The Coleridge Way Extension

Left to right, Suzette Hibbert,
Rosemary Coleridge Middleton, and Andrea Davis.

On Wednesday 21st May, the Coleridge Way was extended from it's 36 mile length to a very healthy 51 miles, linking Nether Stowey, in the Quantock Hills, to Lynton in North Devon, through some truly stunning West Country landscape.

As part of the opening ceremony buses were put on, which dropped walkers on the hills to the West of Porlock, at a place called Broomstreet. From there the walkers descended along 2 miles of stunning scenery into Malmsmead and Oare.

En-route the trail did not disappoint with shows of wild red deer, fabulous sunshine, and even a bat was seen catching flies over the river in the afternoon sun.

At Oare after paddling through the river, the company were rewarded with cream teas and speeches in the presence of a whole spectrum of Coleridge descendants, which culminated in the 'cutting of the ribbon' ceremony by Coleridge's Great, Great, Great Granddaughter, Rosemary Coleridge Middleton, pronouncing the Coleridge Way Extension Open.

Rosemary Coleridge Middleton

  

Rosemary Middleton Coleridge expressed delight at seeing so many people at the opening and said: 

'Walking actually concentrates the mind, soothes the soul and helps sort out problems. It is a healer of the mind, body and spirit and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, my great great great Grandfather, knew this. I’m very proud to say that it is indeed the Coleridge way of doing things! Keep moving, love thinking, do praying, keep talking, just toddle, but if possible do walk.'