I reflect on how lucky we are to live in Dorset. While Scotland is being buffeted by rain and
gales we have had two lovely days on our bikes.
Lovely but demanding. Dorset is
hilly. One of our hills (which is not
for cycling) is in the news today. Hambledon
Hill is to be taken over by the National Trust.
Spectacular iron age fort, visible from one of our rides today – the hill
above Oakford Fitzpaine. Our routes have
taken us past some of Dorset’s most picturesquely named villages, Bradford
Abbas, Milborne Port, Ryme Intrinseca, Yetminster, Sydling St Nicholas, Cerne
Abbas, Bishops Caundle, Glanvilles Wootton, Winterbourne Stickland, Fifehead
Neville – and many more. One can imagine
an Agatha Christie mystery in any of them.
Hedges full of Old Man’s Beard, Rosebay Willowherb, Scabious, and in one
magnificent (secret) location, thousands upon thousands of ripe
blackberries. Thanks to the generosity
of a friend we spent one night at Plumber Manor where the Prideaux-Brune family
have managed to maintain a 70s or 80s time warp, and a feeling of peace and
tranquillity. Thanks also to the Royal
Oak in Okeford Fitzpaine and the Plume of Feathers in Sherborne!
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| Refreshment in Sherborne |
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| Milton Abbey |
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| Lindsay and Richard Prideaux-Brune at Plumber Manor |
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| Plumber Manor - what we would all like our herbaceous borders to look like |
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| And the sweet trolley hasn't changed |
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| But the sweets are just as good |
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