Routes News
Three Ashes Bridleway - Stoke St Michael
In response to an MBBA member’s request, the committee duly walked this bridleway in the Autumn of 2009 together with Sheila Petherbridge, who was at that time, the Rights of Way Officer for Mendip District Council. As you will see from the photos, the route was in a pretty bad way and riders were not using it when wet. Large rocks were embedded in the ruts and the surface was very boggy and impassable in places. A considerable budget of over £3,000 and a detailed job spec were agreed with the MBBA contractor, Russell Bateman and after a very wet winter, work commenced in June 2010.
The improvements are obvious in the photos below and should result in a good all-weather surface for many years to come. The clean-stone topping will bed in and mud will be walked across the path enabling grass to grow in due course. Shortly, the gates are due to be re-hung and horse friendly latches will be added to enable riders to enjoy an unhindered ride through this pretty area.
Not an easy ride and you’ll have to dismount for the gate!
That’s better
Yuk - I’m not going through that!
Same place - Spot the difference
Ditched, piped, levelled and vegetation cleared with clean stone finish
Water Lane, Norton St Phillip
About 5 years ago, local member Lynda le Ray drew our attention to Watery Lane which was proving hazardous for local riders. Lynda kindly ran a fun ride to raise funds to improve this route and after very long and drawn-out negotiations with Somerset County Council, the contractor has finally finished the job and comparison photos are below. This is a jointly funded project between MBBA and SCC and the long delay was partly due to the working conditions and the nature of the specification.
The problem arose because horses were finding it difficult to keep their footing on the large sloping rocks leading down from the bridleway gate at the field end of the route. The bridleway runs along the course of the old river bed and for the past three years it has been too wet for machinery to access the track. Thanks to an incredibly dry spell, the contractor was able to work there last week and the route is now greatly improved and should be a pleasure for riders and walkers to use.
Slippery rocks leading down into the stream bed with large boulders and overhanging vegetation making this a difficult and alarming bridleway – often impassable and flooded!! July 2006
Newly crushed rocks, now giving a safe and decent footing for horses and walkers
This sleeper has now been partly removed and a ramp installed to one side permitting much easier access to the next level
The large rocks along the stream bed have been crushed and the stream bed widened
The hazardous old route with large hidden holes and boulders – no wonder it was little used
Job Done! Newly levelled, firmed and clear to ride. July 2010
Huckeymead and Hembridge 2nd phase - May 2010
In 2007, MBBA carried out work on these two droves, targeting the wettest areas, enabling riders to make use of routes that had previously been inaccessible.
After three years it became apparent that further work was needed to bring the whole route up to a good standard since it was proving such a popular ride.
In June of 2010, our contractor Russell Bateman finished our biggest ever project and the photos below show the huge improvements made.
The route before improvement...
And after works were complete...
To view previous routes news please see the Routes News Archive page.