Early on a promising Summer morning I returned to the village of Ridgmont to complete the second section of The Greensand Ridge Walk which I had curtailed due to gloomy weather the week before. (Details of part 1 here). The butterfly trail in the village was still in existence and just after I crossed over…
Tag: pilgrimage
In the Time of the Skylark – Re-exploration (11)
3 June 2020 My Dearest Boy, We have been lark-charmed, gladdened, cheered. This week you were able to re-explore a half-remembered place. You scooted light-footed down the gravel path, laughter in your refined voice. Nana, lock-down hair flowing behind her, could no longer catch you. What fun you had jumping with a new self-assurance along…
In the Time of the Skylark – Hope (4)
16 April 2020 My Dearest Boy, I once heard a writer tell how she overcame procrastination. She explained that she sat at her desk, picked up her pen and wrote the words “Once Upon a Time”. In the same way, if I unroll my yoga mat I’m likely to practise yoga and if I step…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY – The Stones to the Wheel: Dorchester to Abbotsbury (Part II)
Four miles! After walking approximately 160 miles across Wiltshire Downs and Wessex Heights I rather held back from putting the top on my thermos flask, rising up my sixty year old hips and completing the last stretch of stunning countryside into Abbotsbury. How wonderful to have my son J with me every step of the…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY: The Stones to the Wheel – Dorchester to Abbotsbury (Part 1)
On the last day of my birthday pilgrimage J and I stepped out early along the back streets of Dorchester and soon reached the huge multiple ramparts of the Iron Age hillfort Maiden Castle. He did not need to reminded that we had last climbed this together when he was 6 years old and I…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY: The Stones to the Wheel – Iwerne Minster to Ansty
17 September – It was a beautiful , clear start as I left Iwerne Minster for the day I had labelled my Wessex Heights. I have long had an affection for the poem “Wessex Heights” by Thomas Hardy and indeed have written several posts about it before (found here). I was full of excitement and gratitude…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY: The Stones to the Wheel – Ludwell to Iwerne Minster
16 September : The weather changed overnight and all at once it was that season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness”. I traipsed through wet fields past Ludwell watercress beds and then began the long, slow climb up to the view point at Win Green. Not much of a view today but a feeling of claustrophobic…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY: From the Stones to the Wheel – Warminster to Hindon
14 September. The early morning warmth in the air boded well as I left Warminster, swiftly noted the suitably named Middle Hill and then Scratchbury Hill before reaching Heytesbury. What an idyllically situated village! I passed the ( very small) lock up; then residents taking offerings of jams, tomatoes and scarlet runners to their local…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY: From the Stones to the Wheel – Market Lavington to Bratton
Thursday 12 September. Market Lavington to Bratton. Weather forecast a bit changeable today and there looked a few interesting villages en route so I came off the Downs again to explore them. I soon left Market Lavington and was out in the fields and woods. For the first half hour I came across a few…
THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY: From the Stones to the Wheel – Devizes to Market Lavington
Wednesday 11 September: Resumed the Wessex Ridgeway from the end of The Quakers Walk, Devizes and walked along the Southern side of the Kennet and Avon canal. Weather was a bit drizzly and I only passed one hardy couple. There was a slight detour where the towpath was closed and a trek along the A…
