| Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 13 November 2013 Winterborne Whitechurch Clive Clive, Peter, Ray, Rob 7.7 miles Village Hall car park. If busy St Mary's Close off Chescombe Lane would be a good option. The Toby, Northbourne ★ see below |
We parked in a small car park in front of the village hall and then walked up the road northwards. There is a sign further up the road saying Private Road to La Lee Farm. In the past we have parked under the large oak tree where the bridle path turns east but it seems that this is no longer allowed. At the large oak tree we turned to the east and down to the road. This is straightforward and the path continues on the opposite side of the road. There is a fairly grand entrance to Whatcombe House close to the road crossing.
If you look hard you might spot a plaque in The Clump saying "A Favourite Walk" Caroline 1955-2012.
Further on the path crosses to the corner of the field near the road. We missed this and walked straight on until we met the track that leads to Whatcombe Down Dairy here we turned right and on reaching the road we crossed over and walked along the inside of the field boundary before turning left towards the Bungalows. We then took a left turn back onto a path running through the trees on the edge of the field. After 600 yards or so another left turn took us back to the road. Crossing the road the path becomes quite variable. It starts off wide and easy and then narrows down becoming quite overgrown before emerging into some open fields. As the path comes level with Little Wood there is a Dorset County Council sign saying "Active Badger Set". Just after this sign we took the path leading westward towards Winterborne Clenston. This turning could easily be missed.
There is an interesting derelict barn next to The Manor House at Winterborne Clenston where we crossed the road and took the path into Oatclose Wood. Just after reaching the wood there is a good view to the left across the valley of the pretty church at Winterborne Clenston. This path was very muddy in places. As the path dropped down towards Whatcombe Woods there was a lovely view of the beech woods which were really starting to show their autumn colours.
A very pleasant walk. Quite a cold morning but bright and sunny when we set off. The wind strengthened in the afternoon and it became a little bit cooler.
The Toby, Northbourne scores only ★ because the service was lamentable. The carvery was very good and excellent value for £5.99. Clive ordered soup that had not arrived by the time we had finished our carvery meals and the waitress said it was still frozen! So it never arrived and Clive went home hungry.
If you look hard you might spot a plaque in The Clump saying "A Favourite Walk" Caroline 1955-2012.
Further on the path crosses to the corner of the field near the road. We missed this and walked straight on until we met the track that leads to Whatcombe Down Dairy here we turned right and on reaching the road we crossed over and walked along the inside of the field boundary before turning left towards the Bungalows. We then took a left turn back onto a path running through the trees on the edge of the field. After 600 yards or so another left turn took us back to the road. Crossing the road the path becomes quite variable. It starts off wide and easy and then narrows down becoming quite overgrown before emerging into some open fields. As the path comes level with Little Wood there is a Dorset County Council sign saying "Active Badger Set". Just after this sign we took the path leading westward towards Winterborne Clenston. This turning could easily be missed.
There is an interesting derelict barn next to The Manor House at Winterborne Clenston where we crossed the road and took the path into Oatclose Wood. Just after reaching the wood there is a good view to the left across the valley of the pretty church at Winterborne Clenston. This path was very muddy in places. As the path dropped down towards Whatcombe Woods there was a lovely view of the beech woods which were really starting to show their autumn colours.
A very pleasant walk. Quite a cold morning but bright and sunny when we set off. The wind strengthened in the afternoon and it became a little bit cooler.
The Toby, Northbourne scores only ★ because the service was lamentable. The carvery was very good and excellent value for £5.99. Clive ordered soup that had not arrived by the time we had finished our carvery meals and the waitress said it was still frozen! So it never arrived and Clive went home hungry.
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