It took a few minutes to orientate ourselves and find the path we wanted out of the car park.  There are so many options here.  There is a tricky little "u" turn just before Drivers Plantation to find the gate that then leads to the path that runs around the edge of the plantation.  After a while you come across a stile that seems to lead on to another path but the path soon vanishes and you find yourself having to tread very carefully through boggy ground while ducking beneath fallen trees.  The assault course is not recommended (see map).  It is better to take the southerly track that rejoins the Ferndown Stour and Forest Trail.  After this point the route was much simpler.
We had a coffee break in Uddens Plantation followed by another short stop to admire the view from Cannon Hill.
This was a very pleasant walk on a bright sunny day following parts of The Castlemain Trailway as well as the Ferndown Stour and Forest Trail.
​Lunch was at The Horns Ferndown.  They are open for food all day and two meals can be bought for £11.49.  Ray and I had Hunter's Chicken which was very good value for the price.  Service was good and prompt.

Write up courtesy of Rob Butcher.   
A fine day was had by the team (Clive, Ray and leader Rob).  Lovely trout stream on the Crichel estate. Avenue of trees on the road into Moor Crichel is quite magnificent, what sights the accomplished leader brings to the eyes of his followers!  Overall a bit too much tarmac but the quest for new routes is the spur that drives Rob on? (sic)  Where Mr P. Shepheard is we know not.

Editors comment:  If you read last weeks report you will not be surprised to find that this one is pretty brief too.  I leave you to decide whether the self congratulatory comments are justified.

Write up courtesy of Rob Butcher.
Heavy horses and serpents were seen on this hot day.  Clive in Monte Carlo and Peter on an aquatic mission up north.  Thank you great leader for a wonderful day of enriching experiences.

Editors comment:  Rob makes an effort while the editor is away and it is kind of him to record the walks.  I expect however that the majority of readers would appreciate a slightly more expansive description, one more in line with the standards that they have come to expect on Ramblingsheep.  Please feel free to let Rob know if you concur with the editors view.  It may of course be that the walk was so short that there was actually very little to be reported.