the umbrella and ominous cloud). Then followed the river back, past paddleboarders and bridge-jumpers, to the Kitchen at the Wharf, where we drank and ate outside in the sunshine. Nice level walk, and a very nice day.
Wednesday 5th August - Penniless Porch to Holes Ash Spring and back
Up Vicar's Close, through Walcombe hamlet, climbing the rough New Cut track through Welsh's Green up to Holes Ash Spring, resting with blueberry cake at a fallen tree (see below), criss-crossing the disappearing stream, then down to Model Farm, through the impressive red Split Rock Quarry and the Blue School. 4.2 miles, with refreshments at the Bishop's Palace. 12 of us again. Nice day.
Wednesday 22nd July - Railway Line Croscombe
Yet another hot day. 12 of us followed a narrow winding path up the Ham Wood Valley then south-east to join the old railway that is now a cycle path, which we followed through the cool re-opened tunnel and across the dizzying viaduct. We found a sun shelter for a bit of R and R (see pic below), before descending back to Croscombe with expansive views towards Glastonbury Tor followed by a rather lovely green lane. A route to carry secateurs with you to fend off fiendish brambles. The Village Hall allowed us to park there, and we ended up at The George for drinks and food (mixed reviews).
Wednesday 8th July - Butleigh Woods
Another scorcher! This is the walk we were going to do a fortnight ago but it was dangerously hot. Today it was just hot. We climbed up to the Hood Monument, and then wended our way through the woods to the obelisk raised in 1852 to memorialise William Colston who was accidentally shot while hunting. This was a 5 mile walk, with 16 of us. We stopped for some health and safety training (see below) on our way back to the Castlebrook Inn, where we had some very welcome drinks and nice food.
Wednesday 10th June - JOHNNY IS AWAY
THERE IS NO U3a WALK THIS WEEK.
Wednesday 27th May 2026 - Axbridge
7 of us braved the heat, which luckily was eased by ice creams and a cool breeze. We walked along Ellenge Stream, Cheddar Yeo and Stubington Drove, then up steeply to the Reservoir where we ate cake. This is a photo of us resting in the sunshine.
Wednesday 13th May 2026 - Glastonbury
8 of us risked the rain, which stopped before we started and started after we stopped, all getting to the top of the Tor in strong blustery winds, then visiting the 'Avalon oaks' Gog and Magog (over 1000 years old, so eligible for u3a membership), and through Paddington Farm, with a drink at The Mitre Inn in town.
Wednesday 29th April 2026 - Priddy
21 of us met at Priddy Green and, on a beautiful sunny, windy day, passed the Church and made our way up to the Barrows and commanding views, down through fire-damaged fields to the old lead-workings, then up and over an assortment of stiles back to the village. 4 miles.
Some of us stayed and had a very pleasant drink and meal at the Victoria Inn, in the sunshine.
Wednesday 15th April 2026 - Avalon Marshes
Twelve of us walked along the beautiful Sweet Track path at Shapwick Heath, passing a wobbly reconstruction of the 4000 year old Sweet Track, which some of us braved (see pic below) then on to the Decoy Hide and its view back to Glastonbury Tor over the lake, then walked to another hide near the site of a railway accident (in 1947), then back along the old railway track in the rain!
Wednesday 29th October - Rocky Mountain Nursery
Nine members braved the sometimes waterlogged and definitely muddy circuit from The Rocky Mountain Nursery, skirting around the Mendip Golf Course and back via the Iron Age Maesbury Hillfort a total of about 5 miles crossing a few stiles and encountering some surprised 4 legged bovines. The hot soup, toasties and jacket potatoes were a welcome reward at the finish. Thanks to Jackie for organising and leading this walk.
Gallery of past walks - click for larger view
Map showing the locations of our past walks. Blue dots show the number of our group walks in that immediate area (taken from OS maps)
Wednesday 15th October : West Pennard
Fifteen walkers enjoyed a circular walk from The Apple Tree pub up a fairly steep Pennard Hill where we were rewarded with spectacular views over the valley to the far Mendips and Cley Hill in the distance with Worthy Farm below us, We continued towards East Pennard where we stopped for some excellent home-made shortbread and returned to the pub for lunchtime baguettes. Many thanks to Lynn for leading the walk and for the lovely shortbread which was well received.
Wednesday 1st October: Langport
Nineteen walkers enjoyed a sunny walk starting from Langport Long Stay car park along the the River Parrett on a circular route towards Mulchelney and returning to Langport for lunch at The Kitchen on the Wharf with us all sitting riverside in the glorious sunshine. A few decided to peel off to retrieve cars via a shorter route but ended up being beaten home by the others! Many thanks to Mo for leading us on this scenic walk.
Wednesday 17th September: Castle Cary
Despite a heavy rain forecast, 10 members enjoyed the Castle Cary walk completely rain-free. Just a few wet feet in a section that was flooded (Our leader developed a hole in her wellies!) followed by a delicious lunch at the nearby George Hotel. Many thanks to Sandra for leading our first walk of the u3a year. Our picture shows some very interested bystanders along the walk.
