A foray in the frost - Leigh circular - 25th February

I was so excited about the prospect of today's walk, not least because the recent spell of absolutely freezing weather would no doubt ensure a mud-free walk. Having nearly exhausted the supply of 'virgin' squares on the extreme west of the county, I decided to venture further afield and so we headed today for Leigh with its mysterious miz maze, lots of geocaches and, well, not much else. It doesn't even boast the River Wriggle as that runs through Chetnole.

After some deliberation about parking - the Village Hall was our final choice - we set off into a hoard of caches. It didn't start well as we couldn't find the first one and subsequent caches were, as predicted, very disappointing. So was the miz maze.

There is little evidence now of what is possibly the earliest documented miz maze. Don't be enticed by the megalithic portal's description

The remains of a mizmaze can still be traced and marked on the OS map. All that is left is a hexagonal earth bank which surrounded a circular labyrinth in the middle of a field. It was a meeting point for local games and was scoured every seven years by the local men. It was also the meeting place for witches and is possibly the earliest mentioned maze in documentation. It became overgrown 200 years ago. 

It is barely visible and a photograph turns out like a garden lawn!

Miz Maze, Leigh - ST6208

We walked along by what I later established was a tributary of the River Yeo to emerge at the delightfully named River Wriggle Lane which starts at Batcombe about a mile and a half further south.

Sign for the village of Leigh on River Wriggle Lane (although the bridge is over a tributary of the River Yeo) - ST6208

Heading for Bolter's Drove, we turned right and photographed an attractive farm sign.

Riverside Farm sign - ST6208

We turned onto Bolter's Drove, a Byway Open to All Traffic. I haven't been able to find out the origin of the name 'Bolter's', but it would appear from the apostrophe that the 'bolter' in question was singular. We were very grateful for the frozen nature of our byway. A week ago this would have been a deluge in mud!

Bolter's Drove - ST6207

After Bolter's Drove, about which little can be truly said, we ventured onto Long Bridge Drove, another BOAT, which re-crosses the aforementioned River Yeo tributary.

Long Bridge Drove and footbridge - ST6207

The drove continues in a very straight manner to the road from Minterne Magna. We commented that this would be particularly attractive drove in late spring and summer.

Long Bridge Drove - ST6208

Our conversation today was pretty minimal though due largely to Paul's feeling quite under the weather with the onset of a bad cold.

At Totnell corner it was tempting to turn left and walk back into Leigh, hand so almost circumnavigate the village. We resisted this temptation and walked up Bailey Ridge to Higher Totnell awhere we turned off onto another BOAT which quickly becomes a bridleway. At this point we were looking for somewhere to sit with a cup of tea and found a home-made bench under a tree overlooking a pile of rubble. That would do nicely.

Byway near Higher Totnell Farm - ST6308

From our view of the rubble we surveyed our options. There were three - two bridleways and a footpath. We wanted the left-most (a word that isn't really a word but should be) of the bridleways and this was currently hidden by said pile of rubble. We saw our gated exit upon standing up and thus gaining some height. The bridleway led us onto Higher Sweethills. How these places get their names I've no idea, nor even what Sweethills is - a farm perhaps? There was none in evidence.

I could see that we would have to cross a stream/river in the next gridsquare so hoped for a picturesque subject as we walked through pretty dreary landscape. As you can see my hopes were pretty much in vain. Again, the 'river' we crossed does not appear to have a name

Bridge near Higher Sweethills - ST6309

It looked slightly more appealing from the other direction.

Bridge near Higher Sweethills - ST6309

We continued walking in a north-easterly direction towards Gordon's Gorse and passed some rusty farm machinery which is always a good subject for a photograph. I was delighted to see my first frog spawn of the year too in a ditch by the bridleway.

Farm machinery near Higher Sweethills - ST6309

Frog spawn near Higher Sweethills - ST6309

Gordon's Gorse was pretty and the photo looks almost springlike with its abundance of evergreen holly trees.

Gordon's Gorse - ST6309

We reached the T-junction at White House Lane and were in the next square for a few yards before turning off at Seven Ash Farm onto Seven Ash Common - no sign of the seven ashes though!

White House Lane - ST6409

Seven Ash Common - ST6410

The name of the next drove was a bit weird - Cancer Drove.

Cancer Drove - ST6410

Cancer Drove - ST6410

We walked on to the T-junction at Holm Bushes, which was a new gridsquare. At this point I asked Paul if he'd rather take the short cut or continue on my planned route. I had 'drawn' an extra mile on the map for the sake of gaining two new gridsquares. You see, that's what I'm like so be warned anyone who is foolish enough to agree to go on a walk with me!

Paul wisely said he'd be happy to go the extra mile for me. That's what love does to you! So on we plodded.

The Holm Bushes - ST6310

 After a short walk down the road we turned onto a bridleway towards Holmbushes Farm.

Holmbushes Farm - ST6310

 It's one thing going the extra mile when there's something other than pride to be gained from doing so, like a good view, less mud, a pub, a seat to eat lunch at - anything really, but, no - just boring fields and leafless trees.

Towards East Wood - ST6210

 We managed to find our way onto Stockbridge Drove, a track which looked as if it had not been walked in a long time. This was actually quite an attractive path and the Shetland ponies that shared it with us were real cuties.

Stockbridge Drove - ST6211

Shetland ponies on Stockbridge Drove - ST6211

Shetland ponies on Stockbridge Drove - ST6211

We soon discovered that we were definitely not the only ones to use Stockbridge Drove. Nearer the road there was a static caravan with attached wooden awning and a car parked outside. At the road end there is a sign for 'Stepping Stones' which we assumed was the name of this humble habitation.

Higher Stockbridge Farm - ST6311

Sign for Stepping Stones at Higher Stockbridge Farm - ST6311

We were now back where we would have been if we hadn't had the detour and we needed to find somewhere to have lunch. I'd made the mistake of estimating we would be at Lillington by 1 pm for lunch.It was now 1.40 pm and we still had at least a mile to go before we reached Lillington. Paul suggested sitting on a bank at Stockbridge Wood, so we did.

Stockbridge Wood - ST6411

We entered Leweston Wood and admired the view south.

Gate into Leweston Woods - looking south - ST6311

 Paul spotted a Red Kite flying overhead in the school grounds.

Red Kite, Leweston School - ST6311

Leweston is a very elite public school with its own swimming pool (from whence we could hear the echoing sounds of whistles, splashing and shouting).

Leweston School swimming pool - ST6312

Leweston Chapel and school - ST6312

Leweston School sign - ST6312

We started going wrong at this point because we couldn't imagine having to walk over a deeply trenched and furrowed muddy field - but we imagined wrong. So up and down we went right across the field, the footpath having well and truly disappeared over the winter.

Muddy field, Leweston - ST6312

We had almost circumnavigated the school now  and suddenly I realised what the tower was we oculd see in the distance. "That's the helter skelter!" I exclaimed. "Yes," Paul replied, as if he'd realised that ages ago.

Helter skelter, Leweston School - ST6312

and were on our descent to Lillington. "This is where we saw all those joggers running down two years ago when we helped build the wall," I said to Paul as we struggled down the hill on the icy bridleway. The view of the village was idyllic.

Lillington - ST6312

St Martin of Tours Church, Lillington  ST6312

After admiring our wall we went to see if the church was open. Despite having spent three days building the dry stone wall two years ago I hadn't been inside the church and I wasn't going to again today as it was firmly locked.

The wall we helped build at Lillington - ST6312

As we headed south we entered new territory and joined the MacMillan Way. An unusual barn took my eye.

Unusual barn at Lillington - ST6212

We left the road and headed into more fields and once more enjoyed glorious views south. We then continued on road and through fields past Knighton and Whitfield Farm and woods back to Leigh.

View south from MacMillan Way south of Lillington - ST6211

Near Knighton - ST6111

Straight road to Whitfield Farm - ST6111

Goats at Whitfield Farm - ST6110

Whitfield Farm - ST6110

Whitfield Woods - ST6110

River Yeo tributary at Stakeford Cross - ST6110

Stakeford Cross - ST6109

Number of new gridsquares: 12
Number of miles walked: 12.3

The Miz Maze at Leigh

Another short walk was the order of the day, giving Paul's back a chance to recover. We had heard tell of the Miz Maze at Leigh, the haunt of witches so it is said and not too far from home, so we set off in that direction, parking in the village of Leigh.

Footpath from Leigh - ST6108

Passing bravely by a herd of cows, we were soon in the same field as the Miz Maze. No-one seems to know for sure what the Miz Maze was used for. It is a turf-cut maze forming a hexagonal shape and is thought to have been used by Romans as a form of penance or used for seasonal or religious celebrations such as May day or Whitsuntide. Others think it could be the site of a witches' coven. Whatever it is or was, it is not much in evidence today.

Leigh Miz Maze - ST6108

Leigh Miz Maze - ST6108

It is difficult to know which gridsquare the maze actually falls within. I've gone for ST6108, but it could just as easily be ST6208, depending on which side of the maze you are standing on or in.

This means I've missed a square. I didn't take a photo within ST6208 so will need to return.

My next photographed square was ST6207 where I took a photo of the delightful thatched Rookery Farm.

Rookery Farm - ST6207

Although not quite donning their autumnal colours, the trees were just beginning to turn on the distant hillsides.

ST6207 - autumn colours near Rookery Farm

We made our way to Keeper's Cottage where the footpath has been diverted.

Keeper's Cottage - ST6107

In the next square we struggled to find the footpath as the gate was padlocked. Upon checking later on the updated maps, we learned that the footpath did still run through that field. It is most annoying when landowners make it difficult for walkers. It only results in frustration and anger and a lot of trampling about on their land which could be avoided if signage were clearer.

We eventually found our way to Calfhay Farm, where once again it was not clear where the footpath was. We enquired of the owner who came out to see us after his dog started barking.

Calfhay Farm - ST6106

We crossed the Wriggle River by way of a shaded footbridge.

Bridge over the Wriggle River - ST6106

Dorset has so many delightful place names, of which the Wriggle River is just one example. It's such an apt name for a river, evoking images of an unruly, belligerent river which refuses to be tamed as it wends it way from source to mouth.

Another intriguing and delightful name is Hell Corner and there is even a house thatbears that name proudly, The House at Hell Corner, no less.

The House at Hell Corner - ST6006

The House at Hell Corner - ST6006

Hell Corner - ST6006

 As we approached the railway line, the delightful village of Melbury Bubb came into view. It is perhaps my favourite Dorset village, and one I have photographed many times.

Melbury Bubb

We ate our lunch in the shade of the church porch and then proceeded across the fields and Dixon's bridge towards Chetnole where the same herd of cows which had thwarted our path the last time we did this walk were in the same field. We tiptoed across the field towards its non-cow-guarded exit and emerged onto the road at Chetnole. I had photographed these squares on our previous walk, but we had not visited the church, which we did now.

St Peter's Church, Chetnole - ST6008

The only remaining 13th century window, St Peter's Church, Chetnole - ST6008

Sign in St Peter's Church, Chetnole - ST6008

Having enjoyed a brief coffee break here, we enquired of the pub as to whether a group of walkers could lunch there at some future date. The answer was in the affirmative. Paul pointed out an interesting photograph.

Picture in The Chetnole Inn - the Napoli was shipwrecked on Branscombe beach in January 2007 and its booty salvaged by beachcombers. Some of the booty was alcohol, including some Cider Brandy which was contained in oak barrels which were protected by Bibles and then  bottled upon their salvage. An interesting story.

Wishing to prolong our walk a little, we headed northwards to church lane which was dappled with autumnal sunlight.

Church Lane, Leigh - ST6109

The footpath unfortunatley came to an abrupt end where  it had no longer been cleared of overgrowing vegetation -  a shame as it was a lovely footpath and reminiscent of a time when folk from far and wide many the journey on unmotorised transport to church.

We retraced our steps and found the diverted footpath to the church.

St Andrew's Church - Leigh - ST6108

We picked conkers in the churchyard, marvelling at their shiny surface and wooded imprint. This is a living churchyard and visitors are invited to record their natural history sightings in a notebook in the porch. I was saddened to see we were only the second people to do so and vowed to return to write some more. We were glad, though, to be able to record two species of butterflies - Small Tortoiseshell and Small Copper, it was only our second sighting for the year of the Small Copper.

Small Tortoiseshell at St Andrew's Churchyard, Leigh

Face carving - St Andrew's Church, Leigh - ST6108

Window, St Andrew's Church, Leigh - ST6108

We were now back at the car after an interesting and varied walk.

Number of gridsquares: 7

Number of churches visited: 3

Number of padlocked gates: 1

Number of miles walked: 8