Tarrant Crawford

Date:
Location:
Distance:
Parking:
Lunch:

1 November 2018
Shapwick
6.2 miles
Shapwick 
Coach and Horses, Wimborne

We parked in the small car park beside St Bartholomew's Church in Shapwick.  It is interesting to note the sliding gate that is part of the local flood defences.
Walking along the road with The Anchor pub on our right it was not long before we reached the footpath that leads towards Hyde Farm.  We knew from previous experience that this is an easy one to miss.  It was a nice autumn morning for the walk along The Swan Way  up to the B3082 and the avenue of trees.  

Flood Defences

It was very noticeable how the trees were still pretty well covered in leaves whereas last year, at the end of November there were no leaves left.  It was good to see how well the new line of “replacement” trees is growing.

The Old Trees

How Long Before They Catch Up?

One Of The Murals, St Mary's Tarrant Crawford

​This is quite a busy road but there is a reasonable verge to walk along on the left hand side with a view over the not quite so lovely pig farm on right.​

There was a short rather wet area just before we took the right fork to Tarrant Crawford but it was not too bad.  We were very pleased to see a nice bench just in the corner of the church yard ideally situated for two walkers to sit in the sun.

Feeling well refreshed we followed the short slope between the fields,  onto the road and over Crawford Bridge.  We then turned east and followed the river bank rather than walking across the middle of the fields.  This is fine but it is important not to miss the crossing by the pump houses.
It was very noticeable how the wind had increased and it was blowing strongly along the riverside.

In The Breeze

We had an interesting but twisty drive back into Wimborne taking Mill Lane rather than returning to the B3082.  We returned to the oft used Coach and Horses for lunch but the service there was painfully slow  and as this is the second time we have had this problem we may give it a miss for a while.  The staff say it is because the kitchen is so small but it doesn’t seem to have shrunk!

Another very enjoyable easy walk with very few hills or styles.