Garlic and Shakespeare

No hiking involved today, but as we had such a lovely day I thought I'd blog about it. I asked my Mum out for lunch with me and the teenager, and we headed for the Garlic Farm near Newchurch. This, as the name implies, is a farm that grows garlic! On site is a lovely restaurant, and a shop selling all things garlicky. Lunch was impressive; teenager had a hotdog with fried potatoes and salad, Mum had a beef bourguignon pie with new potatoes and carrots, and I had a huge burger with mozzarella, fries and salad, and garlic mayo to dip the fries into. Lush. We were all stuffed by the end of the meal, and could barely waddle out. However, we managed, and pottered round the shop, then over to the neighbouring field where there was a chance to take a ferret for a walk or hold a bird of prey, for a cost. We declined to pay, but admired the animals. Then we wandered over to the designated walk round the farm, looked at some garlic trial beds, admired the Highland cattle, then decided to go home as we were too full of food to walk round the farm. Another time.

 

In the evening, teenager and I headed for Trinity Theatre in Cowes and watched the Isle of Wight Shakespeare Company's production of Henry IV. This was an abridged version of parts 1and 2, but was jolly good. There was fighting with swords, pikes, maces, and other mediaeval weaponry, and the acting was good quality. Well worth watching this company. Henry V will be on in the summer I believe. 

Hulverstone and Brook

We decided on a short walk today as it was hot, and the boys needed to use up some energy, but without getting to the whinging stage. To that end we picked the ‘Brook, Hulverstone’ walk from the IOW Ramblers book as it was only three miles long. We couldn’t find the suggested start point, so parked next to The Sun Inn at Hulverstone, and picked up the first footpath shortly afterwards (BS46). This led alongside a wheat field then led into a sheep paddock, and past a small copse, before the path led out onto a lane leading to Brook village and the sea.

We followed the lane to Badgers Lane (BS107) and turned up here, following uphill towards Brook Down. I had forgotten that there would be uphill parts (on the Isle of Wight there are ALWAYS uphill parts!) and my legs complained after yesterday’s walk.  Anyway, the path led on, bordered by fields and verged with wildflowers, past an unusual bench and up to Brook Down via BS49. When we got to the top of the path (nowhere near the top of the down) we stopped for a breather and admired the view to the west of Tennyson Down and the English Channel. Glorious. The downs were full of wildflowers, and on the crest we could see three prehistoric barrows against the skyline. The children were not interested. Ah well.

The path turned to the right (BS89)and we followed it past a herd of Galloway cattle, employed to keep the turf short; being the wimps that we are, we tiptoed past them until we realised that they couldn’t get down to our path without leaping and breaking their legs! To the right of the path was a paddock which we assumed was used for horse jumping as it had a number of small obstacles and fences, including a tiny house which we found amusing. The path ended at a road, so we turned right and followed it until we came to the entrance of Brook Hill House (S39).

The path led up a fine driveway among well cared for landscaped grounds. There was no sign of the house from this vantage point, but it could be seen clearly against the hill at the start of our walk. After a while, the drive turned to the right and the footpath to the left, leading through some woodland. When we came to another gate, there was a path leading straight on to National Trust land and the Long Stone, and one plunging downhill to the right through the woods. We took the latter path; the woods were well managed, with several stacks of logs, plenty of bluebells and many trees. Very peaceful and lovely. The path emerged into a meadow full of clover and wild grasses, then led through another meadow before we hopped over a stile, followed a narrow path and emerged back on the main road and found the car.  A lovely short walk, with just the right amount of hills and beautiful scenery.

Distance: 3 miles

Route: http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4093743.html

Footpaths: BS46, BS107, BS49, BS89, S39, BS45.

View to Tennyson Down

Galloway cow

Godshill, Gat Cliff and Appuldurcombe

Teenager and I decided to revisit a walk from three years ago today. We parked in The Old Smithy car park at Godshill (free), then crossed the main road and followed the footpath to the right of The Griffin pub and through a meadow. This was full of red Campion, buttercups, blooming May trees, unfurling ferns, cow parsley and the songs of many birds. I even spotted what I think was a coal tit. At the top of the meadow we passed through a kissing gate and into a woodland full of bluebell and beech trees. The path split after a while so we took the right fork and scrambled over some muddy areas coming out eventually on a path with a coniferous hedge on the right and deer fencing on the left. At the end, by a farmhouse, we took a sharp left turn and followed the deer fencing up hill passing fields of woolly sheep, then into an empty field leading to more woods. The view from the field was spectacular; clear view of the Needles headland to the west, Whitecliff Bay to the east, and the undulating download in between. Glorious!

We followed the path through the woods before coming to a crossroads where the path split in   three directions. We initially took the wrong path GL49, then doubled back to GL48 and climbed up Gate Cliff. Fools! The path was steep, with rustic steps cut into the soil, some faced with wood, some not, the majority at a dodgy angle and the handrail generally not to be trusted. You wouldn't want it to be wet underfoot. On the plus side, extremely good for your thigh muscles.... After 139 steps we reached the top to be rewarded with even more spectacular views of the Island. We had planned to walk up to the Worsley Memorial for lunch, but the farmer had replaced the fencing and we had to walk round. Via more steps uphill. Ouch. The footpath skirted hills that had clear ridges and furrows on them. Not sure when they date from but interesting. When we found the connecting footpath, it went through a field of skittery bullocks so we decided to give the memorial a miss and kept going, sitting on the verge and eating our picnic a bit later on.

Once past the radio masts, there was a signpost to the right to GL50 to Stenbury Manor; we ignored that and took the footpath opposite, indicated by a yellow arrow, and headed downhill through a field, through another gate and along another path until we came out on a steep roadway and followed it downhill to the lane. Followed the lane for 100 yards or so, then picked up the footpath at a gravelly track by a pretty lodge, past a cowshed and into another meadow. The path led on to Appuldurcombe House; we had never been inside as there had always been a charge, but today entry was free so we went into the grounds, mooched round the ruined grandeur, sticking our heads up ancient chimneys, then bought an ice cream and carried on.

The next path took us through the Fremantle gate, past some woodland and old horse chestnut trees, then past a farm with Shetland ponies, ginger pigs, flocks of geese and alpacas. And more sheep with little tiny baa lambs. Cute. We continued on this path until we got to the main Godshill road, turned left and followed the road back to the car park. We drove home the long way, due to a diversion at Arreton, and ended up at the Garlic Farm, where we had a jolly nice cup of tea and some garlic bread.

Distance: 5 miles.
Route:  http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4093052.html
Footpaths: GL58, GL 51, GL47, GL44, GL48



Red campion



Woodland wildflowers



Hawthorn blossom



Gat Cliff steps

Appuldurcombe House

Freemantle Gate