Mrs Bunnie: Why can't we go
on a nice, flat caching walk today?
Mr Bunnie: Because we live
in South Somerset, close to the Dorset border, and it's very hilly
round here.
Mrs Bunnie: Oh.
Mr Bunnie: If you want a
nice, flat caching walk, you'll have to set caches on one
yourself.
So here we are! Alternative
title 'Mrs Bunnie's Nice Flat Walk'.
First in a series of 15 caches,
plus 2 bonus caches, on a nice, flat walk of around 8.5 miles up
and down the River Yeo (aka Ivel) between Ilchester and Long
Load. The series can be completed in parts, if
required. See individual cache descriptions for difficulty,
terrain and container size. As usual with Bunnie caches, no
hints are given, but they're mostly in fairly obvious
places.
You'll cross 4 bridges on the way
round.
1. Ilchester Bridge - Road bridge
over River Yeo (Ivel). Late C12/early C13, remodelled 1797. Local
lias stone with Ham stone dressings. Seven arches in all, the most
northerly being for the mill stream: in centre long passing bays
each side (although bridge has been widened in C19 and C20): semi-
circular arches with keystones, band course at road level, plain
chamfered top stones, no coping as such; angled cutwaters to both
sides; the balustrading has concave curves at each end of passing
bays, and right-angle returns at end, the north west return being
extended. Scheduled Ancient Monument.
2. Pill Bridge - Pack horse
bridge. C17. Local lias stone cut and squared. Three semi-circular
arched bridge over the River Ivel, only 1.3 metres wide between
high parapets; two piers on each side. First bridge recorded on
this site in early C13, and represents the medieval route to Long
Sutton and Langport, now an overgrown green lane. A warehouse stood
nearby by 1699, and a toll house nearby (existing until 1805).
Scheduled Ancient Monument
3. Long Load Bridge - Long Load's
association with the river is long standing. A bridge over the
river is known to have existed by 1335, while by 1448 there were
wharves for the loading and unloading of cargoes from boats using
the river. The current five arch bridge has medieval origins,
but was rebuilt in the 18th century and widened in 1814 it cost of
£452. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and has been designated as
a grade II* listed building
4. Modern Footbridge between Long
Load Bridge and Pill Bridge
Do not attempt
to cross the river using the A303 road bridge, it may look as
though you can, but it's impassable. This cache is not
accessible from the A303
We've seen herons, swans and other
waterfowl, and deer in one area. (You may find some other
fauna as well). Geodogs will mostly be fine, but there's
livestock in quite a few of the fields. Not suitable for
wheelchairs or strollers. Wellies recommended after rain,
some parts near the gates are muddy at the moment, and gloves would
be useful. There is one gate that has to be
climbed.
Additional parking at N51 00.378 W
002 40.798, and if you want to start from Long Load, there's some
street parking on the road near the bridge
You are looking for a small hinged
container with a clip seal.