Amongst the unseasonably nice weather we have been having recently, we have been exploring the Dorset environs a bit more. Dorset isn’t just retirement homes and farms thankfully, we have been pleasantly surprised at how varied the terrain is as well. So, donning our Sunday best, we headed down to Child Okeford and took a stroll up Hambledon Hill in the glorious sunshine.
Hambledon Hill is an Iron Age hill fort which has some fantastic ramparts and dtiches that still survive. It goes back however even further to the Neolithic age, but evidence only survives from the Iron Age. What amazed us while we were up there was just how much earth had been moved. At that time in history and with the tools at their disposal, that must have taken a fair bit of human endeavour and actually walking across the fruits of labour from all that time ago really brings home how much effort it all took.
Ifor had a fab time rolling down the ramparts and ditches, we have recently switched our walking around so that we try and get him out of the child carrier early. He then gets tired quickly and we get a good long walk which is much better than having him run around at the end generally not having had a nap.
It was then a question of strolling amongst the Leylines as the hill also has great spiritual significance to a lot of people – my better half was dodging hippy’s up here over spring solstice. Sunday though, we had it all to ourselves, and the wonder & history of the place gave us a real lift.
Tags: Gareth · Hambledon Hill · WalkView Comments
