Mileaters January Milton Abbas Walk 

The first day back at work after the Christmas excesses is always hard going. It is the same for the first walk in January. First you have to find a pub which is open mid-week and then plan a route which has not been seasonally affected. Our pub was the Royal Oak in Milborne St Andrew and our route was 90% mud free despite the previous two days rain. 

You know its not your day when, before leaving the Village Green, a car runs over your foot. Shortly afterwards you are told your meal has not been ordered at the pub but not to worry. Maybe this was the reason why you would then decide to throw yourself into one of the only mud puddles on route!

In their haste to aid a fallen colleague (leave no-one behind) a second walker also bit the dust (mud).

The walk through the woods near Milton Abbas saw the Ancient Beech tree plantation. I am reliably informed that they are self-pruning! Who knew?  In these trees It was a bit a bit chilly with temperatures down to +1^oC with up to minus 15^o windchill, so best keep moving. We stopped for coffee a little further on, in a sheltered spot, overlooking Winterborne Houghton. Afterwards, descending into the village, we came across an odd site, a phone box which had not been converted into a library or a defibrillator station.

The sun, now shining continued to shine for the rest of the route but the mood changed. Newton’s theory in reverse ‘What goes down has to come up again!’ The gentle descent to Houghton was eclipsed by a short up hill bit. You know this because the banter, laughing and chatter stops, the heavy breathing takes over and the line strings out to twice the length. At the top, the mood changes back again, due to the picturesque views but more probably due to the knowledge that we were on the homeward leg. One last surprise was that a lake had appeared across the footpath overnight.

I say one last surprise but, as we raced for the pub and lunch, our way was blocked by a recently erected ‘Road Closed’ sign. We managed to find a way around the closure only to see a sign at the far end which said ‘Road Closed. Find your own route’. Thank you Open Reach for being so helpful, 6 vans not a single workman in sight’.  A challenging walk, completed by 17 intrepid walkers, who after a good lunch, fully deserved an afternoon nap.

Martin and Lesley

Maiden Castle 19th December 2024

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all of the walkers
In the Mileaters group – which includes all the talkers –
Set off from the valley in sunshine so bright
But clouds came so fast that it could have been night.
In the next hour or so the weather was freezing,
Then rainy, then windy, then sunny and pleasing.
At the old Roman Temple our coffee was warm
Which revived all the walkers right after the storm
There were twenty of us on this pre-Christmas walk
And most shared a lunch at the Brewers to talk
And agreed Christmas exercise was just what we needed
With advice against laziness once again heeded,
So after our lunch and our glasses of beer
We could toast “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”.

Farewell to Bert  25th November 2024

What a difference a day makes. The weekend's Storm Bert had moved off east, giving way to a sunny and breezy day as 15 Mileaters and 2 spaniels gathered in the car park of the now closed "Elm Tree" in Langton Herring (with permission, of course).

Our route took us past Higher Farm, stopping for a short examination of an interesting (?) example of Forest Green Marble (from Nailsworth perhaps ?), through Ten Acre Plantation and passing Bagwell Farm Caravan Park. Did our worthy leader then take the wrong lane? Impossible !. "Just testing you" was the muttered response as we then headed, back on course, down to Moonfleet Manor and a muddy stretch of the Coast Path.

As we followed the Coast Path alongside The Fleet, good birding opportunities arrived for those of that inclination (various Gulls, Mute Swans, Brent Geese, Little Egrets and Redshank were spotted, amongst others), before a final ascent past the former Coastguard Cottages returned us to our cars.

A most enjoyable lunch ensued at "The Turks Head" in Chickerell, but a shame that "The Elm Tree" is no longer open for business. Hopefully the community initiatives to purchase the pub will bear fruit.

Nick Priddle.

Mileaters walk  - Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!

On a blustery Autumnal morning, 10 Mileaters set off from Lodmoor nature reserve and walked out to Weymouth seafront and walked a little way along the esplanade towards Weymouth and as the tide was going out we then walked along the tide line coming back up in front of the Pavilion. Proceeding around the old harbour up to Nothe gardens.

Along the top of Nothe gardens dodging the squirrels even though one tried to get in Celias bag! We stopped for coffee on the sea wall looking out towards Portland which was visible through the mist. Walking onto to the Fort where unfortunately Celia stepped in something nasty!

We walked back around the harbour and along to the Pavilion  and walked back along the tide line where Celia was able to clean off her boots in the wet sandy gravel. No treasure was found. We moved up onto the esplanade and walked along to Weymouth tip and took the scenic path through the nature reserve back to our cars and the Spring head pub for a very good lunch even though the service was very slow. 

Lesley Pemberton