Walk Reports 2026/1
Mileaters Broadmayne Walk 26th March 2026
23 walkers set off on a late March day which promised good weather but had a chill in the wind. Our fingers were crossed that the farmer had not yet got around to fertilising or ploughing the large field which made up the first leg. Luckily, there had only been a light dressing with slurry but this was dried up by the previous day’s wind and did not dirty our clean boots. St Martin’s church, Broadmayne, has an unusual style of architecture which is seen on our walk from the reverse.
Just along the way, at our first stop, we read about the part played by Broadmayne in the build up to the D-Day landings. There were two large camps housing several thousand American troops preparing to land on Omaha beach.
From here we walked along the valley passed the former brick works towards the Watercress beds which looked like a deserted mill and water works. The beds housed the quietly growing product in the crystal clear chalk stream waters.
Rising up to the heath land on the ridge, we listened to the fabulous birdsong. At this point, we were passing alongside the redundant sand and gravel quarries, now filled with deep water and dangerous water. Down, through a lovely woodland section, just a week or two from being flooded with Bluebells. The trickiest part of the walk was navigating a small stream minus any visible bridging or any decent dry foot placements.
In the New Inn, at West Knighton, I think all agreed that it was a very pleasant walk we and that we all deserved a nice lunch.
Martin & Lesley Usherwood
16 hardy walkers battled, wind, rain, mist and mud to walk over Abbotsbury Hill. Of course there was mud, Oh yes, mud. Coffee break was at the Grey Mare and her Colts, which was very short as the cold wind did blow. A walkers' split took place on the descent with some choosing to walk along the road. We were all reunited in the village. The Brewers Arms welcomed us with warmth, drink and good food to revive us all.
Lesley and Mark. 12th March 2026
The MILEATERS out and about…
MILEATERS WALK February 26th
After two days of dry weather we were hopeful, as we met at the village green to depart for our start point at the National Trust car park at Corfe Castle. It couldn’t last and it didn’t! As nineteen walkers and a dog set off on a long climb to the ridge at the top of West Hill, a wind-blown mizzle settled in, that quickly soaked any clothing not protected by a waterproof.
The notable climb completed, we settled into a steady walk west towards Knowle Hill, enjoying views, north-east to Poole and south to Church Knowle and beyond. After a couple of miles we stopped for refreshments, and the customary group photo, in a dip out of the wind. Thankfully the rain had stopped.
From there, the route took us north, on the road, towards the memorial to the Creech Barrow Seven, volunteer members of the local WW2 Stay Behind Auxiliary Unit.A short distance further on, beyond the turning to East Creech, we turned east onto a woodland path back towards Corfe Castle. Path? A mile and a half of sloppy mud, is a better description but we all made it without mishap, enjoying the sight of primroses, new-born lambs catkins and Emus, as we passed Norden Farm. The walk across the last field, past the castle, cleaned some of the mud off our boots.
A dozen walkers then drove to The Halfway Inn, to warm-up by the fire and have a well-earned drink and a delicious lunch.
