No sunny views today!

Saturday 7th March ‘26. DH, RW, JB, CH & Scrumpy

After a walk around Cary and breakfast at the still to be closed George Hotel last week thanks to Richard and a good sunny week when everyone thought that Spring had truly arrived, it was a grey and misty morning as we headed just across the county boundary into Dorset for todays RV on the road outside of Poyntington village hall. With just three of us from Wincanton (and no grandchildren), we arrived just before time and slowly got our self’s ready whilst waiting for Richard and Scrumpy to arrive. Keeping an eye up the road we were all surprised when he did arrive just a couple of minutes later from the opposite direction, and quickly explained that he had been down the road a few minutes earlier but couldn’t find the village hall, despite this being the same place that we parked last time we walked here. Having waited at the main junction hoping to ask someone directions or even better a map of the village, he retraced his steps to eventually join us.

Once the newly groomed Scrumpy had been around everyone showing off her nicely trimmed coat, we set off down the road and paused, just momentarily, at the gateway to the well hidden village hall. Further down Richard was keen to show us the very spot by the old phone box that he had waited at, on the edge of what must be one of the widest road junctions going. We turned left and past the front of the beautiful old barn looking building which is now a very grand residential property with a large set of barn doors. The portion we could see looks like it was the original gate house to the courtyard of the village Manor House. The nine bedroom grade II* listed property with beautiful grounds and swimming pool, was build in the late 15th Century as a retreat for the monks of Sherborne Abbey. The property has recently been on the market and both interior and exterior photos can be seen here.

We walked alongside the small stream running by the garden wall, formed from the many springs running through this valley as it heads towards Sherborne to become the River Yeo. Taking a narrow track we started a steady climb up the hillside and bore right as the track turned into a narrow stoney path barely wide enough for a vehicle although tyre tracks proved otherwise. As we reached the top we had a choice of four paths and is a re known area for Johns D of E students to choose the wrong one! Thankfully we opted for the one heading south along the ridgeline and right along the Somerset/Dorset County boundary. There was some very varied topics and wide ranging conversation going on a we continued along the lane known locally as Donkey Lane. Unfortunately the morning mist was not clearing at all and the views were very limited today. With the village of Osborne just becoming visible we reached the end of the track, and with not a single donkey encountered, turn left along a minor road leading to Milborne Wick.

As we headed eastwards along the road we picked up a better pace and stopped briefly for Chris to satisfy his curiosity at a railway bridge. As we moved further along another strange anomaly appeared in the brambles behind the roadside fence, in that every 10-15 metres or so, all the brambles had been cleared to the ground for a width of just two metres maximum. One could have been excused and ignored but the further we went the more appeared. Eventually, in addition to the gaps we noticed large metal security post cemented into the ground, no doubt a protection against anything falling off of the road and onto the line, however there was enough space between them to allow to pass through of the proverbial tank! Some were in the gaps, but not all by any means, and the more we came across, the closer the gap between them. Just as we arrived at the next railway bridge we could hear a train approaching so thinking it would make a great backdrop for this weeks groupie, we rushed to the side it was approaching from. However by the time I’d got the camera turned around the train was past, so we rushed across to the other side, startling an approaching motorist, and did make to take a photo as the red light on the back carriage got fainter. However on closer inspection, it appears that JB managed to position himself right in line with it, so afraid it’s just a photo of four chaps on a bridge this week, with no lollies to keep us going!

We turned left and climbed a wide tarmac track as we headed north and onto Poyntington Hill. Unfortunately this appeared to be an easy out of sight fly tipping location and there were numerous heaps of rubbish ita the sides of the lane. The track eventually turned into a muddy stone farm track with numerous puddles, although thankfully there was ample space on the edges to squeeze past them all. As we roast the halfway point along the track a flock of sheep and many young lambs became very vocal, almost entering into conversation as we moved along the track.

As we approached the end of the track and the start of the point to point course on our left we saw a couple of 4 x 4s arriving and turning to our left and onto the course. Although hard to distinguish in the photo, there were a couple of tents set up and food trailers arriving ready for a race meeting on Sunday. We passed through a gate into a field full of very fluffy sheep, which seemed only slightly interested in Scrumpy and headed south once more along the side of the ridge before dropping back down into the village.

As we headed back towards the cars we noticed on the former telephone box the one notice which might have helped Richard some two hours earlier whilst trying to locate the village hall. It certainly gave us a good laugh, at Richards expense but he was good enough to pose alongside the bright red box, purely too highlight its location to any others who may find themselves in such a position. We m completed our loop having completed four and a half miles through the morning mist, in just over two hours. Richard had already declared  (before he took all the ribbing) that he wouldn’t be joining us for breakfast as he had a better offer. So it left just the three of us to drive down the valley, through Osborne and onto the A30 to head to the Farmyard Kitchen and the Hunts Food Store. Formerly known as the Toy Barn and forever etched in our memories as the location of some of the worst baked beans ever tasted, the tale of which is often repeated, we headed inside to our reserved table.

Since Hunts took over the facility a couple of years ago, the cafe area has been revamped and it’s now one of the most pleasant cafes we visit. It turns out it was also the first visit for our Food and Nutrition correspondent, Chris, so hopefully it would live up to its new found reputation. Chris was especially pleased to see smashed advocate on the menu for a change. JB selected the veggie breakfast and I opted for the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. All the drinks were quickly served with the food not far behind. All our meals were very tasty and looking at the lunch menu, I have a feeling Chris will be heading back there again soon. So apart from the weather provingspring is not quite here yet, it was a good morning walk with plenty and banter and laughs as usual. Hoping it won’t be too long now before Deryck and Pete will be back with us, but in the meantime we can all remain impressed and slightly jealous of the glorious photos pinging into our inboxes at regular intervals, from Phil on his wonderful trip seeing the sights ‘down under’.

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