THE APRIL WEEKEND IN WEST DORSET 2005

THE APRIL WEEKEND IN WEST DORSET 2005
On Friday 8th the group met for dinner at a pub in Nettlecombe. But ……. a delay – the two from London coming by train had been “derailed” by their own good manners. Bill and Sue went to Crewkerne to meet them but they didn’t get off the train.
Thank goodness for mobile phones as they were able
to tell Sue that due to a fellow passenger re-stacking
her luggage as they arrived, the doors had shut and
the train pulled away with a total of 4 reluctant
passengers still on board.So our redoubtable taxi drivers had to rush off
to Axminster to rescue them. However, all’s well
that ended well, with everyone having a good meal together.
On Saturday 9 of us set off from the
3 Horseshoes in Powerstock and
walked a figure of eight walk of about
9 miles in sunshine and blue skies,
which obligingly appeared after a cool grey start.

After a lunch at the 3 Horseshoes
3 more joined us for the afternoon
and all 12 ate the evening meal at
the Hare and Hounds in Waytown.

Sunday was also warm and sunny.   We met at West Bay and walked
to Shipton Gorge for lunch along
a ridge looking down on Bridport
and the surrounding countryside 
The walk back was alongside the river Brit
and past the thatched Palmer’s Brewery.… 
(sorry, I only photographed
the old water wheel on the back
wall, but it has its own charm!)






….to West Bay

Sunday Evening





Another lovely local pub –
the Fox and Hounds at Cattistock
supplied our evening meal in a flag-floored
room of our own, beside the bread oven.
On Monday a short – and mercifully level – 41/2 mile walk from Toller Porcorum to Powerstock Nature Reserve along the old railway track enabled our London contingent to get a reasonable train home. Once again the morning mist had cleared to a warm and sunny day – obviously Dorset felt it had to make up for the shocking weather last year.
The weather, the carpets of primroses and the soaring buzzards had sent our guests home tanned and tired but happy.   Words by Kate Phillips
Pictures by Pete Ashford


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