12 merry Mileaters and one dog Molly left the Crown inn pub at Puncknowle and headed off on a lovely Sunny May morning . The footpaths were rather over grown and on doing a slight detour Nick decided to investigate the ground a little more closely ! Yep it was fine. Sustaining no great injury he carried on.
The Mileaters
Martinstown Mileaters In search of Bluebells
On the previous Friday, an Amber weather warning had been announced but by Monday this turned out to be just a blustery day with sunshine during the second half of the walk. A pleasant but windy first quarter ended with a beautiful apple orchard and the biggest pile of cow manure around. Skirting the very large pile of discarded Carlsberg cans we proceeded across a field inhabited by very inquisitive cows and calves. However, good planning and by special arrangement the farmer rendezvoused with us and kept the wild beasts at bay.
Spring walk ...well at least for a day
After another weekend of snow and grey skies it was good to enjoy a walk mostly in the sun and mostly mud free!
A small group walked from Uploders covering about 5 1/2 miles on tracks and quiet country roads. Our route took us to Nettlecombe and past Mappercombe Manor before returning to the Crown Inn.The banks were covered with primroses and daffodils and we passed a woodland planted to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, randomly.
We also came across a working water mill with a thatched roof. Good pub grub and a choice of three draft beers was a welcome end to the walk.
Frances Clifford
Mikes Muddy Melcombe Walk
I guess it should not have been too much of a surprise after the heavy rains and snow melt, that the latest venture for the Martinstown Mileaters ended up a very muddy affair and although a relatively modest 4 1/2 miles, our intrepid group of 19 were glad to reach the sanctuary of the pub after dragging round very clogged up boots for much of the way.
WHERE IS GEORGE?
The Martinstown Mileater’s are a very hardy and cheerful group, despite having to endure bitter cold winds on the next leg of the Coastal Path. Seventeen of us and three dogs travelled from Abbottsbury to Chickerell in temperatures that even Scott would have baulked at. We were however, very well wrapped up, and only Malcolm and Stuart didn’t have hats on! The first hill gave us fantastic views of the Swannery and the start of the Fleet. The sun was shining and the water was glistening on the sea. We were nearly blown over, so we had to keep marching onwards to keep warm. Luckily the footpath had dried out after many days of rain, which made the going easier.
Mileaters survive the pub with no beer.
14 Mileaters gathered at Burton Bradstock for the next section in our Coast Path odyssey. On paper, a fairly level walk to Abbotsbury awaited, but after eventually negotiating the 3 miles to West Bexington, 50% of which was on shingle, we realised why the Army used beaches for training.
