Saturday 9th December - Sturminster Newton - DH, RW, TO, BFS, PC, DL & Scrumpy
Another wet morning was forecast and with plenty of rain during the preceding week, I honestly though we might even be calling todays walk off at short notice. But true to the aims and objectives of the group, we were all prepared for a wet one as we met in the old station car park at Sturminster Newton, our first trip back here since January. Due to the forecast heavy rain it had been decided earlier in the week to just stay on ‘terra firma’ and not venture into damp and muddy fields which was born out on the drive down as we crossed a few rivers that were in good flow and many surrounding fields with large areas under water.
The Wincanton crowd of four arrived a few minutes late and Rich & Trevor were already good to start as we pulled into the car park. Expecting and hoping that they would have already purchased my ticket, it was good to see that this week as an incentive to attract more folks into town for the festive season that the car parking was free for the day. So having taken a photo of the machine, just in case we got a parking ticket and once booted up, we headed off for the disused S&D railway line along which we hoped the elevated old track bed would keep us above any flooded areas. I had been gifted a set of Nordic walking poles in the week and was keen to get them set up at the right height and give them a good first run out on the firm surface. It took a bit to get the adjustable clamps set at the right pressure and stops the poles getting shorter with each push onto the ground, but it wasn’t long before I got into my stride and rhythm and was heading off to catch up Brian and Dereyk who had started along at a good pace.
The trackway was pretty devoid of other users at this point so as we got moving in three groups of two and with not stiles or obstructions to navigate the speed increased and we were pushing along well. The usual route selection allows for a good circular route, but the plan this week was to walk out for 50 minutes, see how far we got and then turn around to get back in good time for our 1100hrs table reservation. I have written plenty about this stretch of the S&D before so will not be mentioning anything about it former use, but as a foot and cycle path it really is a great way to be quickly out in the countryside, and with no need for any serious navigation for a change.
The first chance to stop and catch our breaths was after about three quarters of a mile when we reached the first of four bridges that cross over the River Stour on this section. As we know the Stour starts in the hills above Stourhead gardens and runs for 61 miles in a generally southerly direction until Sturminster Newton before it turns more easterly on its run down to the coast. Over its length it drops some 230 metres, the bulk of which has been done by this point as we were standing on the bridge at about 45m asl. The catchment area for the river and its tributaries is listed as 480 square miles and by the time we crossed it, it had already been joined by the Cale and Lydden (Kings Stag area). At Blandford Forum the river breaks through the chalk ridge of the Dorset Downs, and from there into the heathlands of south east Dorset. At Wimborne Minster it is joined by the River Allen, and at its estuary at Christchurch it is joined by the River Avon before it flows through the harbour into the English Channel.
The river was certainly running high but well within its banks as we made our way onto the wooden bridge which sits atop the old stone parapets of the original rail bridge. After grabbing a few photos we were soon back on our way and quickly resumed our good pace despite increasing areas of the track becoming wide puddles which had to be skirted around on the freshly cut grassy edges. We reached the minor road after about fourth minutes and continued on to a new section of track for us as it stated to bend around slowly to the right. More puddles crossed the tracks and at one point the sound of running water was clearly heard as water was dropping onto the track from the surrounding fields. The breeze had been steadily increasing but as we headed into a cutting and along the edge of a large copse it noticeably dropped again. Keeping a constant eye on the watch, the fifty minute mark was quickly reached and we stopped for a couple of minutes to grab this weeks selfie and take on extra sustenance in the form of Dereyks fruity lollies. By this point we had completed around 2 miles at an average in excess of 3 miles an hour, (not to be confused with the beyond achievable 3 miles a minute)!
We had been passed on the way out by a few joggers but the track was getting much busier as we made our way back westwards towards Stur. The sky was slowly clearing but thankfully the odd bits of rain didn’t develop into anything at all as we were passed by cyclist and runners as well as meeting and passing the time of day with fellow walkers and the occasional horse and rider. The pace was good again as we crossed the road again and made our way onto the bridge again.
A sign on the southern side marks the formal opening of the Fiddleford trailway bridge back in April 2007 by the aptly named Mrs Pitt-River. Throughout the walk Pete had been relating different tales about his youth in the area, from his days at Sturminster secondary school to his extended education at Blandford school before being one of the fortunate ones from the area to break from the traditional career paths of farming and general labouring and on to University. The last section of the path back into town is as straight as a dye and seems to take forever but we made good time and were back in the car park, where we found the parking meter had had a festive make over whilst we had been out walking. We had completed the 4 miles out and back in a record breaking time of under 100 minutes and an average pace of over 2.6 mph. It’s obviously the Nordic sticks which did it!
Richard was under strict instructions to get back to assist setting up for his local Christmas bash and so in solidarity Trevor also gave up his chance for a good breakfast this week as they loaded Scrumpy into the car and headed back north. That left just four of us to take the walk into town having first changed out of our boots and dropped off the sticks and hats. Dereyk made his usual detour to the local bakery whilst we took our seats in the window area in the quaint Stur of the Moment tea rooms. Once Dereyk had rejoined us laden with fresh bread and croissants rather unusually we all ordered the ‘moment’ , the smaller offering this week, although we did add the optional black pudding to make up for it. Dereyk also successfully upgraded his sausage to an extra rasher of bacon as he had no Albus to share it with this week.
The breakfasts were soon delivered as we got stuck into the pot of tea and very unmanly delicate China cups, whilst Brian did his best to break the old manual typewriter in the window. Rather disappointingly and against the norm, the bacon was well overdone this week, but apart from that minor glitch all plates were pretty much cleared. Having paid, the thought of fresh produce from the bakery had Pete and myself visiting the same bread shop to stock up on croissants and cakes, obviously just in case the mornings exercise made us feel a bit peckish later on!
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