#1223 Sidmouth, Scout Hut - Tesco's Finest and Vampire Slayer - 7 September 2025

Words from Wide Receiver 

Ashburton H3 very kindly sent out an invitation to join them on their away weekend at the Sid Valley Scout hut at the top of Salcombe Regis. 

It looks like they had a really good weekend, maybe a bit damp under the foot and especially for the poor hares who laid the trail in a thunder and lightning storm but hey, hashing is anadventure. 

Tesco’s finest circled everyone and asked if I would lead the circle, which of course I didn’t have to be asked twice. I knew most of the people that were here having first started hatching with Ashburton many moons ago. It was nice to see Cinderella and Miss Whiplash, Pitbull, Grom and Guzz, cheesey and Mad Max. There were a few faces I didn’t know like Mr Bump and I’m sorry I didn’t get the others names.

Tescos Finest and Vampire slayer brief everybody before we set out. It was a flat trail, 3 and On , sweetie stop and no long short splits, but we didn’t need those. It would all become clear soon.  

We cross the roads into the woods at soldiers Hill and made our way down down down down Salcombe mouth, and then up up up the zigzag in path with a brilliant few points overlooking Sidmouth and the surrounding areas. 

We followed the the footpath across some farmland to the sweetie stop where we were met by the hare, with a massive bag of sweets. “Everyone looked pooped after massive climb”, I remember remarking to Howling Wilf. 

By this time the sun had almost come out and it was very warm. We are very lucky to keep the rain off. Well slow runners made it to the sweetie stop the faster runners ran off yet again we had more hills well only one more Hill and it was a steep one through the really pretty little village of Salcombe Regis itself. Nearly home.

Sore Point and paperwork said that there’s any very few hashes left before they disappear for the winter which got me to thinking about the next couple of trails to which No-butt and Mouthful very kindly volunteered to do next week's.

Woody held everyone’s attention while she talked about Nash hash 2027 which is in our lovely county more details to be released closer to the time. 

On on next week, Great Plantation, liverton.

#1215 Ellerhayes Bridge - Paperwork & Sorepoint - 13 July 2025

It was always going to be a hot hash! Hence why the WhatsApp message went out yesterday from Sorepoint to park on the mill side of the bridge in the shade. Except I didn't read it, and wondered why nobody was there. Parking on the road first, because the car park is always packed. And then realising that the car park wasn't packed, so moving into there. And then seeing Spocky who told us to park on the other side of the bridge. 

Anyway once all parked up we heard our instructions from the hares... 2 miles for the short, 5 for the longs. F**k that..., it's too hot 🥵 😁. But we were told that there was a treat for those that did the last long... Thinking this was probably not anything involving food or drink, it was always going to be water, so grabbed the waterproof bag for phone and keys! 

I walked at the back as we headed off with Paperwork along the old railway line from the mill, while pumping down the waterproof pouch, telling him how good the bag was too. And then how I'd never been this way before, and he told me that he wanted to see where it goes... Chatting away, I looked across, he'd disappeared... So I was talking to myself... because it was a haha.

Back to the car park then, and Tampa and Fancy Liquor had joined us... Not unexpected that Tampa was late, but we haven't see FL since 2019!!

The trail then went into Killerton estate, and it's beauty really shines with clear blue skies. But it was hilly and hot, and I ended up longing for more in the shade of the trees because the trail in the open meadows was hard work! 

Thankfully the sweetie stop was in the shade, where the old photo frame used to be. Thanks to the dog walker (who Bollards knew!) for taking the photo, and who seemed to know a lot about hashing!

We continued on on, bit with the heat, I took the shorts, and then forgot about the special treat on the final long!! So got back to the car park, and then assumed the longs would cross the river, dragged XBitz into following me. And yes we found them, in the river, but no way to get to them because of barbed wire and a steep drop! So headed all the way back, over the bridge, and along the bank to find them. And we enjoyed a good oool off! 

Next week we're at the Glory Hole in Exminster (EX6 8FG). Beer and soft drinks, plus food provided. Please bring a pudding! 

Now the only thing left to do is find Son of the Bitz's shoes which he left on the car park...

#1214 Matford - Bollards - 6 July 2025

Bollards laid the trail with the help of Rocky, who had promised to assist, but had only got in at 5am. So a 8.15 wake-up from his mum was not appreciated. But after some persuasion, he did help, but then turned to bed for the rest of the day.

It was good to welcome back Gripper and Hansel, for a trail around ridge top park. But after a long loop at the start, the trail surprisingly took us into Marsh Barton, around the nature reserve and then via the industrial estate, coming back out by the Devon Hotel. Then right towards the M5 then into the new build. Another long short took us around the houses and did some of the trail backwards before noticing, then back on to the old Trood Lane and into Ridgetop Park.

The trail took us up to the viewpoint where Spocky had disappeared. He'd got ahead and then tried to loop back to find us, but ended up on a very long loop. We waited and he eventually arrived for the sweetie stop and hash flash.

From there, we were nearly two thirds of the way around the trail, and headed past the transmitters for yet another long-short around the meadow, with the shorts enjoying a moment with a scarecrow. 

On home from there, with Bollards getting a down down for child abuse (getting Rocky out of bed) and Paperwork getting a down down for waiting at a fishook. 

On on to next week, when we're at Ellerhayes Bridge. 

(Thanks to Spocky for photos)

#1213 Dawlish - Double D - 29 June 2025

Just a small pack this week, which was to be expected given other events going on..

 Weddings and festivals and more!  But numbers were bolstered by Brillo appearing at the car park after as we returned from the trail, having marched himself up the hill from the station. 

Double D promised history, off road, and pass weed never been before, and we weren't going to be disappointed. And 6 long shorts too... although we all skipped the last one behind the Smugglers Inn... Anyone who knows that footpath will understand how it's not a favourite thing to do once there are already 5 and a half miles on the clock!!

The first part of the trail took us around the houses and down into Dawlish centre, winding ourselves back up some very steep streets. We ended up at Oakland Woods, and emerged on to the huge field midway to Holcombe for the sweetie stop. Then around the borders of the field towards Teignmouth Road, and returning through the houses across John Nash Drive and working our way home. 

Good to see Brillo at the end, where he admitted that he'd forgotten to set his alarm after a late night.

Thanks to Double D for a superb trail, laid almost entirely by herself in the morning, and sorry not to do the final long!!