Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 4th February 2015 Pentridge Ray Ray, Clive, Peter, Rob 7.75 miles Small grass area near Pentridge Church The Lambs Green Inn, Corfe Mullen ★★ |
It was a decidedly chilly morning when we set off at just after 10:30. The path is easy to follow across the field joining the road and then on towards Bokerley Farm. At the farm you have to go through the gate on the opposite aside of the lane and follow along side the far side of the hedge. Reaching the disused firing ranges at Martin Down it is easy to take the wrong track as there are many to choose from. We headed towards the car park and though we intended to take the straight track towards the Tumuli near Peaked Corner we ended up on a curved route which helped to extend the walk a little. We sat on a very convenient bench, warmed ourselves up with hot drinks and took a group picture against the snowy backdrop. To get onto the path across Blagdon Plantation you have to go through a gate into the woods and then take the first path on the left. We discovered this after finding ourselves heading down towards Blagdon Farm. At the end of this track we managed another deviation as we headed towards Whitey Top Farm before doubling back and getting on the right path to Penury Knoll. None of tis mattered because after the dull start the sun had come out and it was really quite a glorious day. Turning to the north west and heading back towards Manor Farm we came across the first really muddy stretch of the entire walk. Up until this point the ground had been very good but this section was quite claggy.
Another really good day out in an area that we last visited nearly two years ago.
Lunch at The Lambs Green Inn was very good but they have recently raised the prices. The venison pudding with a suet crust and the beef cobbler were very tasty but at £10.50 - £10.99 not such good value as they used to be.