Tights in Somerset

by Geraden

I have been looking back at the photos we took when I was on holiday with my friend Ash in Devon in the late spring/early summer. We went out several times for walks in the countryside. I fancied going to visit the Tarr Steps , a prehistoric bridge near Dulverton in Somerset, on the verge of Exmoor, which I had not seen since childhood.

The second week in May was mostly wet and we did not get out much into the open. However by the third weekend in May, the weather had cleared up, so on the Saturday afternoon Ash fell in with my suggestion that we should make for the Tarr Steps, which she had never seen. This was our furthest trip out, and it proved to be one of the best. 

I was wearing a black long sleeved top, with my dark olive gilet over it, beige shorts with  black Spanx footless Turbo Tights, red walking socks and brown walking boots. Because my tights were footless, and I did not want blisters, I wore some Marks and Spencers medium support knee highs under the tights. Ash also wore beige shorts and black tights (a pair of Silkies microfiber opaque tights that I had given her). She had no walking boots, so she wore white trainers and black socks. Her top was a long sleeved cherry red zip-up. We took with us a trekking pole each, and I carried a small rucksack with waterproof jackets, food, water, maps, camera and tripod in it. 

We set out after lunch, with Ash driving and me navigating, and we followed the lovely valley of the River Exe up from Tiverton, crossing from Devon into Somerset at Exebridge and reaching Dulverton in the early afternoon. There we found that the road from Dulverton to the Tarr Steps was closed for roadworks, and we had to take a lengthy detour to the north via the village of Winsford, so it was after 3 o'clock when we reached our destination.

After parking in the car park about 600 yards from the Steps, we walked down the hill and  soon came to the Steps. Next to the steps the road crosses the river by means of a ford, though we saw only 4x4 vehicles attempting this crossing. The Steps themselves are of course for foot traffic only. We crossed the river by the ancient bridge, and followed the bank upstream through woodland for about a mile. Then we found another (modern) bridge by which to cross back and we made our way downstream on the other bank. We passed a riverside meadow near a bend of the river, where there was a large fallen tree, on which we sat to take a few pictures to remember the occasion. 

The second picture, of us sitting on that log, shows clearly the difference in colour between our tights, though both are called black. You can just tell that I had knee-highs on under the tights.  

As we walked along the riverside path, I was discussing with Ash the subject of attitudes to men wearing tights. Ash was always perfectly relaxed about my wearing tights and several times when we went out together either I or both of us were wearing sheers or opaques with shorts. However she knew that my wife was one who did not approve of men wearing 'nylons'. I asked her, 'What shall I say if my wife asks what you thought about me wearing tights?'
'Would she really ask that?'
'Yes, I think she would. Should I say that you don't mind, because you don't, do you?'
'I don't mind – in fact I think your legs look good in nylon – but if you say that, it might give the impression that I had a right to tell you what you should wear and what you shouldn't.' 
'Well you do have a right to an opinion, same as anyone.'
'Yes, but it it just not an issue for me.'
'So that is the line to take: "Ash did not find my wearing tights to be an issue."'
'Yes.'
It was a good answer, but I never got to give it. Actually I had got it wrong – the question was never asked!

By the time we got back up the hill to the car park we were fairly hot and tired and in need of refreshment. Our plan had been to finish our outing with a visit to a tea shop for a West Country Cream Tea. For those who are not familiar with cream teas, they usually consist of scones, butter and jam topped with clotted cream and accompanied by a pot of tea. Summer teas do not get any better than this, especially in the West Country when (as on this occasion) local produce is used.

It was getting late and we were worried that by the time we found a tea shop it would have closed.  We were lucky however, because our route back via Winsford took us by a nice tea shop in the village that was still open at 5 o'clock, so we were in time for a well earned cream tea after all. 

The waitress and the proprietor looked after us well, even moving our table across the lawn into the warm sunshine, for it was starting to get cool in the shade as the afternoon progressed. They took absolutely no notice of the fact that we were both wearing tights, though I did see some of the other customers looking at our legs. Maybe they were jealous, because Ash's legs looked great, and I don't think mine were all that bad.  

When we had finished our excellent cream tea, Ash asked me to drive back, which I was happy to do because I was fairly sure I could remember the way. 

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tags: tarr steps  somerset  tights  shorts  spanx  silkies  microfiber  ms  kneehighs  cream tea  walk  river  ash  

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