Travels in Somerset this week.... such a beautiful county...

Spaxton, Somerset ....."Where Spakr the Dane or Norseman settled on the knoll to the north of the church.  The meaning of his name in the original Norse indicates that he was a neat, dapper little man and it is interesting to think of him as such." From the Brief Guide to St Margaret's Parish Church Spaxton.

 

Hillside Cottage....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Margaret's, Spaxton...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minehead - the last time I was here I was wearing a babygrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Near Athelney.....

 

 

Burrow Mump at Burrowbridge, a hill which King Alfred used as a look-out when he was at nearby Athelney.  The ruins of St Michael top the hill..... Mum managed the climb...

 

 

 

 

And there the Tor is again! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blagdon ......

 

 

 

Lydeard Hill, an area of Quantock heathland ....

 

 

 

 

What a surprise ... we could see the Tor from there...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hellenge Hill and Bleadon Hill (got to be careful how I say the latter)....

that's Brent Knoll on the horizon..

 

 

view of Brent Knoll ...

 

 

 

 

looking towards the Bristol Channel....

 

 

Views over Uphill nature reserve ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weston-super-Mud, whoops, I mean Weston-super-Mare......

 

 

 

 

Steep Holme....

 

 

Mum feeding the Seagulls with chips ....... they followed us all the way back to the car park!

 

 

 

 

Uphill Nature Reserve......  safety in numbers (them or us??)...

 

 

Old St Nicholas' church which dates from the late 11th century and the tower of an old windmill....

 

 

 

Staple Plantation and Beacon Hill (there were stunning views from here, so we kept being told ... just a pity that on this particular day they were stunning views of the fog!!)...... and what a coincidence we met an ex-serviceman there who was stationed at USAF Mildenhall!

 

 

 

Stolford......

 

 

 

Muchelney Abbey .... founded in the late 7th century, it was sacked by Vikings and refounded by Athelstan the grandson of King Alfred.  Nothing remains of the church except the foundations, however, the late 15th century Abbot's house is well-preserved (not like me then!)....

 

 

 

 

 

It didn't work!!....