13/09/24 - Fontmell Down and Melbury Hill, Dorset

Route Confusion

It was the broken down lorry that caused mayhem. Commandeering the Spread Eagle Hill National Trust car park whilst it waited for recovery. The driver appealing to walkers to leave him space to transfer cargo.

I had two walks planned from here - Fontmell Down and Melbury Hill. In reality, I managed to dissect the two and develop my own route. I believe that it took in the highlights of this Area of Outstanding Beauty.

It simply means that rather than visiting Fontmell Magna (we were too early for the pub) we went to the equally wonderfully named but sadly dry Compton Abbas.

Top draw walking, as we completed a circuit of the hills.

A week of dog sitting completed. Olive will have to get used to one walk a day, instead of the three she has been enjoying at the hands of professionals.

Best weather of the week - Spread Eagle Car Park

Chalk Down tracks on Melbury Hill

Looking down the valley

Olive. With Mrs M.

Walk Details

Distance - 3 Miles

Geocaches - 3

Walk Inspiration - 40 Town and Country Walks in Devon.

12/09/24 - Benetts Arms, Semley

More Beery Bad Luck

Our week on the Dorset/Wiltshire border has not been without its beer bad luck. We've had a suspiciously non-golden pint of Exmoor Gold. We've had pubs advertised as being open all day tragically close at 4pm. We leave it to the last Good Beer Guide pub of the week to get things back on track. But you can probably tell where this is going.

First, our circular walk from Semley. Map reveals clues to its history, with the Castle Ring Hill Fort labelled at the midway stage. A geocache tells the story of plague and the village in lock down, Eyam style. A little digging into the pub history tells that the nearby railway station was built explicitly to whisk milk down into that there London.

And then there's the church. Its as if they couldn't decide whether to have a turret or a spire. So went for both.

Semley Church

Geocaching GZ

No pictures of interest from the walk - a mixture of lanes, arable land and dense woodland. 

We arrive at the Benetts Arms just after midday opening. A farmhouse style pub that's been in operation since 1867. Sits on the biggest village green in Wiltshire. Inside, its a two room affair, a tiny bar and another area for dining.

We went bar and watched the locals on lunchtime G&Ts

Three hand pulls on and after much deliberation and some well intentioned questioning, I went for Salcombe Life Saver. I was sold on the description of a copper colour, strong bitter. What we've found this week in Wiltshire is that the the beers in this part of the world are either from Salcombe or Exmoor Ales. There cannot be any hope for Arkells. 

The bar-staff failed to mention the slight tang of vinegar and the distinctly non see-through haze in the glass.

Suspicions confirmed when the minute that the I moved away from the bar, out came the screw driver to remove the clip and ten minutes of pulling through the the next barrel.  

Whilst she was looking directly at me, you might have expected a replacement pint to be offered. 

I should have complained. 

But the chips were nice. 

Note to future self. Next time in Wiltshire, sod the Good Beer Guide and concentrate on the chips.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Mike Power Pub Walks in Wiltshire and Avon

Geocaches - 1 

10/09/24 - The Wardour Castles, Wiltshire

Two for the Price of One

Can't think of a previous walk that has incorporated two castles. Old Wardour and New Wardour, the former managed by English Heritage, the latter a private home/conference centre. Public footpaths running right up to the doors of both. 

Old

New

Old Wardour Castle, near Tisbury in Wiltshire, England, was built in the late 14th century by John, 5th Lord Lovell. Designed as a luxurious residence with a unique hexagonal shape, it combined the comfort of a home with elements of defense. The castle passed to the Arundell family, a prominent Catholic family, in 1547. During the English Civil War in 1643, Lady Blanche Arundell defended the castle against a siege by Parliamentary forces, but it was heavily damaged and became uninhabitable.

Following this, the Arundell family built New Wardour Castle in the 1770s. Designed in the Palladian style by James Paine, it became the family’s new home and included a private Catholic chapel. After World War II, the property was sold and eventually converted into private apartments. Today, Old Wardour Castle is a romantic ruin managed by English Heritage, while New Wardour Castle remains a private residence.

The walk is short but perfectly formed. A circle of the lake and out on the Wessex Ridgeway to take in farmland and woodland. There is a chance to visit the Forester at Donhead St Andrew. A pub that itself is rumoured to be built from the stone of the old castle. Too early for us today but we did have Sunday lunch. Good beer guide recommended. Steak £29.99, to provide financial perspective. We give way to the Salcome delivery van to provide beery perspective.

Walk Details

Distance - 3.5 Miles

Walk Inspiration - AA 1001 Family Walks

Geocaches - 0

09/09/24 - Ashmore, the highest village in Dorset

Finding the Wessex Ridgeway... and little else

The walk looked ok on the map.... and if its only a walk you are after then it was fine.  A woodland trail from Washers Pit through Ashmore Woods. Stubhampton Bottom leading to the Wessex Ridgeway.

The Wessex Ridgeway is a long-distance walking trail in southern England, part of the greater Ridgeway National Trail network. Stretching approximately 137 miles (220 km), the trail starts in Marlborough, Wiltshire, and ends in Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast. The Wessex Ridgeway follows ancient routes and tracks through picturesque landscapes, including rolling chalk downs, wooded valleys, and farmland, offering views of historic sites, ancient monuments, and charming villages.

Can't see the woods for the trees

Halfpenny Lane brings us the potential of 6 Geocaches and Ashmore. Mrs M on google looking for a tea room and teasing with just one hospitality venue of interest. We'll never know if the Gritchie Brewery has a tap room. The still maintained website simply states "Closed..... For Now".

A shame, as Dorset's Highest Village needed to be celebrated with something more than a half filled duck pond.

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Walk Inspiration - AA 1001 Family Walks

Geocaches - 5 Found

 

07/09/24 - The White Horse, Hinton St Mary

 An Unusually Dark Batch of Exmoor Gold

Hinton St Mary is a tiny hamlet but a rich history. I'd already noticed on the OS Map the words "Roman Villa". There's also a story to rival the Elgin Marbles. A full Roman mosaic lifted by the British Museum, with the majority locked away in vaults. Only the central Christ-like image on display. The locals are demanding its return.

We're not here for the Romans. A simple walk, for a Saturday morning when the it has finally stopped raining. Not much to see, but the dog we are looking after enjoyed the woodlands and the drop down to the River Stour. Which has burst its banks, forcing Mrs M to wade through floodwaters, holding her socks and boots aloft. I should have taken a photo, but she'd have moaned that I wasn't helping her enough.

Down by the Stour

A short 3 miles and just in time for the village pub to scrape open the bolt.

Simple exterior, complex menu

There's a wedding on at the nearby church but it may always be this busy on a Saturday lunchtime. A menu that is relatively complex, should you only be looking for ham, egg and chips at a push. Our waitress does a fine job of upselling, suggesting if the meals are too large and fancy (read North of a score), we might enjoy olives. Or Crisps.

We'll stick to just drinks - Exmoor Fox, Gold and Butcombe original on. I have to get some sort of story out of a blog. How about consumer rights?

Decent pint, but was it Gold?

I am a veteran of JDW, who often have Exmoor Gold on. In case you are unaware, here is the product description;

A natural glorious golden colour; its juicy malt aroma has just a hint of vanilla with citric hops.It starts bitter-sweet in the mouth and finishes dry and intensely hoppy.

Is that pint a glorious golden colour? I discuss with a fellow beer drinker and mention it to the landlady. She replied that the brewery have told her to warn her customers that it is a particularly dark batch that has been delivered.

I consider myself warned but after a Fox in the Rising Sun (with glorious fish-finger sandwiches, food fans), I rather think they have put the Fox label on the Golden hand-pull.

Walk Details

Distance - 3 Miles

Geocaches - 1 abandoned, as it started raining

Walk Inspiration - 40 Town and Country Walks in Dorset

03/09/24 - West Midlands Way - Stage 2 - Kenilworth to Henley-in-Arden

Ancient Mysteries In Between

No doubting this walk is spectacular at either end. Leaving the majesty of Kenilworth Castle and arriving at one of the finest high streets in the land at Henley-in-Arden.

Never tire of the castle views

The 12 miles in-between carry functional Warwickshire walking and OS Map mysteries that are vague on the ground. We have;

The Pleasance - A hunting lodge and pleasure garden developed in the 1300s and dismantled by Henry VIII. All that remains are earthworks and a moat.

The Pleasance

St John's Well - a medieval pilgrimage site, fabled to have waters with healing powers. Nothing to see on the ground but some internet sleuthing showed that it has been cement capped.

Wroxhall Abbey - some fine walking through maintained parkland. The abbey is just visible through the trees. Former home of Sir Christopher Wren.

Beaudesert Mount - A Motte and Bailey Norman Castle. When this is reached, you know that civilisation is close to hand. Just the hill remains, and to be fair, the view isn't up to much. The housing estates of Henley.

Other things - Rowington Church (locked). Canals. The M40 - which when the guide-book was written was merely a pipe-dream. The hand drawn maps show "projected line". Lets hope it didn't cause as much drama to 1970s walkers as HS2 has now.

Henley-in-Aden High Street flatters to deceive for the pub connoisseur. You would expect more from a lengthy high street that contains many fine Medieval half timbered and Tudor constructions. However, there is now a Good Beer Guide entry to (re)-explore. My advice - avoid anything with Swan in the name.

One End of the High Street

Today, with an hour to explore before the train home, I can investigate two.

The Nags Head - A C17th century pub with barstaff with a sense of humour. My request to have a Proper Job is met with "Don't we all need one of them". She found it that amusing she told all the other staff. And then made badges out of bar mats. Get the feeling that all future punters will get this treatment.

Half Timbered

Cue new Warwickshire Jokes

The Three Tuns - is Solihull's Pub of the Year and the GBG Stalwart of recent years. I have to say the Church End Brewery Goats Milk was in superb condition. That's award winning too.

A more modern Three Tuns

A settling Goats Milk - the Train won't wait

Walk Details

Distance - 12.5 Miles

Geocaches - 7 and 4 Adventure Lab Caches

Previous Stages - Stage 1

02/09/24 - Worcester Parkway to Pershore

The station is not even in Pershore

There's very little between Worcester Parkway and Pershore. The OS Map is a sea of grey, with only the hamlet of Peopleton to break up the monotony.

Peopleton Church

Door Open

The Crown, from the Churchyard

Even the finale cannot save this blog. Pershore station is far enough from town that a bus is required. Really, it should be called Pinvin. Or Wyre Piddle. And to top it all, there is no pub to hand.

A good job, as the 6 minute, 4 mile journey back to Parkway is £5.60.

We need to get a grip on railway pricing.

Walk Details

Distance - 6.25 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration 

Previous Rail Walks - Worcester Parkway - Foregate Street, Foregate Street to Malvern