Our first serious walk was in October 2007 from Ham Hill near Yeovil along the ridge to Montacute (see right). Then back for lunch at the Prince of Wales. A modest five miler.

Thanks to press publicity we then doubled our numbers in February. The second walk held on February 23rd was a great success. The Somerset County Gazette printed my picture and the story beforehand so several new people turned up. Eleven hounds of all shapes and weights set out from Cothelstone Hill on The Quantocks and we ambled along to admire Wales and way up the Bristol Channel on a cold but bright afternoon.

The path led for a gentle mile downhill through the woods – with only the usual suspects (yes, Matilda) pursuing scents – till we reached a quiet lane where we then turned off into the fields again. Then our troubles started. My two hounds (Miss Moppet and Matilda) are relative lightweights at 55lbs, and my recce the week before had revealed no problems. However the monsters now in tow were unable to wriggle under the gaps in the wire and the farmer in the meantime had “improved” some of the stiles by adding lower planks as sheep had now appeared.

Ah well. As I said in the papers, “Weightlifting Bassets could soon become an Olympic event.” Some of the dogs weighed in apparently at a knee trembling 84lbs (six stone) but everyone pitched in and despite grumbles – from the hounds – they were manhandled over.

Amid much laughter we survived this and then were faced with what is marked on the OS maps as, I kid you not, Paradise. On the ground this meant a gentle amble back up to the ridge, through the woods, with glorious views over Taunton Deane to the Brendons and Exmoor. Some might have detected a slight upward slope, but nothing the by now fitter and surprisingly perspiring group couldn’t overcome.

The wind had dropped by the time we got back to the cars after a most enjoyable five miles. And everyone said “when can we do it again?”

To see what the Western Morning News made of it, please click here.

If you want to go on any of the walks please contact me via the website or at 01823 490782. And of course if anyone wants to organise a walk in their area (five miles or thereabouts) please do so: I’m not proud.