Goblin Combe is a lovely green wooded valley in North Somerset which stretches from Redhill near Bristol Airport through to Cleeve . The combe is a 128 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest and over 30 species of butterflies have been recorded here. We did a sangha walk here in June 2013 and Alison Mendoza wrote a review of the walk for the newsletter – here is an excerpt:
“Ambling along at a steady and unhurried pace, I enjoyed getting to know some of my fellow walkers, also stopping from time to time to embrace the natural beauty –the bird-song, the fresh clean air, and the fluttering butterflies amidst the whispering trees. Climbing steadily on sun-dappled paths, ascending the mossy, fern-filled valley, an hour later we reached the crag tops and open vistas. At the top of the combe we sat to admire the splendid views across the valley to the Mendip ridge beyond.”
The walk will start from the car park at the start of the Combe on Cleeve Hill Road, a few hundred metres up from the junction with the A370. The car park is just after the Plunder Street junction on this link. After starting along the Combe trail we will ascend steadily through woodland eventually coming out at the viewpoint in the photo. We then continue along the top of the Combe and the second half of the walk involves a fairly gentle amble through the estate ending with a slow gradual descent along the bottom of the combe and back to the car park. Total length of the walk is about 4 miles which should take us 2-3 hours at a gentle pace. The walk is quite easy going apart from the initial (20 min?) descent on the track.
Meet at St Andrews Park (entrance by the toilets) at 10am to share lifts, or at 10.40am at the start of the walk. We can have lunch at Star Pub which is about a mile along the A370 from Cleeve Hill Road, or bring your own lunch with you. Family, friends, children and dogs are welcome on the walk, part of which will be in silence.
Let Gordon know in advance if you would like to come on the walk, where you would like to meet, and whether you can offer or would like a lift from Bristol. gordonadam@blueyonder.co.uk or 0779 6087351