WESTBURY Walkers enjoyed a cold, but dry, day for their February walk, when they set off from the village of Holcombe on a nine-mile walk led by Judy Hosegood.

They went north to the isolated old Holcombe church, then descended through the woods which would soon be resplendent in wild daffodils, and on to Stratton on the Fosse. They then turned south to Edford woods and through Harridge woods and on to the tiny hamlet of Stoke Bottom, enjoying the sight of plenty of snowdrops on the way.

They had a small diversion to see St Dunstan’s well and the old mill race, which once powered a paper mill when Stoke Bottom was a thriving industrial village of over 40 houses.

They continued south to Stoke St Michael, and then turned north again to go through the disused quarry, which is now returning to nature and is a haven for wildlife. They returned through Kilmersdon Common to Holcombe. The many stiles and significant amounts of mud did not detract from a very interesting and varied walk.