Draycott Sleights and Westbury Beacon (Mendip Hills)

Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2020
I haven't done as much walking through Lockdown as I might've anticipated. I've always tried to #StayLocal and, now that we're allowed to travel for this purpose, I'm driving up to 30 minutes at a time.
This walk was set in Priddy - a small village on top of the Mendip plateau. I travelled here in the hope of passing few others; having seen other car parks filling up on my way there. I would head to Westbury Beacon and then Draycott Sleights. Descending to Rodney Stoke. Following snippets of the West Mendip Way. All in an effort to avoid those "honeypot hills" and the crowds that would likely gather.
I did that well. This one was filmed entirely in stabilisation mode (Rocksteady) and I did have to re-synch most of the audio in the editor.
Thanks to Patrick Leach (the Solitary Rambler for a recent shout-out). Please support and subscribe to Patrick's channel: / solitaryrambler
Playlist for my six-day South Downs Way series:
• South Downs Way 2019
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My camera equipment:
DJI Osmo Action camera: amzn.to/2SPsfD7
CYNOVA microphone adapter: amzn.to/37xwzfl
Moukey MCM-1 shotgun microphone: amzn.to/2wpsGwl
Skytreat tripod mount: amzn.to/2SDEWSF
Ulanzi cold shoe attachment: amzn.to/2SY5uwW
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My blog: ollyoutdoors.com
Facebook: / ollyoutdoors
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Twitter: / ollypj
My Meetup walking group:
meetup.com/West...
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Music from KZbin's Audio Library:
'Moving On' - Wayne Jones
'Take Your Pick' - Aaron Lieberman
'Wave in the Atmosphere' - Dan Lebowitz
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#WestburyBeacon #DraycottSleights #MendipHills
Thank you for watching.
Olly Parry-Jones - May 2020

[@rooster7779]

Love the approach to the gate at 14:30 and the view beyond.

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks for watching, Gavin. I put a lot of editing time in to this one and hopefully it paid off. All the best and hope you're keeping active.

[@craigfoley440]

A very enjoyable watch, thanks. I walk/run the WMW quite often and wasn’t aware of the open access land at Westbury Beacon.

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks for watching, Craig. Westbury Beacon is worth a look when you have a chance. I did see a runner on this day... Once on the way to Draycott Sleights and then again, later, on my way back to Priddy. He must've covered a fair distance in to double figures! Thanks again and all the best.

[@irenedavo3768]

@@WalksWithOllydo you watch Rob’s Discovery?

[@philipsudron]

Beautifully filmed video of my favourite part of England. The occasional music fits perfectly as well.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you so much for the shout out Olly! That was kind of you and to give my channel your recommendation. Great to know you've gained lots more subscribers. Nice to hear you feel envious about the Peak District, but I'm sure you'll find yourself up here again at some point. You've got the Mendips though and they aren't bad really are they :) I liked this walk of yours, lovely stretch along the edges above Draycott. I was impressed you managed to climb that obstructed gate one-handed whilst filming! I'm sure I would have come a cropper if I did that! :) Looks like you had a great day here. All the best Olly. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks, Patrick and you are very welcome. I suppose what I miss is being able to escape people easier and for longer. I know the Peaks has its hotspots but it's not as small as the Mendips and you can often walk for longer without meeting a road. This past weekend, I overheard a group of people on about bringing deck chairs with then the next time!! Hopefully the pubs will reopen soon and these people can return to those gardens. Thanks again for your support and all the best.

[@gerrymcveigh]

Olly, a beautiful day for walking on the Mendip Hills. Love all the conservation areas and nature reserves along the way. I would agree that staying local for walking has been a challenge in terms of motivation.Enjoyed coming along on the journey with your cool commentary adding to the Mendips scenery :-)

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks very much, Gerry! Always good to hear from you and to know you're following along. I trust you're keeping well. Hope you have a good week, thanks again and all the best.

[@MartinPopeFilmmaker]

Nice walk that was. I've never heard of the places you visited except for Priddy. Will definitely have to do this walk when the weather cools down a bit. Unbelievable that some farmers think they can block the public right of way . I would of climbed over the gate as well just to spite him. All the best mate.🙂🙂

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks, Martin! Ah, well, I hope you'll get down to the area to explore it for yourself sometime. It's one thing for the farmers and landowners to (illegally) do as they please. What's also sad is that councils don't always act upon what they may deem to be a "low risk" item. With minimal resources, it's understandable that they can't attend to every report. But then it isn't fair that the rogue landowner gets away with it. Anyway, I hope you're keeping well. Enjoyed your Sodding Chipbury(!) video earlier. All the best!

[@rialobran]

Not sure how I missed this one, sorry Olly. I loved the history almost as much as the scenery. Amazing to think 500 years after being used as a 'beacon' for invasion it was still being utilised for a similar purpose. I reckon you were right about the generator room, the 'seat' area though was almost without doubt the bunker the operators would have taken to had it all gone mushroom shaped outside. Many have been filled in in my area, that one didn't appear to be.

[@WalksWithOlly]

No worries, Si, I'm glad you were able to catch. KZbin has a habit of not always sharing videos from people we're subscribed to. I've had clarification since that this was in fact a bunker. You can climb in but it is indeed sealed to prevent further entry... I may return for another look at some point unless the farmer decides to park something else in the way! There are quite a few beacons all over Somerset but I don't know of another underground bunker still in place. All the best and thanks again.

[@marekl]

Did you know there are 6,557 trig points in the UK. (I just looked it up). Great walk Olly. Stay cool.

[@WalksWithOlly]

I did not know there were that many... I'd like to think I've done 10% of them but I've never counted. Do you count yours?! Thanks for watching, Marek. Have you been out for a walk yet?

[@WyeExplorer]

I had a good time on this one Ollu. I've actually got shake holes up in another tab. Going to read about them now. Thanks. Good to know you're running, I've done a bit but have had an ankle injury. It flares up. But I won't give in. Can;t stand them blocked gates but love the peppermint tea. You'll know that through my videos. It is a boost. As for Patrick, well, he's a class act and a superb chap. Wow, what great weather. Timely or what? Any way, all the best as always. Mark

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thank you, Mark. From what I remember, the land above the Swansea Valley (near Cribarth and the Dan yr Ogof showcaves) was rife with them. I hope I wasn't too far wrong with my facts! I do remember that you also like milk in your mint tea. Apparently Morroccans do the same. Hope you're keeping active, staying safe and all the best.

[@lifeontherocks7441]

Great video Olly That thing you said looked like a seat looked to me like a breather for some kind of underground space ? And the thing next to it looked like boarded up access like trap door ? Probably wrong though lol Take it easy mate 👍

[@WalksWithOlly]

Hi Dean, I've no idea what the "seat" could have been but who knows, maybe there was once an underground space. Definitely some kind of trap door. I only thought of sewage (which makes little sense) but having seen some of the bunkers Tom Outdoors has discovered near Kent, it does look very similar! There could well be a ladder leading further down. Someone's had a look, I'm sure. Thanks for watching, for your thoughts and stay safe.

[@philipsudron]

It looks like it could be a former Royal Observer Corp bunker.

[@SoloHiker]

Great video Olly, snakes don't bother me but I have a phobia of Ants, fell in a red ants nest as a child and been fearful of any type of ant since, becomes a problem wild camping in the woods during the summer. Good tip on the climbing gates . Glad your managing to still get out. Thanks for sharing. ATB

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thank you, Jim! Good to hear from you. I've heard horror stories from one or two people who've accidentally pitched on top of or close to an ant's nest. Lots of hungry creepy crawlies about at this time of year! All the best and thanks for watching

[@shirleyc285]

I'd never heard of Westbury beacon, interesting stuff. Yeah Burrington combe car park is always full, even on a normal weekday I've found! I do love the mendips but I think there is limited parking there. Those cows looked a bit too interested for my liking 🙂

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks, Shirley. I just couldn't believe it was full before 9:30. It's always busy around there on a Bank Holiday but this year has been something else! I saw a video on Fscebook of cars parked all over the place along the lanes through Charterhouse. Hope you're keeping active and well. All the best.

[@WalkWithWallace]

Nice one Ollie, looked a nice walk around the countryside. Shame about the knobhead farmer blocking the gate. Footage from the Osmo Action looks good, do you colour or just post what comes straight out of the camera? I've made similar navigation mistakes like that too. Frustrating!

[@WalksWithOlly]

Thanks, Robin! It was a good day. Someone on Twitter told me the obstruction there is a regular thing but it's the first time I've encountered it obstructing the gate. I don't colour or modify the video in any way. I felt it was a bit 'off' with this - possibly because I filmed the whole thing in Rocksteady mode, which also meant I had to detach the audio from the video clips to get them in sync. Next time, I'll try to film in HD again and try to forgo the need for steadiness. Hope you're keeping well up there. I was impressed that you didn't quite lose your tent to the wind in your last video! Thanks for watching, all the best and stay safe.

[@WalkWithWallace]

@@WalksWithOlly odd behaviour from the farmer, but there you go. I'm not quite sure how the stabilisation would affect the syncing of your audio? Definitely want to leave Rock Steady on for that buttery smooth footage. 😁. Ha yes, you seen that. 😂 I could have edited it out, but I'm too honest for that.

[@WalksWithOlly]

@@WalkWithWallace I'm not sure either but the audio was lagging one second behind the video. I'd heard this can happen in low-light situations but I've only experienced it so far with Rocksteady turned on. Agreed, it's definitely essential for those smooth journeys! Though I think my software has some form of 'stabilisation' feature you can activate. If I was on a mutli-day trek, I'd probably disable it to save battery life. I used 85% yesterday, bearing in mind that I also need to up the brightness of the display to be able to see clearly on a sunny day.

[@WalkWithWallace]

@@WalksWithOlly ah, that's a bit frustrating. The stabilisation on the GoPro struggles with low light too, if I'm in dense woodland and or a really dull day it goes a bit flickery. Touch wood no issues with audio syncing though. PS. I'm good up here thanks. Hoping to see some relaxation of lockdown from Friday. 🤞🏼

[@rooster7779]

Great video Olly. What’s your opinion on walking past cows etc? I’m always quite wary walking past. Horses too. Have you ever come across any angry dogs? I did once - it shot out from a property as I was on a right of way passing. I love dogs but wasn’t sure about this one! Atb Gav

[@WalksWithOlly]

Cows, horses, dogs... I've had close encounters with each at some point. But for all the cattle I do pass, very few have given me a concern. I'm always wary of calves around an adult - try to give them more than 2m! Hungry horses can be quite scary, although I've only had that ones. Small dogs are just annoying and persistant. I don't like "wolves" and anything in between seems to want to make lots of noise and let you know it's there...! Thanks again and all the best!

[@irenedavo3768]

Do you watch Rob’s Discovery?

[@WalksWithOlly]

I've not come across that channel before. Will take a look. Any particular videos you'd recommend?