The Mileaters

The village walking group began nearly 35 years ago with the aim of walking the Dorset Coast Path, in sections, from the Devon border to Sandbanks. Subsequently the reverse route from Sandbanks to Devon has been undertaken.

We are a friendly group of local residents, ex-residents, and colleagues from the area, who meet on a fortnightly basis to enjoy the diversity of the wonderful Dorset countryside. We take it in turns to lead a walk with most members being allotted a fortnight's slot twice a year. The choice of distance, location, and day within that fortnight is at the discretion of the fortnightly leader, but walks (anywhere in Dorset) are usually between 4 and 8 miles. 

Walk details are distributed by email. A picnic lunch is often carried in the Summer, but a pub lunch in the Winter is the norm - rehydration is de rigueur! Generally we meet on the Village Green at 10.00 a.m.

Contact:
Nick Priddle tel: 01305 889189

Chetnole with Stile


Fresh from the Mileaters Tour of Dartmoor an intrepid number (18) of the group turned out to tick off another area of Dorset and get to the pub before Storm Agnes arrived. From the Chetnole Inn our early route lulled the group into a false sense of security, it being mainly flat grassland. Then came a section which took in the only bit of hillside for some miles. Following the Hardy Way we ventured, out of breath, to the summit and plunged down into the lovely little hamlet of Melbury Bubb. Sounds better if you say it as Blackadder would, with emphasis on the final B’s. Hardy called this place Little Hintock in “The Woodlanders”. There is a church here with an extraordinary font on which the animals are carved upside down. This font had been part of a large cross once which has been repurposed. Oil lamps adorn the walls and a huge log burner the entrance.


After a coffee break we regained height on the Hardy Way before descending to the next church.

I don’t think calling someone ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ was warranted after all it was only about 100’ in actual vertical height! Passing the trig point gives one a fine view towards the NW into Somerset (well, on a clear day perhaps). The path took us to the uniquely named Church of St Edwold, said to be one of the oldest in Dorset. Measuring 30’x12’.  Edwold was a hermit who came to Cerne Abbas and started the Hermitage by the Silver Well. Recently, it has been suggested that the Cerne Abbas Giant is a depiction of Edwold. St Edwold’s Day is the 29th Aug.


From the Church there is a very pleasant flat(ish)walk back towards Chetnole. But first, our esteemed President decreed that in true tradition we would follow the correct path across a ploughed field to the Sheaf of Arrows before turning for home.  In so doing we reinstated the footpath for the farmer free of charge.  The walk is about 5 miles but would have been shorter had a footbridge contained the necessary planks. However, the diversion allowed those with muddy boots to wash them by fording the stream.

All along the walk we encountered some impressive Oak trees with huge acorns. There must be some very chunky squirrels in these parts, not to be messed with unless you are in the WI. Once again crossing the railway led us back to the Inn 15 mins later than my estimate.


Did I mention the stiles? Apparently, there is a prize for the walk containing the largest number of stiles. When one pre-walks a route, a few stiles doesn’t make much of a difference. When a group attempts the same walk it can make a huge difference. All those creaking hips and grinding knee joints, a sound not for the faint hearted. I think there were 10 stiles in all. However, we were able to walk around one and used the two gates at the railway crossing instead, so 7 seems a good number to set as a target with only a few months left of this year.

Martin Usherwood