Stonard morning

We were out early doors this morning, beginning our walk over Cranborne Chase ways shortly after sunrise. Mist clung amongst the stands. Stonard Wood looked like a set from Robin of Sherwood or Middle Earth. Not a soul about, lovely, just the subtle sound and movement of nature changing shifts to the dawn chorus. The conditions under foot were such that even travelling at a good pace you could move near silently, I find it's a nice way to move through the land, lends your walk an ethereal feel. I thought the woods misty, though nothing compared to the Ridgeway where visibility was down to 50 meters at times; like walking through the clouds. What a day.

The Ebble Valley

 

View over the Ebble Valley from South Down on the Ridge Way ox drove.

Ridgeway

Cranborne Chase again this morning, the Ox Drove above the Ebble Valley to be precise. 11.7 miles of stunning views. Not a soul in sight either. Well, beyond a convoy of 'off roaders' (think Fast Show) rumbled past, but that was a momentary intrusion. This is a magical landscape, it's call is timeless and intoxicating. Our earliest ancestors were drawn to it, their lives and those of subsequent settlers still mark the land through 5000 years of activity and monument. Where ever your eyes fall, barrows, ancient banks, boundaries, historic through to modern buildings pock the landscape, and none appear out of place, all should be there. This is a landscape shaped almost entirely by human hand, yet it's still nature who holds dominion really, it's we who dance to her tune. Yeah, we think we've primacy, but nature's in it for the long haul, and knows she'll out live our kind. So in the meantime she's come to an accommodation with us, and our majestic landscapes are the result. Recommended walking.

Ebble Valley

On a clear day like today whilst traversing the high ridge running through the Chase above the Ebble Valley, you can see into five counties...wonderful. Today's walk looked something like this, except it wasn't badly stitched together, because that would've been too trippy.  This view is north towards Somerset and the horizon from Wood House Hanging, a short walk off the old drove running along the ridge. Not a bad spot to stand a while and take in the world.

The Ox Drove

How many feet have passed this way over the last, say, 5000 years. There's something wonderfully connective about walking these ancient tracks, you're connected with the landscape and connected to our collective ancestors. Sometimes the path well trodden has as much value to it as the path less trodden.