Woodspring Priory

 

Woodspring Priory – so near and yet so far.  The route from Worle is along Collum Lane – but how safe would that be for a lone walker?  Many country lanes are so bendy that walking becomes hazardous.  Thankfully the map shows that Collum Lane is virtually straight and as there is no large residential area at the end traffic should be light.  The goal looks more achievable as I set off on a cloudy summer’s day.

Collum Lane crosses agricultural land and newly shorn sheep glance curiously at the camera:

Fields of barley(?) look ripe for cutting.  Whilst others have already been harvested and bailed.  

As suspected traffic is light and it is not long before the road peters out.  A sign to the priory points the way through an ancient walled garden and the tower can be spotted rising behind the old Tithe Barn.  But nothing prepared me for the magnificent building which suddenly came into sight – it took my breath away.

Woodspring (Worspring) Priory was founded in the 13^th. century and dedicated to Thomas Becket.  It was home to a group of Victorine monks, a French Order, who had their Abbey in Bristol.  After the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in 1536 the priory fell into disrepair but was later converted into a farmhouse.  It is said to have two ghosts – a lady who roams the gardens when there is a full moon, and another who hovers in the tower clanking his chains.  In recent years the property has been restored and is now run as holiday accommodation by the Landmark Trust. Perhaps one day I may stay there and meet those spirits of the past but for the present it was interesting to step inside and look at the small museum which is open on Mondays and Fridays.

From the priory my route took me to Huckers Bow and on to the wonderfully secluded Woodspring Bay.

After a climb up Middle Hope the path follows the ridge and provides stunning views down to the priory on one side and small coves on the other.

On reaching the trig point I was able to descend to the beach and make my way along Sand Bay to the bus terminus. 

The one and only place for a comfort stop on this walk were the toilets at Sand Bay.   

These have recently been refurbished by Kewstoke Parish Council and I was delighted to see that instead of very expensive new fangled electric doors they had simply installed old fashioned “coin in the slot” boxes.   

Well done Kewstoke