Mileaters Walk... Kingston Lacy
There are special times in the year when the flowers in the countryside put on a magnificent display, one being in February when it’s the turn of the snowdrops. This year apparently is an extra special one and the Mileaters walked around the Kingston Lacy area where their was an abundance of them peeping through the hedgerows. Some of the group went to the National Trust garden afterwards to enjoy an even more spectacular display.
The walk began at the car park just outside the northern entrance to Kingston Lacy NT and proceeded along wide pathways towards the Iron Age hill fort, Badbury Rings. Some of the group scrambled over the ancient mounds that was once an important defensive site.
A coffee break was taken at White Mill, a picturesque mill and bridge adjacent to the River Stour. The bridge is the oldest bridge in Dorset whilst the mill originated in the 16th century. The next part of the walk was along the river Stour where it was quite muddy in places but nothing that a hardened Mileater couldn’t cope with. After negotiating this difficult section we encountered both beauty and the beast. The beauty being the flight of geese and swans along the river whilst the beast were the rather aggressive horses who were troubled by the group walking through their field. Fortunately we all emerged unscathed and left the horses to fight another day.
Lunch was taken at the Red Lion Sturminster Marshall where 32 ate a hearty lunch and experienced excellent service.
All things considered 29 walkers started off and 28 finished having lost one through injury and very nearly a few more when a wrong turning was taken but all managed to complete the 5.5 mile circuit.
Richard Benson
