Saturday 19th February 2022
DH, RW, TO, AC, DL, IP, Sully, Scrumpy, Bill & Nimbus
With storm Eunice having passed through the day before, the sky was clear and the wind as light as a zephyr (in comparison) as we met at the Castle car park in Mere for this weeks stroll up to White Sheet hill, and back. Joining us this week for his first walk was Iain’s other young dog, Nimbus, brother of last weeks attendee Newton. (Not Nelson as I incorrectly called him in last week’s report).
The forecast was for a good couple of hours of dry weather, but knowing the rain would probably get to us before we returned, waterproof trousers were popped into rucksacks just in case. Crossing the road we headed uphill through a narrow alleyway/ginnel or snicket (depends where you were brought up) towards Castle Hill. Rather than climbing up to the flagpole high on the summit we took the lower path as it worked its way behind residential properties. There was plenty of evidence of the storm as we treaded carefully over fallen small branches and twigs, but it wasn’t far before Deryck, acting as scout this week, signalled back to the rest that there was a large obstacle in front, blocking the pathway. Unable to even consider moving it, some decided to battle their way through the branches, whilst others took to the lower ground, although still with a few larger pieces of trunk to negotiate. Continuing along, we saw the Mere goats who live permanently on Castle Hill and on reaching the end of the hill crossed the A303 and headed in a more northward direction.
Taking a steady stroll along the eastern side of Zeals Knoll, 2 deer were spotted enjoying the early morning sun on the edge of the wood line, thankfully only by us and not the dogs this week. The tracks were in pretty good condition, a bit slippery in places but thankfully drier than expected. It wasn’t long before we were passing through Search Farm, where it looks like a lot of recent work had been carried out on the farm, passed the 2 donkeys sheltering sensibly in their shed, before taking a right turn onto the old Drove track and up the gentle hill towards Beech Clump.
As this route was new to most of todays walkers the memorial on the slight summit to the loss of airmen from RAF Zeals during World War 2 was an unexpected one. As always we stood for a moment in silence to pay our respects, before heading out of the wood and onto the final approach to White Sheet. The sun was slowly being hidden by the incoming clouds and the wind speed was increasing as we approached the car park at the base of the hill. But it was still dry!
As we made our way up through the lower earth-workings, the lull in the wind was just the calm before the storm. The final climb to the summit is up and along an exposed knife edge, and at this time of year a very slippery track through areas of exposed chalk. The higher we went the stronger the wind was blowing from behind us so treading very carefully or is some cases arm in arm, we made it onto the top of the ancient ridge line. Gathered on a huddle our effort and determination was rewarded with our weekly ‘Lolly Time’, as always perfect timing Deryck! Bill saw this lack of concentration, as the lollies were unwrapped to finally introduce himself to Nimbus, in his own inimitable way. A good snarl and a dance around as the constrained Nimbus thrived to get out of the little nuisances way, but once Trevor had grabbed hold and separated David from Goliath, peace was soon returned. Tempting as it was to head around the ridge to the old fort at the eastern side, with previous knowledge and knowing there was no way out at the far end, we headed across to the track and skirting around the puddles headed east with great views north over more stunning Wiltshire countryside. And that’s when we started to feel the odd splash and then more as the rain started to fall. In reality it wasn’t just rain falling, it was the sleet in the rain being driven horizontally by the wind, and as we turned back south the wind came from our right sides, and the hail started battering our faces like a volley of small needles.
We were now at the highest point of the walk and although we started to loose height we were on a very exposed edge with the wind blowing up from the lower land some 80 metres down the hill. Hoods went up and hats were pulled down tight, but of course it wasn’t wet enough for us to stop and put on the waterproof trousers we’d being carrying for the last 90 minutes. As we dropped lower we became more exposed as we proceeded along the narrowing spur, but still with some 50 metres of decent to go down to the surrounding land. Trevor took good hold of Adrian on the slippery surface and they looked like a happily married couple as they strolled arm in arm, Adrian on the right providing only slight shelter for his trusty aid. Totally soaked by now, the last few hundred metres back across the A303 and back into Mere went without too much chatter. Despite the wind and hail we had made good time around the 5.25 miles loop, which with the 200 metres of ascent made this one of the furthest and hardest walks we have completed in recent times. Thankfully we had a table booked at the the Angel Corner cafe, one in the area that we have never tried before. So once in and wet coats removed it was soon time to place the orders for hots drinks and full breakfast all round. Options of changing into the dry waterproof trousers was quickly dismissed as we sat there trying not to shiver as body heat slowly dried the thinner trousers. Not Sue much could have dried out those in jeans in the time given. With a lot of Mere still suffering power outages since Eunice passed by, there was no WiFi to find out the results of the mens curling gold match game, or more importantly for card payments to be made. So after a quick whip round, we scrabbled together enough cash, only then for Adrian to announce he had enough as he had drawn out cash ready for the tree surgeons who were coming round later to sort out a fallen tree in the garden. Plenty of toast and large plates of breakfast were soon in front of us and eagerly consumed. Some tasty bacon and unadulterated beans, but the sausages were that artificial I don’t think they had been within 10 miles of a butcher. A great shame as otherwise a cracking breakfast and a good location to use again in future. Thanks to the cheerful waitress for taking this weeks selfie, good job we didn’t ask the owner judging by some of the unfavourable reviews for the cafe on tripadvisor!
All in all a good bracing morning out and great to be on top of the hill despite the wind. If only the rain and hail had stayed off a bit longer. Hopefully we’ll come back again in better weather.