Return to the Chase

This morning we returned to another landscape we'd not walked in what seems an age, Cranborne Chase or more accurately the Ebble Valley...we were last here in July 2020.  Man, was it beautiful out this morning. Chilly at first, Jack's breath lingered in the shade, although once the Sun began to evaporate the early mists the temperature rose swiftly. The light was gorgeous too. We did just over 12 miles this morning, though with the loveliness of the day it was a breeze. Starting from Vitrell Gate we made our way along the Ackling Dyke Roman Road, leaving it to descend through Croucheston Drove into the Ebble Valley, crossing it's titular river, before ascending the other side of the valley via an unnamed drove up onto Bishopstone Down,  where we joined the Old Shaftesbury Drove, following it's course awhile before descending through Stoke Down towards Broad Chalke to again cross the Ebble Valley and it's titular river, finally ascending via Church Bottom back up towards to the Ackling Dyke, along which we returned to Vitrell Gate. The best walk we've done in ages with everything feeling just perfect. I felt connected to the land like a scalextrics car to an expansive free roam track, it's energy recharging me, driving me along. It's astounding the positive psychological and physical effects walking can have on you.