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The Plan
A Kingston Lacy walk
The Leader
Wendy
Who Turned Up
Wendy, Trudy B, Trudy H, David
The Walk
The snowdrops were in bloom, the air was calm, the temperature was somewhat higher than we would expect for the last day in February - in short, it was a very good day for a walk around the Kingston Lacy estate. We parked in the main car park and went in through the main reception to begin our walk at Kingston Lacy House. We wandered through the flower gardens near the house and then took the path down to the Japanese garden. Sad to say, I cannot remember the names of the flowers. You can see some of them in the photographs and if you really want the full botanical list you can ask Wendy! Our walk took us on a circuit that brought us to the exit on Abbot’s Lane where we met Bill and Peter who were also taking advantage of the good walking conditions. We had a brief wander around the Kingston Lacy kitchen garden and then walked up to the farm shop restaurant at Pamphill. Trisha joined us here for lunch – it was good to see you out and about again, Trisha, and we hope to see more of you when spring is fully upon us.
After lunch we walked through the woodland along Harry’s Walk. The woodland path was obstructed at one point but we managed to clamber past it. All-in-all it was a very pleasant walk on a nice February day.
The Restaurant
We ate in the farm shop restaurant at Pamphill. It was surprisingly busy, but we had booked a table for five (four walkers plus Trisha). The pie-eater was satisfied with a steak and kidney pie and the other diners had a pleasant meal.
Next Week
Meet at David’s at 10am for a Blashford Lakes walk.
The Plan
A New Forest Walk
The Leader
Trudy
Who Turned Up
Trudy, Wendy, Sue, David
The Walk
We knew it was going to rain in the afternoon but we believed it would turn wet LATER in the afternoon. So we planned a long walk across the forest heathland in the morning and a shorter walk in the afternoon. Did it work? Read on to find out. We parked at Longslade View. The car park was closed for surface repair, but we found enough room to park at the side of the road. We then walked to Horsehoe Bottom, climbed up to the old railway line - now a footpath - and followed the path along the line of Hincheslea Bog until we came to Cater’s Cottage. From here we cut down to Latchmoor and set off across Setley Plain. It was a bit breezy up here on the plain, and definitely not the fourteen or fifteen degrees we had been promised. Neither were we too sure that we were on the right path. However, with a bit of help from a stray van driver, we did find our way to the pub at Battramsley, near Lymington.
While we were enjoying our meal, it started raining. Now, this was far sooner than we were led to expect, so we set off for as short a return walk as possible. Getting wetter with every step, we made it back to the car in 45 minutes. How’s that for navigation?
The Pub
The Hobler, Battramsley near Lymington. By the time we got here we were all pleased at the idea of having safely reached a place of sustenance. The atmosphere inside was congenial and the food was good. Three of the four walkers had the home-made chicken, ham and mushroom pie as part of a two-course deal. Very tasty. The same three went on to have that good old English afters: bread-and-butter pudding with custard. Our friends from around the globe might find the idea of having custard on bread and butter somewhat alarming, but until you’ve tried it you don’t know how good it is.
Next Week
Meet at Wendy’s at 10.15 for a walk around Kingston Lacy.
The Plan
A walk from Lytchett Matravers
The Leader
Wendy
Who Turned Up
Wendy, Sue, Trudy B, Trudy H, David
The Walk
First, I must offer many apologies to our faithful blog-followers for lack of a write-up last week. And apologies also to Trudy because her photographs didn’t get their usual well-deserved airing. I’m afraid the blog-master went straight to bed after the walk, cuddling a hot water bottle, too ill to get to the computer and use the keyboard. Yes, he walked, but our regular followers will understand how bad things were when I reveal that he was unable to eat a pie at lunchtime! Things can’t get worse than that.
This week we enjoyed warmer weather which immediately got us off to a good start. We drove to Lytchett Matravers and parked in the lay-by opposite the Rose and Crown. From there we took the footpath past Foxhills Farm. The ground was reasonably firm with only a few soft muddy patches. We took a short walk along Foxhills Lane and then we cut onto the footpath past Post Green, arriving in Lytchett Minster. Along the way we saw buzzards and snowdrops.
After lunch, Trudy H and Sue walked to the Courtyard Craft Centre while the other three walkers took a shorter route than the morning walk. It brought them back up past Foxhills Farm. We heard a woodpecker but just couldn’t get a sighting of him. The path took us back to the car at Lytchett in little more than an hour. We made a short detour to pick up Trudy and Sue at the craft centre. A very pleasant day with Wendy providing tea before and after the event. Many thanks, Wendy.
The Pub
St Peter’s Finger at Lytchett Minster. A very pleasant environment and the pie-eater was able to make good work of a chicken and ham pie. All is well with the world. The ladies each finished a decent lunch but coffee was postponed until Sue and Trudy H got to the craft centre.
Today’s write-up is courtesy of Wendy. (Nice one Wendy, I shall look forward to the release of your first novel!)
The Plan
A recce walk – one we had not walked previously
The Leader
Trudy B
Who Turned Up
Only three intrepid walkers today: Trudy B, Trudy H and Wendy. Pat and Sue joined us for lunch.
The Walk
A cold but beautiful day, wall to wall sun and blue sky. We started from a lay-by at Cripplestyle. While changing into our boots we noticed the small church opposite was called 'Naughty Boy Studio' so we guessed it was no longer a church! We set off down the lane and turned left up a cart track. As we came to the end of the track there was a gate which led us straight up a hill (the kind the Duke of York went up). It was called Kings Barrow. We got to the top where there was a magnificent view and then, like the Duke of York, we came down again. We then were walking across heathland which could have been quite muddy but luckily the mud was frozen. We followed the track to the road and crossed over going up a leafy lane. This took us between two woods called 'Hither Daggons Wood' and 'Further Daggons Wood'. This track was also very muddy, but again mostly frozen mud. We arrived at Hart's Farm where we admired the snowdrops growing in the orchard. We made our way back to the road and crossed over walking through trees and fields where we came across a fishing Lake hidden in the woods. We eventually came out near the Churchill Arms, where we met up with Pat and Sue and had lunch.
After lunch we retraced our tracks and then turned off across Cranborne Common. It was a long slow climb up through Telegraph Plantation. We managed to find some footpath/bridleway signs and with a bit of guesswork and some help from Trudy H's satnav phone (we discovered later that it thought we were a car and it tried to send us off towards a road) we found our way back to the car.
The Pub
The Churchill Arms at Alderholt. They had a ‘Seniors’ menu with two courses for £6.95. The food was very good, particularly the chips. Sue's Treacle sponge pud was excellent. Sadly the pie-eater missed out today being at home nursing a cold
Next week
Meet at David's for a snowdrop walk at Whitsbury/Breamore
