The forecast promised quite a decent day but unfortunately as the pictures show it remained damp, overcast and drizzly for most of the day.  Perhaps Clive was right when he claimed that Blandford has a micro climate and it is always wet!  It was however quite a nice temperature for walking and we were pleased to be out.  It was good to see the first few wild bluebells of the year.
The small car park by Nutcombe Wood was packed last time we drove by but today we were on our own.  We took the middle path between the two that are marked Private Woodland and descended towards the River Stour.  It was a bit of a squelchy track but not too bad continuing like this alongside the river.
We turned west where the track meets the road beside Stourpaine Village Hall and playing fields where there is a fairly large car park that may be handy for another walk in the area.  ​

It looked rather unpleasant when we were driving towards Athelhampton, persistent light drizzle with harder rain at times.  The forecast promised it would brighten up later and "in spite of Brexit", as the BBC would say, it turned out to be a very pleasant day and our walk was very pleasurable.

There was a fair bit of water flowing down the path going up towards Southover Heath but it was not too bad.  More inspiring chat caused us to overshoot the next turn but we back tracked to walk along the field edge turning in to Mansel's Plantation at the top.  Leaving Southover Heath Plantation it looks, on the map, as if there is a bridleway straight in front of you.  This is shown as continuing down to Pallington and back up again.  We were unable to find it anywhere and, as you can see from the map below, we followed the "other tracks" which are well established and signed in various places.  There are one or two interesting and unusual signed which we spotted around Pallington Heath - see pictures below.  Forest Enterprise England is apparently an executive agency, sponsored by the Forestry Commission.
Earlier memories of a muddy experience at Admission Farm also led us to remain on a similar path through compound wood.  A short downhill stroll saw us back at the car after a very enjoyable walk.

​We had a fairly good lunch at the Worlds End.  It is a bit on the pricey side with rather a limited menu but it is open for food all day.

We only met about three vehicles before turning left along the side of Melbourne Wood. ​ It looked as if a lot of coppicing had taken place along here and there were a few spring wild flowers such as primrose and wood anemone scattered among the hazels.  After crossing the road the land opened out and we were walking along the edges of newly ploughed fields.  There is not a lot of photogenic scenery along here but the views are pleasant and it is reasonably easy flat walking.

There is a large obelisk built in 1761 hidden in the woods which are quite overgrown.  We wandered around the edge and down to the road.  The paths are very indistinct but it was easy enough to spot the style in the corner of the field.  This stretch of road was surprisingly busy and we had to stop in passing places three times to let vehicle by, including a very large tractor.
Passing Foxhound the footpath appears to go into the corner of the field and then onto the far side of the fence.  This is not accurate and the footpath is actually on the south side of the fence at this point and there was no need to cross that field diagonally.  Never mind we did not want to make the walk too short!
​Lunch at the Royal Oak was very good.  The steak and ale pie was big enough for two and filled with meat.  Ray and Peter both struggled manfully through though while Clive tucked into what looked like the best filled ham sandwich I have ever seen.  The service was excellent too.

Having chickened out on Wednesday when the forecast looked dire we woke up to lots of mist in Westbourne this Friday.  Magically it vanished as we approached Wareham and the day brightened up considerably.  It wasn't sunny but very pleasant for walking.
Leaving the Sika Trail car park we walked along the road towards Wareham, crossed over and joined the track taking us back towards our starting point but inside the fence line.  We need not have bothered because there is an entrance right opposite the car park!
The path across Cold Harbour Heath started very well, with a large solar farm on our right, became a bit boggy and then we found an excellent boardwalk across the next wet patch before turning left at the junction.  We soon reached the road which was very quiet but it was nice to turn back again onto the Wareham Forest Way.  At Ferncroft Farm we found it a bit of a struggle to see exactly where the path was supposed to be.  There may have been some recent re-routing but we managed reasonably well.  Although it looked very muddy the surface was hard underfoot and it was not a problem.  

After a fairly easy walk back to the car we drove to the Baker's Arms where we had a very good lunch.  Peter and Ray splashed out on two nice rump steaks but only because a voucher could be used to pay the difference between that and chicken pie.  Thank you Vintage Inns!
A good walk with a lot of variety including fields, country lanes, a high street with shops, a housing estate and some open heath and forest.