The Mileaters

The village walking group began nearly 35 years ago with the aim of walking the Dorset Coast Path, in sections, from the Devon border to Sandbanks. Subsequently the reverse route from Sandbanks to Devon has been undertaken.

We are a friendly group of local residents, ex-residents, and colleagues from the area, who meet on a fortnightly basis to enjoy the diversity of the wonderful Dorset countryside. We take it in turns to lead a walk with most members being allotted a fortnight's slot twice a year. The choice of distance, location, and day within that fortnight is at the discretion of the fortnightly leader, but walks (anywhere in Dorset) are usually between 4 and 8 miles. 

Walk details are distributed by email. A picnic lunch is often carried in the Summer, but a pub lunch in the Winter is the norm - rehydration is de rigueur! Generally we meet on the Village Green at 10.00 a.m.

Contact:
Nick Priddle tel: 01305 889189

A Walk on the Estate


It’s the 20th October, the forecast is poor, nay awful. Storm Babet is on the horizon and yet still 14 intrepid mileaters set out to walk.

This 5 mile jaunt started in Thorncombe Wood worked our way via the roman road and rhododendron tunnels to Lower Bockhampton and along the river Frome to Stinsford where some stopped to check out the grave of Thomas Hardy`s heart. We also heard about the conversion of the Kingston Maurward house to a college property to solve the countries food shortage after the war. The only trouble with the walk was the number of stiles! Its not that we couldn`t do them it was just that it took time to get through. We thought of forming a band called the Stile Council, but thought again. Anyway as luck would have it the weather man was wrong, it was a beautiful day, a lovely walk, polished off with a convivial pie and a pint in the Trumpet Major.

“I counted them all out and I counted them all back again”

Tom Webb