Preview

A very tempting diversion will see me beetle off route for the Wellington Monument, just over the M5 and into the Blackdown Hills National Landscape. It is the world’s tallest 3 sided obelisk and also built in honour of the three-sided bayonet that ran through so many adversaries at Waterloo and the less well known Talavera. This Monument’s location provides a fascinating tale that set the Wellington name off around the world becuase it sounded a bit like Wellesley.

After the Monument the plan is to head back onto track having gained permission to do so via a visit to Patou Alpacas, a foremost breeder of these latino mammals.

After these exotic ramblings, the Museum of Somerset at Taunton should bring us back to earth with insight into the locality.

However the days final fling sees us end at The Cathedral of the Moors in North Curry, where the inextricable and interwoven histories of the monarchy and the church are once again revealed…
Richard the Lionheart (Richard I of England) deeded North Curry over to the Bishop of Wells, along with other possessions, in exchange for cash to pay off his ransom to the Austrian Emperor, Henry VI. In 1231 Henry III granted a licence for the Bishop of Bath and Wells to deforest the manor of North Curry and enclose the lands as parks

Post Run
We will look for South Curry, without any chance of success. Curry, it seems, is more Current than Spice, being derived from the Saxon/Celtic word for stream.

Landmarks:
The Wellington Monument
Patou Alpacas
Taunton
The Museum of Somerset
The Cathedral of the Moors, North Curry

Overnight: After finishing in North Curry, Somerset, overight is back in Devon for the Angel Guesthouse.