Routes News

New Gate on Marrowpole Lane near Faulkland

Riders in the Faulkland area should find the new gate on Marrowpole Lane a distinct improvement on the old one.

With the kind co-operation of the landowner, Steve Millard, MBBA funded the purchase and installation of a super new 14 foot gate complete with horse friendly opener.

The old rusty gate was awkward to open from a horse unless you had three hands which meant that fewer riders were using this delightful route.

Extensive works are now planned in nearby Watery Lane which at present has a difficult approach down into the stream bed. This project will be very expensive, however 2008 has been, once again, a good fund raising year for MBBA and it is anticipated that work could begin early in 2009 on this route.

The old rusting gate with it's awkward catch	The newly installed gate

Complete Upgrade of Burnt House Drove, near Shepton Mallet

Burnt House Drove was claimed as a dedication several years ago by MCTT, however the surface of the route was not improved at that time in line with SCC guide lines and as such has been extremely boggy for many months of each year, thus rendering it unrideable in all but the driest conditions.

MBBA member Irene Minty was concerned by this situation and speaking on behalf of local riders asked MBBA for their help. After a number of site meetings, work commenced on the gateway area earlier this month and the results are shown below.

Having negotiated match funding with Mendip District Council, MBBA have allocated a further £2,000 (half the cost of the £4,000 bill) to be spent on this route in August in order to create a good riding surface.

For the whole project, the total bill for MBBA will be nearly two and a half thousand pounds – money well spent in order to bring the route up to standard and allow riders to use this pretty lane. The photos show the route as it is today; the ‘after’ shots will be available for comparison when work is completed!! Contractors are due to begin work in the latter half of August and while this resurfacing is in progress it is regretted that the route will be closed for a week.

Burnt House Drove at the beginning of works

Burnt House Drove after works had been completed

Tanners Lane - A Successful Result

No objections were received by Somerset County Council regarding the outcome of the recent Public Inquiry into the lane’s status. The inspector ruled that the route should be reclassified as a BOAT (Byway Open to All Traffic) and changes will therefore be made to the definitive map to reflect this.

Before the route can be ridden, the metal squeeze stile at the golf club end of the lane will have to be removed by MDC and a bridleway gate installed. Once this is done, the route will be advertised in the newsletter and on the website as being open to riders.

Although this route has been classified as a BOAT, you should not meet motorised traffic while riding this narrow lane as it exits onto Restricted Byways at the Northern end thus making it, in effect, a dead-end with no turning place for vehicles. Horse riders will now be able to access these Restricted Byways more safely without riding on the busy main road.

Huckeymeade and Hembridge Drove, East Pennard. 2007

Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association have recently improved the condition of these two Droves using money raised from the excellent Glastonbury Festival Fun Ride held in September 2007. Local landowner Bernard Kingston assisted by doing a superb job of cutting back hedges and digging out the ditches. Local contractors Tom Yeoman of Ditcheat and Roger Cox of East Pennard did a good job improving the surfaces.

For many years local horse riders from around East Pennard, Ditcheat, Parbrook and Lottisham had been asking for help to improve the surfaces of the Droves. Over the years lack of maintenance and neglect had resulted in the route becoming virtually impassable for horses because of thick clay bogs, brambles and fallen trees. There are very few safe off-road routes for horse riders to use in this area and therefore Hembridge and Huckeymeade are important as they allow riders to get off the narrow lanes and busy roads. Unfortunately because these two Droves were not on the Definitive map as either an unclassified county highway or bridlepath, Somerset County Council and Mendip District Council were unable to help so MBBA decided to use the money raised from the Fun Ride on the Festival ground to improve the route.

A total of £2,900 has been spent on Hembridge and Huckeymeade by MBBA, with both Droves being open to riders from November 2007. Again special thanks to Bernard who gave us so much help and support.

Hembridge Lane before clearance	Hembridge Lane after clearance

Malcolm Chorlton (lef) and Ann Fellingham (right) who own the livery yard on Hembridge Lane make their way on horseback along the newly cleared drove with Harriet Ray (MBBA) and farmer Bernard Kingston who helped with the clearing process.

Kennel Lane, Restricted Byway, East Pennard. 2007

This restricted byway running through beautiful woods behind East Pennard church had become unusable by horse riders due to extensive overgrowth of vegetation and the fact that a stream with steep banks bisects the track. The crossing of the stream was only possible on foot using two planks of wood.

Kennel Lane was looked at in detail jointly by MBBA committee members and Shelia Petherbridge (Mendip District Council Rights of Way Officer) with a view to reopening it to horse riders. With Shelia overseeing the work, the route was cleared and an “equine” bridge was installed by MDC over the stream. The bridge is wonderful, by the way, so do get out there on your horse and use it!

This route was fully open by November 2007 with MBBA contributing £1,800 towards the costs. Our thanks go to Shelia for overseeing this successful joint venture between MBBA and MDC. The improved Kennel Lane is now enjoyed by local dog walkers and cyclists too, which is good news. If any local rider would like to become a member of MBBA or help at our Fun Rides please call 01749 831 276.

The equine bridge constructed over the stream at Kennel Lane bridlepath, East Pennard

Murdercombe Bridleway. Opened March 2006

This bridleway links Great Elm to Whatley and joins up with the Fordbury Bottom bridleway. The new bridleway crosses farmland and follows the course of the Macmillan way, emerging at Whatley at the side of the former Whatley vineyard.

This route was made possible by the work of the Mendip Cross Trails Trust (MCTT) together with the co-operation of local farmers and landowners. These include Dennis and Terry Perry, the Lambton family and quarry company Hanson.

The cost of creating this route was £15,000 and funding has come from the Countryside Agency through their Aggregate Levy Fund, the Lottery Fund, the Nat West Community Fund and from MBBA.

Lye Lane, Ditcheat. Opened 23rd January 2005

The first new bridleway of 2005 was opened in brilliant sunshine, when landowners Miss Sylvia Golledge, accompanied by her nephews Andrew and Ben Look, cut the red ribbon on the recently created route in Ditcheat. This now allows horse riders safe access to Lye Lane and from there across the main A37 to West Bradley.

Congratulations to MBBA members Marie Rivers and her friends, Debbie Norman and Alison Goodland, who have worked so hard to achieve this excellent new route alongside the busy and scary Fosseway. Riders are now able safely to use a 3 metre width track, fully fenced through the field owned by Miss Golledge, and brothers Andrew and Ben Look. With help and support from Sheila Petherbridge, ROW officer from Mendip District Council and Rachel Thompson from MCTT the whole dedication was completed in record time and with goodwill all round.

After the ceremony, Marie kindly invited everyone into her warm farmhouse for hot drinks and refreshments, where Cherry Lawson (Vice Chairman MBBA) gave a vote of thanks to Marie, her friends, the landowners and Roger Hutton from Ditcheat Parish Council for all their help and enthusiasm in bringing this project to fruition.

This splendid new route will now enable walkers, cyclists and riders to avoid the very dangerous option of using the verge beside the main road. It opens up endless possibilities for all to enjoy the wonderful bridleways and lanes either side of the A37. We hope you will now pull out your maps, get on your horses and try it for yourselves!!

For MBBA members with maps marked up by MBBA this route appears as number 10. You will need to mark up your schedule as follows:- Parish: Ditcheat, Type: BR, Route no: 10, Name: Lye Lane, from Lye Lane to Kilkenny Lane.

Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Funtle Lane, Cranmore. Opened December 2004

Opened December 2004. This new route is important as it links into existing routes enabling riders to access the Foster Yeoman Golden Jubilee bridleway which is a fantastic ride.

For members with maps marked up by MBBA this appears as route number 4. You will need to mark up your schedule as follows:- Parish Cranmore. Route NO. 4. Name Funtle Lane. From Long Cross Farm to Dallimore Lane.

Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.