Mileaters on a high: 

Barely a week after our previous walk, 17 hardy Mileaters and 5 assorted canine companions (or was it the other way round ?), set off from "The Spyway Inn" near Askerswell to visit an old friend in the form of mighty Eggardon Hill, this time via a different approach route, new to many of us.

Heading east from Askerswell village we kept company with the infant River Asker passing medieval strip lynchets on the hillside above us, to reach Nallers Farm, hidden deep in the Asker valley, and then onwards to Stancombe Farm. But where was "Poppy" ? - off on a route of her own, having espied a distant group of deer; leaping fences and wading across streams she eventually returned, but with nothing for the freezer!

Now for the main ascent of the day, a steady climb up Haydon Down, and a much appreciated coffee stop at the breezy summit, where a misty outlook diminished the wonderful views south to the coast. 15 minutes later and we had reached Eggardon Hill, one of Dorset's best Iron Age hillforts, and all the hard graft was now behind us.

A muddy descent to North Eggardon Farm, and a marshy section soon after, found us at South Eggardon Farm and its 2000 year-old yew tree. A rewarding drink and satisfying lunch now awaited us at the nearby "Spyway Inn", which had opened specially for us.

A grand circuit of 51/2 miles, but requiring not a little effort to achieve the 800 feet of ascent.

Well done all!

Nick Priddle.