Mileaters Walk 13.2.2025
With Valentine’s Day and the Half Term holiday looming a small but hardy group of 9, plus Molly the dog headed out on a very chilly morning from the pretty village of East Chaldon/ Chaldon Herring, which was once an artist’s enclave, housing poets, artists and sculptors.
The walk, of just under 5 miles, was for the majority of the time on farm tracks, with a few gates, and without stiles.
Starting at the ‘walkers’ car park meant walking through the village before taking the lane that would lead us up the first of two hills towards the coast. The climb up to the ridgeway made it feel like a long way but it warmed us up and afforded us wonderful views north over the village to the 5 Marys, a group of Bronze age round barrows, on the opposite side of the valley. After watching a large ‘murder’ of crows wheeling in unison (I daren’t use the term murmuration) over a huge manure heap we reached the ridgeway. Our view was then changed towards the sea, Bats Head and a glimpse of the top of Durdle Door.
Our coffee stop was to have been on the ridgeway with the views but this was far too cold so we headed on and found a sheltered spot behind a hedge. Moving on, we followed the track to Daggers Gate which, disappointingly for some, had no daggers or even a gate. It does, however, come with stories of witches, murder, smugglers and Revenue Men.
From there it was mostly downhill through field and lane before ending back at the car park. Good news was, nobody fell over or got covered in mud and, Molly seemed to have a good time!
Afterwards, we made our way to the Red Lion at Winfrith Newburgh for lunch. Don’t mention the chicken wings!!
Martin and Sheree
Mileaters Walk 5th February 2025
Fifteen walkers assembled on the Green, and after a detour to order lunch at The Black Dog, Broadmayne drove to Osmington Mills for the start.
Just over 5 miles in length and some minor inclines we returned to our starting point after having a coffee stop at St. Catherines by the Sea, Church.
The sun on the sea was quite spectacular from the coastal path.
St Catherines never disappoints.
A few little-known paths were trod
Lunch at the Black Dog followed.
I think almost everyone enjoyed it.
Stuart Nuttall
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud! - Mileaters walk 22nd January 2025.
Mud, mud, glorious mud turned out to be the theme of the second walk of the year. With the best will in the world, it was always going to be a muddy walk following the rain of recent days. Undaunted by these walking conditions an enthusiastic band of 20 Mileaters plus four dogs set off from Upwey; apparently on a new route that Mileaters had not taken before.
We started from the Royal Standard pub and went east down a narrow footpath into Upwey then headed on from Westbrook towards Hewish Hill. Much of this part of the route was seriously low lying and muddy with the added problem of at least ten stiles. Maybe this was the reason the route had not been walked before!
Once the mud and heavy going was passed, we joined firm tracks, stamping as we went trying to get rid of some of the mud on our boots and making our way to the top of Waddon Hill at Friar Waddon. The return route took us along a pleasant downland ridge, with views out over Weymouth Bay (though rather foggy on the day walked) to the cross dyke at Windsbatch. Then we negotiated a tortuous wet and muddy slope down to the Wishing Well in Upwey, walking poles definitely needed on this descent. It had been intended to take the footpath behind the houses on the north side of the road but with another six stiles to navigate, it was sensibly decided to take the pavement instead and most importantly, to ensure we would reach the pub in time for lunch. The Royal Standard provided us with excellent food and refreshment. In all, a walk of just over five miles.
A good walk with some challenging conditions and some Mileaters a few days later reported that knees and/or hips were still aching from climbing over all those stiles!
Gerald & Rosie Duke
Mileaters Muddy Walk
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 +1oC with up to minus 15o 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
