Dark Lane .... Again!

We love Dark Lane near Carisbrooke Castle so decided to head that way today, planning to follow the Shepherd's Trail to Gatcombe and then back toward the castle. This sounded lovely, not too difficult as we were out of practice, and incorporated a picnic. Perfect, yes?

 

Well, no as it happened. My dodgy navigational skills came to the fore. We left the car park opposite Carisbrooke Priory and proceeded along the road for a couple of minutes before turning onto the Shepherd's Trail. We headed up the path and soon entered Dark Lane, a sunken lane between high chalk banks covered in ferns, ivy,  and herb Robert, and topped with oak, elder and hazel. Lovely and cool and quiet on a summer's day. The path had been scoured by a recent rain storm and glowed white in the shade. The lane came out next to a wheat field, glowing in the sunshine and rattling in the breeze. So far, so good.

 

The path continued clearly for a while longer, before coming to a crossroads. Now. I thought the path continued straight on to the right of the hedge, while teenager thought it went to the left. I assumed I was correct, of course, and we carried on downhill, through a field of sweetcorn as there seemed to be a path through it rather than round the edge. The sweetcorn petered out and we came to a meadow, waist high in flowering grasses, wildflowers and thistles. We carried straight on and realised there was no escape at the bottom of the field. OK, thought I, we'll follow the edge of the field until we get out. We waded through the grass, disturbing hundreds of grasshoppers, and avoiding nettles and thistles, but could find no escape. We continued, and ended up back at the sweetcorn plantation, so found a pathway between towering plants, so we could avoid the pickles, and eventually came to a lane and escaped. Phew! We looked at the map, carefully, turned right and continued until we found another lane. We turned up there, and followed it until it joined up with the Shepherd's Trail again, and were soon plunging down Dark Lane again.

 

Back at the car we noticed a sign for a tea garden at Carisbrooke Priory opposite, so decided that a brew was needed and headed across. The Priory is a former Benedictine Convent that is now looked after by a trust (I think). I got a pot of tea for one for a quid, and got two nice cups of tea out of it, and teenager had a pleasant lemonade. We then had a quick stroll around the walled garden, admired the dovecot, had a peek at the book and produce stalls then went home.

 

We'll try that walk another day.....

 

Route (don't follow!): http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4136489.html

 

View towards Carisbrooke Castle

Wheat Field

Carisbrooke Priory