Winford Parish Footpath Network
Winford Parish consists of
the three villages of Felton, Regil and Winford and the surrounding
countryside
.
Image produced
from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map
service. Image reproduced with kind permission of
Ordnance Survey and
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
In past times most people
travelled on foot to churches or places of work within the area such as
farms, quarries and manor houses. By virtue of constant usage by many
generations of walkers certain routes became accepted rights of way and
during the fifties
definitive maps whe re produced which for Winford Parish are maintained by
North Somerset Council. The simplest method of finding rights of way is by
looking at a large scale Ordnance Survey map 1:25,000 where they are
marked as green dotted lines. As rights of way are regarded in law as
highways there is a duty on the local highway authority to show their
position from metalled roads by finger post signs. For various reasons
these signs gradually disappear so to be able to find all the footpaths it
is necessary to obtain an Ordnance Survey map. The Explorer 154 covers the
whole of this area, or you can also use the free “get a map” web site and
type in the name of your village.
Please note: rights of way
never disappear, so if recorded on an Ordnance Survey map can be walked
freely (occasionally footpaths are officially diverted but this is usually
well marked). Missing signs, padlocked farm gates, dangerous stiles and
barbed wire may make walking difficult, but do not take away the right of
way. Overgrowth of vegetation, particularly brambles can cause problems at
certain times of the year, but I can confirm that I am able at present to
walk the whole network in Winford Parish. The only totally impassable
blockages are at OS references 549642, 518660, 528630, and 534618
 If you wish to experience
solitude walking through beautiful countryside then walk your local
footpath – there is one within a few hundred metres of every resident.
 One advantage of the
existing poor condition of Winford Parish footpaths is that in addition to
getting cardio-vascular exercise, it is also good for strength and
flexibility
climbing locked gates and excessively high stiles. If you are new to
this wonderful, free and environmentally harmless pastime,
please contact me for my advice and observations based on my experiences over the
last two years.
 For anyone not wishing
to climb obstacles there are a number of green lanes or one could wander
into nearby B&NES where you can walk through safe aluminium gates on
an increasing number of footpaths.
Could you let me know of
any particular footpaths requiring remedial action.
Please send me an e-mail by
clicking here
Jim Webster
19.09.2008
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