Sue GearingWalking

4. MARINA

This area has seen colossal change over the last few years from industrial to leisure and housing. The former deep-water dock, used to supply coal and goods to the power stations, also had an oil refinery and a large Albright and Wilson phosphorus works. It has been fully redeveloped into a modern marina with 250 pontoon berths, shops and restaurants, surrounded by a large housing development.

Cross the marina by the dock gates and on the other side go left and continue along the estuary. Pass dramatic pillars and at a metal animal sculpture, turn left on a small path leading down to the open estuary edge and the salt marsh flanking Portbury Nature Reserve.

5. SALT MARSH

Follow the bank, with reed beds down on your right, or walk along the flat. There should be plenty of room to find a dry route. This 150-acre wetland nature reserve between Portishead and Portbury is a great habitat for hawks, owls, water birds, warblers and many breeds of birds that arrive from near and far to nest here. This was known as Portbury Ashlands.

6. TOWER HIDE

Reach a tower hide on the right and turn off the salt marsh and head down the hard track inland through the nature reserve. Or you may like to go on along the bank a bit further to see over right across the ponds in the reserve. The track is known as Water Vole Lane referring to the big programme of vole protection that has been carried out.

Reach pylons with a large electricity compound up right and here turn left on the track which soon bends right. There is an information board about the project to bring power from the new Hinkley Point reactors across country through here, and

OS Explorer Map 154, Bristol West & Portishead, grid ref: 46469 77163, postcode BS20 7JE. 5.4 miles, about 3 hours walking.

information about conservation projects. The black plastic fencing compounds you pass along here are part of a huge ecological survey to reduce destruction to wildlife through the Hinkley Connection Project.

Pass ponds and another bird hide and go through a red metal kissing gate leading onto the end of Wharf Lane.

7. WHARF LANE

There may be puddles here for a short distance. Continue on and at a small car parking area on the right, turn right on the marked track. This wends its way across open country. You will spot bird hides and owl nesting boxes high on posts. The reserve and hides cannot be accessed during Covid-19 restrictions. Eventually reach a gate at a junction with a hard track, going through a cycle friendly barrier. You are heading back towards Port Marine development.

8. BOARDWALK

Go along a boardwalk by ponds and at a fork, stay to the right. Reach a pond with swans in Portishead Ecological Park. Shortly, as you approach the edge of the development up ahead, turn right up steps up the bank.

9. BANK

Then turn right on the path along the top of the bank with houses of Port Marine on your left. Go through by posts and turn right on a Tarmac pedestrian footway. Soon you should have views over the reserve. The path curves left and reaches a residential road (Bunting Lane). For the next few minutes we will weave our way through the edge of the development. So, turn right on Bunting Lane (signed at the end) and at a T junction turn right again. Cross a side road, Fieldfare Avenue, and keep straight on. At a junction with Wren Gardens go right and follow it round to the left. Then don’t bend left again. Keep on, by posts, to the perimeter path.

Here turn left along the path and follow it all the way back to where you were earlier, staying over right. Go past the pillar sculptures and the metal animal by the path you took to the salt marsh. Eventually reach the marina again.

10. MOORINGS

Cross once more near the dock gates and then turn left with the marina on your left passing the many yachts and craft moored here. l If the dock gates are open you may have to stay on this side of the marina and then bend round at the end up to No.11 “School”.

Pass the end of the moored craft. And near the end of the marina where a marina wall juts out, pass a small compound for gigs on the right. Then turn right on a hard path passing a sign for Portishead Primary School.

11. SCHOOL

Turn right again through the parking area and by the school building cross Station Road. Head uphill up Beech Road East. Stay on this after going over a crossing road, passing some of the Victorian houses in Portishead, very different from Port Marine. Cross another side road and keep on in Beach Road West. Then cross Battery Road and finally turn right down Rodmore Road to the Lake Grounds. l NB: There may be some closures of footpaths on March 4th/5th due to the Hinkley work.

West Countryman’s diary

WHEN that “Easty Beasty” blows it can really bite. On Mendip top there is nothing to stop the chill air as it sweeps in from the With LES DAVIES MBE Russian steppes. It can go down to -10ºC on Black Down, which if you are not dressed for it, can literally be a killer. Hypothermia is not just something that happens on a mountain or the middle of a desolate moor. It can happen in the “everyday”. Don’t forget your rucksack if you are out warm and that can’t be done with just one

Like many others, I work outside and for a walk. You might only be out for a or two heavy garments. when the warm weather comes we take a while, but the hot flask and something to Cold hands are so very painful. Even great deal of satisfaction knowing we have eat can make a big difference. I carry a with gloves the fingers can suffer, so put spent all winter earning this good weather. high-viz waistcoat in the side pocket of the them under your armpits which is one of Being cold is not a pleasant experience. sack in case I need to wear it in a “must be the warmest part of the body, or swing Neither is it character building as I was seen” situation. your arms around to encourage blood once told! Also attached to the back of the sack is a circulation.

Today’s clothing is miles ahead of that red strobe light. They are cheap enough All this talk of winter weather and not a worn by some of the earlier explorers and and with a white one on the front strap you mention of what to keep in your kitchen adventures. I only have to look at the can be seen on the road. Never trust a cupboard in case you can’t get out. I pictures taken of the ill-fated Shackleton sunny day on Mendip which means always have the ubiquitous tin of beans expedition to see the extremes they had to carrying waterproof gear even if it isn’t and sausages, spaghetti, corned beef and deal with and the kit and equipment they raining or snowing. I have just re-proofed cracker biscuits. Dried milk is also a handy had. Time then to get out the walking kit mine and replaced my leaking walking standby, especially if you get caught out and even look at the car to make sure you boots. when your milk has turned into cottage have some back-up measures in place Most body heat loss occurs through the cheese over night. should you need them. head, so it makes sound sense to be There will also be a CBBC (Can’t Be

There is still plenty of time for more wearing a hat. Woolly bobble, fur trapper, Bothered to Cook) meal in the freezer snow on Mendip. I have always found that flat cap, it doesn’t really matter so long as when I need it. It’s at times like this when if it’s coming it will come in March and it it keeps you warm. One bit of kit I have all my survival training kicks in and I sit doesn’t take a heavy fall to block the roads. found to be invaluable is the neck tube. by the fire with a can of beer and look at With a good easterly wind behind it, the They have come into their own with the the bad weather through the window. snow drifts over the stone walls and into need for face covering as well as Having said all this about cold weather, no the road. Before long it’s trapped and can resembling the Balaclava helmet so well doubt by the time you read this the sun will do nothing but become deeper. known to us men of a certain age. have come out and spring will have

In snowy or icy weather, try to stay on The knitted Balaclava was something arrived! the main roads because those will be kept your mother would make you wear so that I have had lots of pleasing comments clear. Please avoid the sight-seeing trip by you could be humiliated by all your mates about last month’s poem, Sanctuary from taking to the lanes. Those who work on at school. The originals kept those frozen George Withers. I also believe that a few Mendip will need to get to livestock in the Victorian soldiers warm in the Crimean copies of it are now hanging on the walls fields and get about their business of war. I meanwhile have been looking like of indoor toilets with levels of comfort far survival. something from the eastern front during removed from that mentioned in his toilet

If you have to make a journey put a few WW2, with the neck tube pulled over my humour. Thanks again to all the Withers extras in the car. I always carry a sleeping head and the chain saw helmet on top. family and friends who provided me with bag in the winter. If the forecast isn’t good I tell myself this is not a fashion parade the material that has enabled me to pay in goes a snow shovel and a tin of baked and after all who is going to be anywhere tribute to both Percy and George. beans with a spoon. I normally carry near me in the orchard, especially with They will be having a rest from the enough food to feed a small army, so the social distancing! column of West Countryman’s Diary for a flask of hot tea or coffee is ever present. Don’t forget the gloves for your hands while, but will no doubt be popping up Even my everyday food has a “get me and extra socks in your boots. Layering is again in the not too distant future. home sandwich” for the end of the day. A important. Better several layers of thinner Finally this month’s photo is a sunset chocolate bar can give that added boost – clothing that will trap the warm air than a like a bonfire. Taken on one of those that is, of course, if you have the willpower single layer of heavy material. After all you evenings when it had stopped raining, the to save it! may wish to layer down a little if it gets setting sun set the sky ablaze!