Friday, February 02, 2007
The Stour Valley Way. Stage 3
Spetisbury to Durweston.
Dave and I have had our critics for attempting this river walk in the Winter but nothing daunted we picked up our track at Crawford Bridge on a beautiful January morning (see photo) and headed up to Spetisbury Rings, one of the many such ancient hill forts in Dorset, the most celebrated being Maiden Castle in Dorchester. Spetisbury is not on the same scale but it is little visited and there are great views in every direction from the trig point at the summit. The Stour wends its way peacefully onwards far below, and it is a while before we meet it again. The route takes us into Blandford St. Mary passing the heartening sight of the Hall and Woodhouse Brewery 'est. 1778 Badger Beers' on the right! An opportunity for a tasting appears a few yards later and we enjoyed our first visit to the Stour Inn, an unassuming and little changed Dorset pub which, we were pleased to see, was frequented by the besuited executives from the brewery just yards away! A recommendation indeed! So reinvigorated by the pint of Badger best and the most glorious January weather, we walked the perimeter wall of the Bryanston Estate, through the original Bryanston village and down through 'The Hanging'.................which we learn is the common name for a beech wood on the edge of a scarp! The things we learn when walking! A word of praise here for the publication 'The Original Stour Valley Path' by Edward Griffiths which guides us on our way. It is full of information, interest and conspicuous affection for its subject. Buy it and enjoy the Stour Valley!
Dave and I have had our critics for attempting this river walk in the Winter but nothing daunted we picked up our track at Crawford Bridge on a beautiful January morning (see photo) and headed up to Spetisbury Rings, one of the many such ancient hill forts in Dorset, the most celebrated being Maiden Castle in Dorchester. Spetisbury is not on the same scale but it is little visited and there are great views in every direction from the trig point at the summit. The Stour wends its way peacefully onwards far below, and it is a while before we meet it again. The route takes us into Blandford St. Mary passing the heartening sight of the Hall and Woodhouse Brewery 'est. 1778 Badger Beers' on the right! An opportunity for a tasting appears a few yards later and we enjoyed our first visit to the Stour Inn, an unassuming and little changed Dorset pub which, we were pleased to see, was frequented by the besuited executives from the brewery just yards away! A recommendation indeed! So reinvigorated by the pint of Badger best and the most glorious January weather, we walked the perimeter wall of the Bryanston Estate, through the original Bryanston village and down through 'The Hanging'.................which we learn is the common name for a beech wood on the edge of a scarp! The things we learn when walking! A word of praise here for the publication 'The Original Stour Valley Path' by Edward Griffiths which guides us on our way. It is full of information, interest and conspicuous affection for its subject. Buy it and enjoy the Stour Valley!
# posted by Rocky @ 10:15 AM 
