Or should that read “What a view”?
DH, TO, PCL, Sully, Bill
This has to be of my favourites views so close to home! On top of Cucklington Hill, over looking the village and westerley across the head of the Blackmore Vale, perfect sun set territory.
A rather depleted team gathered today (I think others had managed to escape for a short weekend break away while they could).
A breakfast table was booked at Thorngrove Garden Centre for 1130, so we headed off promptly to get around the anti clockwise loop. Heading North along the ridge, the going was easy going and we could just about work out our future route as we looked down the escarpment towards Stoke Trister. Passing through a somewhat derelict farm, (with a large dilapidated ruin ripe for development, (anyone got Sarah Beeney’s number?), we then started the descent through lush fields before reaching a small brook, perfect timing for Sullys first refreshments.
It’s not often we meet others on most of our walks, but heading towards us up the fieldtoday was Sullys doppelgänge. The only obvious difference was that he was totally under his owners control, lying, moving and been so well behaved I doubted it was a real retreiver.
Sully displayed his usual arrogance and Bill wandered past wondering what all the fuss was about. Clearly Bill, trotting along in the shadow of his leader had no worries.
A couple of dodgy styles, bridges and overgrown crossing points, generally very poorly maintained was the only downside of today’s route, although it was only Sully who managed to slip off one of the bridges as he tried to force his way past Phil. He was never going to win that one! The downside of course with starting at the top of a hill, is you have to get back there. Thankfully as we are all in a similar Cardiac boat, no shame on anyone who wanted to stop as we crawled past the beautiful cottages of Cucklington Hill.
The short journey to Gillingham was with purpose and the facilities at Thorngrove were great. Small table, dogs allowed in, fast service, Orange Juice! And Buy one get one half price fully loaded breakfast. (Although I would trade the hash browns for a good piece of black pudding).
It was actually that good, I went back with my family the next day!
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