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 29^th 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

Mileaters on Tor

“I’ve never seen anything like it”, said the hotel manager. “It’s quite remarkable. A village away together on holiday. And you’re such a friendly witty bunch. You should write a book about it. It’s extraordinary”..

Well, maybe it doesn’t justify a book, but it certainly justifies a write-up in Valley and Valence. Every year, the Martinstown Mileaters walking group goes away for a three nights expedition to experience a new set of walks, as well as doing the eating that is such an integral part of the group’s name. This year twenty-nine members of the group, plus five dogs, made their way to Moretonhampstead on Dartmoor, which is only an hour and a half’s drive away if the traffic conditions are good… which they weren’t.

But it was the weather that was the real concern. The tail end of a hurricane that had caused havoc the other side of the Atlantic was scheduled to hit us on our second day, but as Alfred Wainwright (the patron saint of British walkers) once wrote, ““There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” 

The weather for Walk One direct from our hotel and up to the cairns and stone circles overlooking the village was actually delightful, with blue skies and great visibility – though several members were unable to join because of important commitments in the village. But the weather for the second day’s walk, up on the moor itself needed several powerful adjectives, none of which were “delightful”. In the face of driving rain and gusting winds, allied with a general emotion of “what on earth are we doing”, we made our way up to Hay Tor, at which point one of our dogs chose to go missing. After some delay, it turned out that he had run back to the shelter of the visitor centre. Sensible dog. But we eventually persevered, the weather calmed a bit, and after a stunning walk of five miles, several Tors, a Medieval village, an extraordinary stone tramway, and the gorgeous sight of a Dartmoor Pony and her baby foal, we returned exhausted to our hotel – the White Hart.

The dismal weather meant we abandoned plans for walking on our second morning – though the afternoon walk along Fingle Gorge has to be one of the most delightful in the West Country. But the real key to the holiday was the company. As the hotel manager observed, the friendship and companionship was palpable. The hotel’s excellent staff did us proud, even tolerating our taking over the dining area for a wicked quiz on the final night – eventually won, after much good-humoured bickering by contestants, by our group’s esteemed President, Nick Priddle. As an Autumn break, we really couldn’t have asked for Moor.

David Haslam 

Some like it hot!

After a miserable July and August the sunshine reappeared in September and the walk around Portland was considered a good choice to escape the record high temperatures where a cooling sea breeze was enjoyed. Nineteen walkers joined the walk which was reduced to a mere 4 miles as it was too hot to go the usual distance. Fortunately no one complained.

The walk began in Southwell and we headed towards Portland Bill for our first of many refreshment stops. The opportunity to enjoy an ice cream at The Lobster Pot cafe was too hard to resist for many.

We stopped at Pulpit Rock for a group photograph before continuing to the Eight Kings pub in Southwell for lunch. The disappointment on some faces when we were told that there was no draught beer was priceless but the food that followed was of a good standard as was the service.

Richard Benson 

Our second Mileaters walk followed neatly on from our first successful March jaunt around the Folly from The Brace of Pheasants at Plush. Though, with a few exceptions we led a new group of 16 plus 3 dogs.

Happily all cars arrived at the designated parking for Lyscombe bowl more or less together.  The 'chatty' group set off on the sunniest warmest afternoon and evening we had seen for sometime.  There were multiple pauses to admire the outstanding  360 degrees views, but no coffee break.

At the strategic point a sensible 6 and 2 dogs split from the rest for a shorter circuit of 3.75 miles. It was hot! Apart from one fence to negotiate all went as planned. 

The delightful orchard next to the chapel and ruins provided the perfect, picturesque picnic spot where both groups met up. Huge thanks to Riou for ferrying everyone's picnic close by and all those who helped unload the car. Riou then cheerfully provided a taxi service for some back to the car park. 

Laura Baxter