South Somerset Bridleways Association
Promoting safer routes for riders
https://roam.somerset.gov.uk/roam/Map
The bridleway near Barrow running from Stavordale Farm to New Park Farm (WN 8/15 and WN 8/16/1) has recently been fenced with barbed wire making it potentially dangerous for horses and their riders.
We would like to hear from you if rode this route before the fence went up, if you still ride it and have experienced any issues since.
Thank you.
The new permissive route is now ready to ride.
Huge thanks to volunteers from Compton Dundon and Reimagining The Levels who planted native trees and hegdrows along the route.
Take care crossing the busy B3151, we advise wearing high-viz.
Permissive-Bridleway-Plan
Volunteer! Tree planting to mark a new bridleway in Compton Dundon
Would you like to join the Compton Dundon Volunteers on Tuesday 23rd March from 10.00 to plant trees (small whips) in the Parish Council Allotment land between Peak Lane and Somerton Road?
The new hedgeline will delineate the boundary of a new permissive bridleway (see route below).
The new green lane would run from the B3151 opposite L7/12 (Restricted Byway Touch Lane) through an existing vehicular access around the fields to Peak Lane by the southern end of Public Footpath L7/11. Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will be able to cross the B3151 where there are clear sight lines and no longer need to travel along the road to/from the Peak Lane junction.
Please email info@southsomersetbridlewaysassociation.co.uk by Sunday 21st March if you would like to join us to help the fantastic Compton Dundon Volunteers with this very worthwhile project. We will send you the Covid compliant joining instructions and details of where to meet. Thank you.
Permissive-Bridleway-PlanThe Planning Inspectorate have directed Somerset County council to get on with processing the following applications and it would be very helpful if anyone who has walked or ridden these routes would fill in user evidence forms (see below).
Huish Episcopi and Drayton – Huish Drove, Frog Lane, and Park Lane.
Chaffcombe/Chard – Paintmoor Lane
Merriott – Niddons Lane and Holdfast, Ham and Middlefield Lanes (these have been blocked for many years)
Charlton Mackrell – Withybed Lane (blocked at southern end)
Please scan and email your completed form to info@southsomersetbridlewaysassociation.co.uk or let us know if you’d rather send by post.
There is a new project with funding available to make improvements to the routes in this area. We would welcome your suggestions. So far the following have been mentioned:
Please do let us know if you support any of these suggestions or have new ideas you would like to share.
Thank you to the owners of Frogmary Green Farm who have kindly arranged to have the restricted byway between Fouts Cross and Frogmary Green Farm near Lopen cleared (see the before and after photos below).
The result is a clear, wide safe path for horse riders and hoof prints suggest that at least one horse rider has used it.
We have had a report of a yard disturbed and equipment taken in the South Somerset area. We would like to remind our members to be extra vigilant with security through the long, dark nights.
Look at the link below for ideas to keep your yard safe from intruders.
Do you ride in the Castle Cary/Bruton/Pitcombe/ area?
There is a bridleway near Wyke Champflower, running through the lowest part of a big hill near Pitcombe. We’d like to hear from you if you ride this route or if you’d like to ride this route but find it difficult for any reason.
If you have any comments, please contact Ginnie Jones gjones@mbba.org.uk who is kindly leading on this. Thanks, Ginnie!
Following on from the post on 9th August, the routes at Babcary are already being ridden and proving popular. Below is a photo of the newly cleared and resurfaced Lydford Lane bridleway, complete with the new bollards. Compare this with the earlier photos showing the damage done by 4 x 4s over the past years!
Our sincere thanks to Ginnie Jones at Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association for all her time and effort in achieving this super result and for the reminder that we should take care of the routes we have as well as legally reinstating the under recorded ones!
Photos courtesy of Ginnie Jones.
