| Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 29 March 2017 Hod Hill Clive Clive, Peter, Ray 5.8 miles Nutcombe Wood Lambs Green Inn ★★★☆☆ |
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.
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.
| The history of the old railway track is perhaps a little more interesting then the walk along it though it does provide some views of Hod Hill and Hambledon Hill. In case you are dying to know the line connected Bournemouth and Bath. What a shame it was closed in 1966. Bath is not too easy to reach by road these days! |  The Old Railway |
It wasn't too long before we turned off into Eastcombe Wood. The bridleway shown on the map seems to have vanished in a few places and we walked along the other track for a while. Spotting a good seat courtesy of a fallen tree we walked up the slope to it and had our break. It then seemed easier to continue up the slope to the higher level bridleway which was now visible. We continued along this until we dropped down the quite steep slope to White Pit.
A short stroll through the outskirts of Shillingstone, a dash across the A357 and we were back on the Wessex Ridgeway. There is a decent footbridge crossing the Stour and the route back through Hanford Farm is quite straight forward. The grass in the fields was however a bit long and very wet and so were my feet - not long - wet.
We were too late to try the Charlton Inn where later research shows "if you are over 65 then they do a great lunchtime deal for five pounds. Liver and bacon, Pie and mash etc." but they stop serving after 2:30 - damn! Never mind we went back to an old favourite the Lambs Green Inn which is open all day.
A short stroll through the outskirts of Shillingstone, a dash across the A357 and we were back on the Wessex Ridgeway. There is a decent footbridge crossing the Stour and the route back through Hanford Farm is quite straight forward. The grass in the fields was however a bit long and very wet and so were my feet - not long - wet.
We were too late to try the Charlton Inn where later research shows "if you are over 65 then they do a great lunchtime deal for five pounds. Liver and bacon, Pie and mash etc." but they stop serving after 2:30 - damn! Never mind we went back to an old favourite the Lambs Green Inn which is open all day.
 Hambledon Hill |  Forecast - pah! |  By The Stour |
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