Saturday 13th July ‘24. PC, RW, TO, CH, Scrumpy and Maisie.
While preparing to leave for our Saturday morning walk, we received last minute news that our leader Dave had had a small accidental injury and was unable to walk with us this Saturday. It appears we have to rely on this author’s memory of a stroll with Dave some weeks ago. This could have been on a sticky wicket. However thanks to Pete’s orienteering expertise and superior map reading we managed to navigate a suitable perambulation on this mixed weather day.
After calling in at Stalbridge sawmills or the industrial estate the two cars of walkers gathered at The Sidings and parked outside our eventual breakfast destination of Thyme after Thyme. Some difference of opinion was noted as two were wearing rain apparel and two not. Let this author note it was already raining very slightly, but sunny skies were evident as well.
Having assembled the party of humans and dogs, we decided to short cut the town section from our indicated route. We set off down the old track bed of the Somerset Dorset (Slow and Dirty or Slow and Doubtful) railway.
The Somerset and Dorset railway was formed by an amalgamation of the northern part of Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway. It was opened in 1862 and finally closed at the behest of Dr Beeching in 1966.By this time increasing freight loads and ongoing maintenance costs of a quickly wearing out freight fleet probably made the railway line closureinevitable. By all accounts it was financially exhausted. This line ran from Bournemouth to Bath. There was a local station in Stalbridge. At times it was a busy line carrying freight over the Mendips and holiday makers to Bournemouth. There are still some sections of the line operating notably at Shillingstone andd Gartell Railway near Henstridge.Looking to the south west of the path we passed a small industrial estate comprising of commercial laundry facilites, biscuit making and cold storebusinesses among others. This author recalled to the party working at what was Dorset Foods in the 1980s. The company made flans, pies and sausage rolls All frozen and uncooked. Some of our party may well have consumed the products in the past such as cocktail sausage rolls, chicken and asparagus and value beef pies or even Birds Eye Vol au vents.
Reflections over, we continued along the track bed, pausing to admire a small section of rewilding area blooming with flowers, close to the track. Following this we turned slightly north east and followed a footpath over the fields towards Gomershay Farm. Some of our party remarked on the suitable flatness of the pathway. However our steady progress through the field was interrupted. As immediately adjacent to a stile we had to pass over was an electric fence. After some discussion as to the selfishnessof the installation. The wire was eased down with an insulated boot to allow all to cross safely without fear of electrocution.
Gentle ambulation was again slowed over a discussion as to whether a field of gradually ripening grain was wheat or barley as none of us could really remember which it was. Having consulted on this, I can now settle the argument it was wheat.
At a point approaching Gomershay Farm This authors memory was somewhat selective about the route and discussions based on ordnance survey and map.me between myself and Pete eventually got us on the right routeOnce out into the fields, the dogs, Maisie and Scrumpy, thoroughly enjoyed the open area with Maisie doing her usual rushing around and leaping on Scrumpy who for the most part tolerated this intrusion but occasionally he did bare teeth and put up a fight. Sadly, two of us missed one of the highlights from Maisie’s journey, being, a flying leap to, launch another attack on Scrumpy but sailing straight over the top into a water trough. Apparently she exited this environment smartly and spent the next few minutes shaking to remove excess water causing us all to move away smartly.We also noted the dilapidated state of various stiles along the route as well as one opening directly into a planted field of maize. Not seeing a worn path directly across to our destination stile on the opposite side, we chose to walk around the edge of the field, commenting on the alternating sun and rain during our saunter so far.
Looking back across the fields there was a tremendous vista all around. Particularly striking looking back towards Stalbridge, with an outline of the gradually rising habitations dominated by St Mary’s Church. This church is categorised as a listed building, mediaeval in origin, thought to have been built around 1390. It was largely rebuilt 1860-1870 and it is still a focal point of the parish today. Again, Pete was regaling us with tales of his youth in the this church choir and the Vicar conducting an Ascension day service from the top of the church tower with school pupils being given the day off after this.Approaching Gomershay Farm there was some discussion whether to follow the mapped track directly through the farm or to skirt around the outside. However, as soon as we found the yellow way markers, we decided to pass directly through the farm and indeed through a large barn covering the right of way. Once at the other side of the farmyard Pete talked of one of his friends who lived in the cottages next to the farm and had his bedroom in a caravan outside the cottage as it was only a two up two down.
Having navigated the farm successfully with no negative interface with local farmers, we followed the mapped way towards Triangle Farm. It had been agreed to try and reach our breakfast destination by 11 o’clock. Despite the level nature of our path, time was moving on. So we decided not to follow the pathway through Priors Down and past Grays Farm across fields back to Stalbridge, but to head straight down the road to Breakfast.Inevitably on such a momentous sporting weekend, various aspect of tennis, cricket, football and rugby were discussed. During the walk our spirits were going up and down with the progress of the rugby match between England and New Zealand, eventually reaching a low after the final whistle and losing to the Kiwis 24-17.
Arriving at Thyme after Thyme, we consulted the menu board outside and were surprised to note that our full English breakfast appeared to cost only £6-95. Proceeding inside we found a suitable table and ordered a full house of English breakfast for all of us as well as teas and coffee.While waiting for our breakfast, some polite conversation was had between a South African gentleman and his party at an adjacent table and ourselves. He was commenting on the 27°C in Cape Town in their winter versus our 19°C English summer. Indeed on our promenade the coats came in useful against the rain, but it was short lived and those not so attired dried out quickly and suffered no discomfort.Following this deep discussion, breakfast duly arrived. Stylishly presented on rectangular plate with white and brown toast, a small pot of slow roasted tomatoes, black pudding, long sausage, bacon, egg, and mushroom. Not forgetting the green pea shoots decorating the whole assemby. All declaredthe breakfast to be good. However, when payment came we noted the price was somewhat more than the £6.95. On exiting the premises and re-reading the menu board. We decided that the £6-95 applied to a breakfast baguette, not the full English.Having satisfied ourselves with a fulsome breakfast, we departed Stalbridge slightly earlier than normal looking forward to the rest of the day.
By guest editor - Chris
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