Eggardon and Loders - Just when you think you've got it covered - 27th September

"Where are you going today?" Paul asked as he left for work. Did I detect a twinge of envy? "Sydling St Nicholas to write my poem," I replied. Did he detect a twinge of guilt? After all, he works five days a week and I get to only work three and have two glorious days to myself. I'm under no illusions. This is fabulously glorious freedom.

He shut the door and left and I don't think I detected so much as a whimper of bitterness as he did so. Then two things happened simultaneously;

1) Daylight stretched across the sky in glorious sunshine
2) I realised I had a whole bunch of virgin gridsquares around Eggardon Hill, one of my top ten places in Dorset.

Hmm, what does one do when one realises something as radical as that? Answer: One abandons one's plans to spend most of the day in a dark and musty (but ever so delightful) church and hurriedly draws a route to bag as many of those virgin gridsquares as possible. Oh, the unspeakable joy of being able to do that without having to phone or message anyone with a lie as to why you can't meet them today. Don't get me wrong; I love company, but I also love my own company and have recently stopped apologising for that. It's very liberating.

So, I made all the necessary plans and set off for Loders where I was going to begin my adventure. Whilst I relish the opportunity to explore new areas and discover new things, I am fast learning that it is hard to beat inland west Dorset for sheer beauty. Obviously that is my opinion and I am bias because I love the Scottish west coast above any other coast line I have yet seen, but for rolling hills and little churches I adore west Dorset and I was pleased as Punch to discover that I hadn't yet ticked off all the gridsquares in the area.

As I set off on my 11 mile adventure, I glanced at my route. Would it really only be 11 miles? It looked twice that length as I scrolled across my phone screen to see it all. I would just have to wait and see. I strolled down Smishop's Lane to the school, cast in autumn sunshine.

Loders School - SY4994

I turned left here and continued along the road/bridleway on the north side of the River Asker.

Bridleway to Uploders and Powerstock - SY4994

Railway bridge, Loders - SY4994

I passed a few dog walkers along the bridleway, which was dappled in autumn sunshine.

Bridleway near Uploders - SY5094

 I tried to capture the sun's rays breaking through the trees' canopies, but did so only very inadequately. It's as if nature beckons us to enjoy the moment instead of fiddling with aperture settings and lenses to capture something for eternity which it wants to enthrall us with for the here and now. But then where would we be without the likes of Ansel Adams?

Sun rays on bridleway near Uploders - SY5093

The woodland path suddenly emerged into bright sunshine with an unnamed hill in front of me and a choice of paths. I gravitated towards the one which crossed the river, even though I could see I didn't need to cross the river! If a bridge is there, it has to be crossed, even if it means having to cross it again to get back onto the right path!

Gate and junction of paths at the unnamed hill, Uploders - SY5093

A bridge which just had to be crossed, Uploders - SY5093

I continued along the bridleway through a field and passed another dog walker. This was my second new gridsquare, but I didn't just want to take a photograph of a mere field on a glorious day like today. Days like this were made for special photos. In the end I resigned myself to a photograph of a signpost, an untidy farmyard and some pylons - not all in the same photo - so much for my high hopes!

Road to Matravers Farm - SY5193

Matravers Farm - SY5193

Pylons across the countryside - SY5193

When I reached Spyway Road, I recognised it as I have driven down it several times on the way to Askerswell.

Spyway Road - junction to Askerswell - SY5293

After a short downhill bit, it was an uphill climb to the Spyway Pub and several cars passed in the brief spell I was on the road. I was not the only non-car user on the road; a girl with a bike dismounted after freewheeling downhill to push her bike up the hill. She wasn't going much faster than me and as we neared the top of the hill I had to slow down a bit lest I caught up with her - and I wanted to avoid the awkward situation of not knowing whether to walk alongside her, say hello and walk past, say something witty (if possible) or simply say nothing at all. I agonised over this question whilst puffing my way up the hill and then didn't have to agonise over it any longer because she parked her bike at the pub and went in the back way. She presumably works there.

Spyway Pub - SY5293

In the many times I've visited this area, I don't recall having seen the Spyway Pub before, let alone go in! Today wasn't going to be my day either. I walked slightly past the pub and then turned left towards South Eggardon Farm. I immediately recognised the track; I had been down here before, but it looked so beautiful today. Autumn flora always takes me by surprise. Just when you think everything has finished for the year, autumn comes up trumps with some purple, violet flowers like scabious and knapweed and, my favourite, harebell.

Bee on Knapweed near South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

I was now getting my first views of Eggardon Hill, swathed today in sunshine.

Eggardon Hill from the south-west - SY5393

I was vaguely recalling a walk here with the Footloose group in the summer in blisteringly hot weather when  I hadn't been able to fully appreciate the scenery.I disturbed some Moorhen as I walked past the pond at South Eggardon Farm.

Pond at South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

I wandered across an area of what would once have been extremely boggy land, heading north to North Eggardon Farm. I was walking now in T-shirt and trousers and was beginning to wish I'd put my shorts on and not brought my fleece and waterproof jacket. It was all extra weight and I never needed them once.

I  turned to photograph the sunlight on the gate I'd just come through and then I was in a new gridsquare and headed towards North Eggardon Farm.

Gate between South and North Eggardon Farm - SY5393

North Eggardon Farm - SY5394

I promised myself a stop on Eggardon Hill. It wasn't quite lunch time and I was still worried that it looked like I'd got an awful long way to walk so thought I'd better not stop long. This is one of my favourite spots in Dorset though and today it was simply alive with the breath of the wind and butterflies alighting on yellow hawkbit, pirouetting and then flying off again. In particular abundance were the Small Coppers, which we'd hardly seen at all last year. They are such an arresting colour and I felt like I saw enough today to make up for the lack of them last year (well, maybe not quite!)

Even rarer than the Small Coppers, however, were the Clouded Yellow which danced on to the Eggardon stage in their sunshine yellow as if to say, "but look at me, look at me and catch me if you can." Because you simply can't. You sidewalk up the slopes of this ancient hillfort and watch your prey scaling ever higher with such ease and grace that it's best just to let them fly off unphotographed but for the moving image caught in your memory, which is often better than a still image anyway.

From North Eggardon Farm to Eggardon Hill - SY5394

I sat for a while taking in this mesmerising scene and drinking my cup of tea and just thinking how lucky I was to be there then and watching those butterflies that no-one else was watching and to breathe in that fresh air and feel so alive. A Wheatear alighted on a fence post to bid me farewell before taking its long autumn flight back to its wintering territory in North Africa.

Small Copper on Eggardon Hill - SY5394

Eggardon Hill, towards Pilsdon Pen and Lewesdon Hill - SY5394

Southern flanks of Eggardon Hill - SY5494

Reluctantly I got up and left the magic of this iron age hill fort, walking round its south-eastern contours to a field with a distant herd of cows (and a trigpoint). I have only ever photographed this trigpoint from the road before, and would like to get up close, but then, really, what is there to surprise me in a lump of concrete? Not a lot methinks! Perhaps time has moved on, or I have and it is no longer such an obsession. I would much rather be looking at natural beauty and spending time absorbing energy from things that are alive and moving than things which are static and rather dead. That's not to say a trigpoint doesn't make a nice object for a walk now and again.

So I crossed the road and then found a permissive path with more cows in. This path saved me a walk of all of several yards,but even that can be welcome at times.I was now turning north and walking down the road for what I thought would only be a little bit.

Turn off to Wynford Eagle - SY5494

A tractor in the field on my right was busy ploughing or something and the occasional car passed me. I walked quite fast, eager to get the road bit over and done with. There was not a lot of birdlife around, but the views all round were stunning. A herd of cows saw me approach and must have thought it was lunch time because they came running over to me hopefully. "Sorry girls, nothing for you," I said through the fence.

Herd of cows at Eggardon Hill - SY5494

I was also eager to get into the next new gridsquare and despite my determination not to photograph the road, that's exactly what I did do - Barrowland Lane to be precise. "I'll take a photograph of the road just in case I don't see anything else to photograph later on," I told myself. It's a method I've adopted on my walks ever since I've left taking a photograph to the last minute and then missing the opportunity because someone accosts me and I feel too embarrassed to say, "Excuse me, nice to meet you, but excuse me while I take a photograph of your house/driveway/field." It's better to have a photograph in the bag, so to speak, and then improve on it if you get another chance. I didn't on this occasion because the bridleway shown on the map did not materialise.

Barrowland Lane - SY5495

Conscious of the tractor close by and that I was almost certainly about to trespass on that farmer's land, I opened the gate which should have been a bridleway. There was a painted blue blob on the gatepost which may or may not have represented the blue arrow to indicate a bridleway. The gate took some opening, but worse was to follow; there was a curled roll of barbed wire across the path I wanted to take. I wandered down to the far end of the field to see if there was any other way out. Nope. Not feeling brave enough to crawl under the barbed wire and be accused of trespassing, I went back to the impossible gate and heaved it open and walked down the road, cursing myself for not having checked that this was still a valid right of way. (It is, I checked when I got back).

This meant a longer road walk, which is something I do not relish. I find it monotonous, especially when walking on my own. It's also annoying having to keep stepping off the road for passing traffic, not that there was a lot today.

Anyway, it was difficult to be annoyed for long today as the sun was shining and I was smiling for almost all the rest of my walk. Plus my diversion down the road meant nipping into another gridsquare, not a new one, but it boosted my tally for the day.

Footpath crossroads on Barrowland Lane - SY5596

It was here that I was turning left and I was relieved to see that this right of way at least was still there. I headed towards Barrowland Farm where another obstacle awaited me.

Barrowland Farm - SY5496

It seemed that the cows were locked in the yard for milking and my path went straight through them. There was no way I was going to attempt that. What to do instead? I took the bridleway heading left (which was the one I had wanted to be on in the first place on my approach to the farm) and then either ducked under electric fences or opened them via the hook method if available. I did this four times before I was on the bridleway I needed to be on heading north towards Powerstock Common where I intended to have lunch.

This bridleway runs alongside Barrowland Park and it was obvious that this used to be parkland. I took a photograph of some stark dead branches, looking rather like bones.

Barrowland Park - SY5496

Boney trees in Barrowland Park - SY5495

It was a sight uphill gradient to the entrance to Powerstock Common and I had to crawl through a rusty old gate in order to keep strictly to the footpath as shown on the map. In reality I could have done it a lot easier, but I didn't know that then and only do now because Paul and I went back and did this half of the walk again a couple of days later - there, that's how much I enjoyed it!

At last I was in Powerstock Common. Now for lunch!

Old sign upon entering Powerstock Common Nature Reserve - SY5496

Woodland in Powerstock Common - SY5496

I had never been in this part of the nature reserve before; we usually enter at the northern entrance. It is a beautiful and relatively infrequently visited reserve, which makes it even more appealing in my opinion.

When I found a nice open area, I plonked down with my mat, flask and lunch bag feeling so happy to be here and revelling in fresh air and solitude.

Powerstock Common - my lunch spot - SY5396

With almost seven miles behind me I was sure I'd broken the back of the walk, but I have so often miscalculated the miles, I thought I'd better not linger too long, so I set off again through dappled woodland where few footprints had fallen before mine.

Dappled woodland, Powerstock Common - SY5396

I emerged into permanent, unimproved pasture and walked towards Whetley Farm, looking back to Eggardon Hill, now south-east of me.

Permanent pasture, Powerstock Common - SY5396

Eggardon Hill from the north-west - SY5396

 Whetley Farm had an interesting array of antlers displayed in its orchard garden.

Antlers at Whetley Farm - SY5396

I headed south-east past an attractive stone built cottage with its own bridge.

Cottage at Whetley Farm - SY5396

I was walking uphill now on a narrow single-track road and a couple of cars/trucks passed me in the third of a mile I was on the road. At King's Farm I turned right onto a footpath which led to a byway. I peeked through the hedge to get a view of King's Farm. It sits in an enviable location with windows on all sides, making the most of the incredible vista surrounding it.

King's Farm - SY5395

I was quite close again to Eggardon Hill, which I was almost going to circumnavigate during the course of my walk today. I couldn't resist taking more photographs of this iconic Dorset landmark.

Eggardon Hill from the north-west - SY5395

I passed Marsh Farm and joined a minor road. I was soon going to find out whether my walk would be extended or not. Part of the reason I had been unsure about the length of the walk was because I hadn't known whether it was possible to walk along this section of the disused railway line. Some sections between Maiden Newton and Loders are walkable and others aren't. We have walked most of the bits that are, but not this particular bit.

Just as I approached the railway bridge, a couple and a dog came out from the north side of the road. Had they been walking along the railway line? I asked them if they knew whether it was possible to walk to Loders along the railway line and they said it was, and that was the direction they were going in.  I therefore then faced awkward situation number two of the day. Did I walk with them or linger over a photograph and avoid that situation? If I was going to walk along the railway line I has to turn off both east and west onto footpaths in order to photograph other squares that I would not otherwise get and that would just be plain embarrassing if I was walking with other people. But if they were walking the same pace as me, how would I avoid walking with them?

In the end I didn't need to worry too much as they walked really fast and by the time I had taken my requisite photo, they had disappeared into the distance, probably wondering what I was finding so fascinating about an old railway line!

Disused railway line south of Powerstock  - SY5295

At the junction in gridsquares, I dipped into both SY5195 and SY5294. I knew the latter would be a brand new one, but I was not sure about SY5195. I decided I would wander 100 feet into the square, just to be on the safe side. How many times have I got back from a walk and realised I'd been within feet of a new gridsquare but hadn't realised it at the time? It turned out that SY5195 was not a new gridsquare, but it was a nice walk anyway!

Disused railway line near Mappercombe Manor - SY5195

Footpath to Spyway Road - SY5194

The countryside had donned its autumnal wardrobe; reds, oranges and bronzes were just beginning to shine through the green. There were loads of berries about, including bright red ropes of bryony.

Bryony- SY5295

I suddenly realised that I was nearing the end of my walk. Had I not been able to walk along the old railway line, I would have had to go through Nettlecombe and down past Mappercombe Manor, which would have added on a good mile to the length. We have walked past Mappercombe Manor before and commented on its position with outstanding views over the Dorset countryside.

Mappercombe Manor - SY5194

 I slowed my pace as I approached Loders, feeling that the end had been too sudden.

Old railway line near Loders - SY5194

Just before the end, however, I took a wrong turn and veered away unknowingly from the railway line. Then I was determined I wasn't going to turn back. surely there was a gate out of this field and a way across the river (Asker)? After some to-ing and fro-ing I jumped across the river (OK, so it was a mere stream at this point) and I was back on the road and walked back under the railway tunnel to my car.

It had been a delightful walk, my first one of the autumn. I hope for many more.

Number of miles walked: 11
Number of new gridsquares: 7

Litton Cheney to Askerswell - 17th August 2017

For a long time I had stared longingly at the name Askerswell on my Dorset map and tried to envisage this place, snuggled neatly and remotely into west Dorset. After a visit by car in June, when I'd managed to get lost looking for the village hall, I had become even more determined to draw a route including this hidden gem of a Dorset village. I do hope this isn't one of the villages that the government will see fit to deprive of its red phone box due to maintenance costs. These iconic red kiosks are often what makes a village. It would be so sad to see them go, but seeing as how it's so difficult to find this village, I can only hope . . .

Anyway, to my walk. On days off like this my feet barely touch the ground. It's like I've got a button you can press which says 'Walk' and I have a routine which is so polished I can get out of bed and be in the car ready to go within about half an hour - and be dancing on air whilst I do it, such is my excitement of discovering new territory.

Now, I remembered Paula's Litton Cheney walk so I knew exactly where to park in the village, somewhere near the White Horse pub - which is where a truckload of wooden boards had decided to get lost, or rather its driver had. It was consequently blocking the road, which made me think twice about parking there. After doing my usual driving round the village and struggling to find anywhere to turn round, I ended up parking in what I considered to be a very good spot, not blocking anyone in, not blocking any house's view. Yep! I patted myself on the back. Good work, Becky!

So, at 9.30 am I set off in search of an adventure - and a geocache or two.

Litton Cheney - SY5590

Sign in Litton Cheney - SY5590

I don't usually like to linger so close to the beginning of a walk, but I knew I'd be too tired to be bothered afterwards, so I worked out the co-ordinates for the church micro geocache and went in search of some 'treasure', trying to look like I'd lost something important whilst some other walkerts and a dog walked by.

St Mary's Church, Litton Cheney - SY5590

Inside the church tower there is an interesting clock, circa 1700, which strikes the hour, but has no hands or face. Sadly the door to the tower was locked, so I could only view it through the window.

Faceless clock, St Mary's Church, Litton Cheney - SY5590

Leaving the church, I bade good morning to a resident viciously attacking summer growth in his front garden. "I've been in France for a month," he explained.

Attractive Litton Cheney village - SY5590

I headed east across fields to Long Bredy village, willing the cloud to lift as I was sure the views were stunning from here.

View of Long Bredy - SY5690

Arriving at Manor Farm, I crossed the road and went up a footpath leading to the church, past a gnarled Hawthorn tree.

Hawthorn tree, Long Bredy - SY5690

 I emerged on the road by a beautifully colourful and cheerful Lattice Cottage and turned up the lane to the church.

Lattice Cottage, Long Bredy - SY5690

St Peter's Church, Long Bredy - SY5790

The church sits obligingly within a new gridsquare - I love it when there's an obvious feature within a gridsquare. The sun had finally emerged from the clouds and Dorset looked beautiful. I had my cup of tea outside but went into explore the church.

Purbeck marble font - unusually square-shaped, St Peter's Church, Long Bredy - SY5790

An interesting collection of signs, St Peter's Church, Long Bredy - SY5790

Old sign in St Peter's Church, Long Bredy - SY5790

I love finding interesting nuggets of information in old churches, aside from all the architectural history, which I'm afraid I can find a little dull and dusty. I like finding out things like the number of people the church will freely accommodate (apparently 256 having obtained space for an additional 11 people in 1860).

Another interesting fact associated with this church is that one of the landowners, Ralphe Hurdinge was, in 1587, one of the 47 wealthiest men in Dorset and, as such, was asked by Queen Elizabeth I to contribute towards the cost of defence against the Spanish Armada. Bet you never knew that!

With these new facts comfortably under my belt, I donned my new fearless attitude towards cattle and bravely entered a field with about a million in it and bade them a cheery good morning. Hmm. Maybe my fearless attitude had been a one-off. They didn't seem too keen on my presence as I marched towards them. "Please don't make me go all the way round this huge field," I whispered. The footpath went straight through the middle of the herd, smack bang where the bull was eyeing me up curiously. My ascent up the hill via the outskirts of the field was my work out for the day. I thought I might pass out when I reached the gate and managed to open it after only three attempts at the easy latch. By now the cows were running towards me; I couldn't see the bull, but then again, I was too nervous to inspect too closely! Once safely through the gate I stopped to admire the view.

From behind the gate - Long Bredy in distance - SY5690

A close encounter at Long Bredy - SY5690

I was now near the top of Long Barrow Hill, so named for the long burial barrow at its summit. I had visited here before and been to the trigpoint, otherwise I would need to go right to the top today. This meant I had already photographed this gridsquare (SY5791). Phew! As it was I headed straight for the A35, which is where I met the two men who had passed me in Litton Cheney. I stopped to talk about our walks. People are always amazed at how far I'm going; sometimes I am too!

Crossing the A35 is not pleasant, but at least it dwindles down to single carriageway at this point, albeit it still at allegedly 60 mph speed limit. (Some cars whizzed by at what felt like 100 mph!) there is also an island in the middle but you obviously still have to cross with care. I had walked to North Barn Farm before as well, but loved walking through dappled sunlight streaming through the trees.

Road to North Barn Farm - SY5691

The Swallows were swarming round the farm and gathering on the telegraph wires. I always feel a bit sad when I see them do this.

Swallows gathering at North Barn Farm - SY5691

I had been this way before, on my Three Churches walk, but when I reached a T-junction of paths, I was entering new territory as I was turning left, not right and heading up a nice grassy path for a short distance before turning right onto another route with public access (shown by green dots on the Explorer map) which joins the road which joins the Roman Road with the burial chamber that I've never managed to see.

This was easy walking, but not particularly pleasant and I forgot to photograph a gridsquare - how annoying! SY5592 will have to wait for another day. I can see what I could have done instead of walking along the road. There is an adjacent footpath on the west side of the road. Why didn't I see that at the time?

I turned left just before reaching the T-junction with aforementioned burial chamber. The wheat had been harvested in this field and made a tuneful sound as my legs brushed against the hollow stems. Although walking right over an earthwork (written in Old English font on the map), there were no obvious signs of archaeological interest so I had to take their word for it. Of much more interest to me was the view south over this contour-tortured landscape towards the sea.

View from field near Two Gates - SY5593

Coombe Bottom from SY5593

I was flushing up Red-legged Partridge with almost every step. They simply flew a few feet ahead of me, only to be flushed up again within a minute or so. This continued to the top of the field where, at Two Gates, I was relieved to be done with tiptoeing through flutey sounding hollow wheat stems and the whoosh of short-winged partridges. I turned off onto another route with public access and, after passing an unsightly barn with fermenting crops, walked into unspoilt pastureland with grazing sheep, verdant copses and uninterrupted view of the tautological Coombe Bottom.

Sheep in Coombe Bottom - SY5493

View from near Two Gates - SY5493

View from near Two Gates - SY5493

With the sun now shining and the wind blowing gently in my face and these glorious views, this was my favourite part of the walk. I felt so alive and content. When I came to the road I immediately recognised where I was; it was where I had waited for a lift in June on my first visit to Askerswell to participate in the South Dorset Ridgeway poetry project. We had all spent the day on nearby Eggardon Hill on a scorching hot  day and I had started to walk back to the village rather than wait in the searing heat for the lift. I had stopped here in the shade of the trees and waited.

As I turned left towards Askerswell, I turned round to view Eggardon Hill with its hoard of visitors. It is a special place, more so now that I have spent so many hours there breathing in its many layered history and getting acquainted with its flora and fauna.

Eggardon Hill fort - SY5493

Eggardon Hill Fort - SY5493

Towards Pilsdon Pen and Lewesdon Hill - SY5493

My way lay south-west, not north, so I turned onto another footpath and gasped at more views.

Above South Eggardon Farm - SY5493

Above South Eggardon Farm - SY5493

Misinterpreting the map, I walked along the top of the hill towards what looked like a gate, then realising I was not on the footpath, I took a steep descent down flora rich meadows to the bridleway.

Steep descent down flora-rich meadows near South Eggardon Farm - SY5493

Bridleway near South Eggardon Farm  - SY5493

Bridleway near South Eggardon Farm - SY5493

 At South Eggardon Farm I was in a new gridsquare, and with sheep again.

South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

Then I came across what immediately soared to number one in my gate charts. Oh please may the farmer never see fit to exchange this gate for a modern galvanised metal one! I would 'adopt' this gate if such a thing were possible, for many lichen have. Rarely have I seen such a lichen-adorned gate, even in Scotland where my love affair with gates and fence-posts began.

Gate 20 - South Eggardon Farm - my favourite gate - SY5393

Lichen on my favourite gate, South Eggardon Farm  - SY5393

Lichen on my favourite gate, South Eggardon Farm  - SY5393

Lichen on my favourite gate, South Eggardon Farm  - SY5393

Lichen on gatepost of my favourite gate, South Eggardon Farm  - SY5393

Bridleway sign at South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

I turned now onto a minor holly-hedged-lined road and walked towards Askerswell.

Minor road near South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

The seed of a poem was germinating in my mind as I walked again beneath the dominant power lines, their ugliness soon forgotten by the blue jewels of Devil's-bit Scabious.

Devil's-bit Scabious near South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

Devil's-bit Scabious near South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

There was another lichen bejewelled gate at the farm entrance and I greeted it with warmth and tenderness, wishing it many happy returns.

Another lichen gate, South Eggardon Farm - SY5393

 Then it was a tarmac slog to Askerswell, and my long awaited lunch. Still, I was venturing into a new gridsquare.

To Askerswell - SY5293

Askerswell is a delightful village with many attractive cottages, tucked away in its own valley, yet within earshot of the A35. It was looking its best today at the height of summer in the full blaze of the sun's rays. The name originates from 'Oscherwille' in the Domesday Book of 1086, and means  'spring or stream of a man called Osgar' from an Old English personal name and wella.

Askerswell - SY5292

Askerswell - SY5292

Another red phone box to save, Askerswell - SY5292

My geocaching foray was delaying lunch, but giving me the opportunity to explore this quaint village and learn more of its history. I visited Washingpool Green, where I could have sat on a bench for lunch, and then the Pound,  an oval masonry enclosure used to 'pound' straying animals, whose owners had to pay a fine to get them back.

Washingpool Green, Askerswell - SY5292

The Pound, Askerwell - SY5292

The Pound, Askerwell - SY5292

Finally I arrived at the church where I sat outside in the shade with my long-awaited lunch.

Church of St Michael's and all Angels, Askerswell - SY5292

I then went to investigate the church interior, in search of some golden nugget of information.
Sadly, the church was undergoing some renovation work and some area were out of bounds, including the tower where I read there was an old Purbeck marble grave slab dedicated to Thomas and Alianore de Luda. The slab is slightly damaged, but records the gifts of lands and rents in 1305 in Holwell, now in Dorset but then in Somerset, to the Abbey of Abbotsbury from whence it is though this slab came. The story of its journey to Askerswell is not known, but one theory is that it was brought to the village in 1644, during the Civil War when Cromwell’s troops besieged Abbotsbury, inflicting severe damage on the remains of the Abbey. However it arrived in Askerswell, the slab was discovered in a milldam in 1924 by the Reverend E Westmacott after the millpool had been filled in. £2 was paid for the stone to avoid its destruction. There is a matching sister slab in the church of St Candida, in Whitchurch Canonicorum. (If only I'd known that at the time of my recent visit to that church.) I shall endeavour to return to Askerswell when the renovation work is complete to view the grave slab.

I left the church and took a brief detour to photograph a gridsquare I would otherwise miss, Then I knew my path was uphill and steep and towards the roar of the traffic.

East of Askerswell - SY5392

I bade farewell to this delightful village and clambered up tough slopes to the A35.

Askerswell from the south - SY5292

Askerswell from near the A35 - SY5292

Once safely across the A road, I went straight up Chilcombe Hill, and straight away went wrong. It didn't matter because I'd thought I might sneak off into another gridsquare if I felt I had the energy. having gone wrong I was half way to the gridsquare so didn't have to think about whether I had the energy or not. Of course I did!

As is often the case with these hill forts, they are best viewed from below. From up here, there is little to see.

Chilcombe Hill Fort - SY5291

It wasn't as easy as it looked to get into SY5391, not without going down and then up again, which I wanted to avoid. I had to be content with a view through the gate.

Towards Stout's Copse from Chilcombe Hill Fort- SY5391

I then followed my nose down towards Chilcombe, where I remembered I'd been with Lorna and Paul one February. This was my fourth and final church of the day and it has no known dedication. Its most attractive feature is its free range chickens. It's the only church I know where you are not encouraged to shut the gate - it is left open, presumably for the chickens to be truly free range. They had some chicks running round today as well which was sweet, even if they did not stay long enough for their photgraph to be taken.

Chicken at Chilcombe Church - SY5291

Grave dedication, Chilcombe Church SY5291

Chilcombe Church - SY5291

 inside the church, the most interesting feature is the seventeenth century reredos made using incised and poker work. It depicts the annunciation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

17th Century reredos, Chilcombe Church - SY5291

Detail of 17th Century reredos, Chilcombe Church - SY5291

Bible, Chilcombe Church - SY5291

Leaving the church with its chickens, I headed east through arable fields towards Litton Cheney. I was thrilled to see a Common Blue butterfly, which paused obligingly for a photograph.

Common Blue - SY5290

Bridleway through crops - SY5290

I entered another gridsquare and descended to a small stream, which I crossed by means of a bridge and then started to ascend Pins Knoll. By now the cloud had descended, obscuring any views.

View from Pins Knoll - SY5390

The lack of view made it easier to resist the temptation to sit and finish my tea at a convenient and attractive iron-worked bench.

Bench on Pins Knoll - SY5390

Guineafowl and a rabbit were my welcoming committee as I felt I re-entered the parish of Litton Cheney at Coombefield Farm. (I'm not sure where the official parish boundary is.)

Gate 29 - Guineafowl and a rabbit - SY5490

Coombefield Farm junction, Litton Cheney - SY5490

It was now a case of striding down the hill back into the sleepy village of Litton Cheney, where I had to knock on someone's door to ask them to move their car so I could extract myself from the village's grasp! An inauspicious end to a delightful walk.

Entering Litton Cheney from the west - SY5490

Entering Litton Cheney from the west - SY5490

Number of new gridsquares: 8 (is that all?!)
Number of miles: 11.3
Number of churches visited: 4
Number of geocaches found: 6
Number of workmen's toilets visited: 1