Book said 8 miles....it isn't! The real attraction was that we could do this from the door of our hotel. Started through farmland by the Frome. Dorset is a county I am yet to fish in, something I must put right soon.
The day brightened up as we walked through pretty countryside with extensive views
through attractive woodland
to Thomas Hardy's cottage, closed at the time but a National Trust property.
then more woodland as the sun came out and it got warm.....short lived sadly.
the path crosses the A35 and climbs to a hedge lined track. The book talks of great views to either side. Not quite, the hedges are usually above head hight so there isn't much to be seen and it would be worse in summer with them in leaf. Occasionally, though, there was a gap in the hedge
the sun had gone in by now and the wind picked up. It was cold. And the track became muddy, horrible thick grey clay
then a trek over farmland churned up by these boys
thorugh a messy farmyard, back over the A35 and through field towatds Kingston Mauleward, the Dorset Agricultural College
then down to Stinsford and the churchyard where Hardy's heart is buries (the rest of him is in Westminster Abbey)
then finally a very nice stretch between carriers of the Frome
To be honest, this didn't have a lot going for it. The woodland was pretty (helped by the sun) but it was basically a long, muddy, messy walk.
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