A walk in Thomas Hardy country

[puddleshark]

A walk in West Dorset, in southern England, on the downs above Beaminster. I hear the views are spectacular. It's just that every time I've ever been there, it's been foggy. 😊





The track uphill to Meerhay. Water flowing in streams alongside the road, and through culverts under the road, but mostly behaving itself and staying off the road itself.

Onwards and upwards, into the cloud...





Once up on the hills, I followed a short stretch of the Wessex Ridgeway long distance path.


Along hidden tracks.


Across the wide open downs.


The countryside around Beaminster has some splendidly sinister beeches.


Headed back down the valley towards Beaminster, with the rain starting, through fields and woods. I was following another long distance footpath - the Hardy Way - which explores many of the villages and landscapes associated with Thomas Hardy's works. I can report that the upper stretches of the Hardy Way are quite muddy. The lower stretches are very, very muddy indeed.

Comments

[cmcmck]

It's ages since I was last down in Dorset!

[puddleshark]

I love how the landscape of West Dorset never seems to change much. But they've added a few new public rights of way since my map was printed, which is nice - new paths to explore!

[vriddy]

This is so cool, wow! I know the fog has to be annoying because of the hidden views, but these pictures look incredibly atmospheric!

[puddleshark]

It was very atmospheric.

And maybe one day I will get to see the views. I mean, the hills above Beaminster cannot be permanently shrouded in fog, right? 😊

[earthspirits]

Beautiful and very magical photos! What a marvelous area!

[puddleshark]

Thank you.

It is such a beautiful area. One of my favourite places to go walking.

[full_metal_ox]

Some of us would love to prowl broodingly through such terrain (in a billowing cloak and sturdy water-resistant boots.)

[puddleshark]

Heh!

The sturdy water-resistant boots are very, very important. (It has been five days, and my boots still haven't dried out completely...)

[turlough]

It might have been foggy but it still looks like a lovely walk! Like how I imagine The Shire would look in late autumn.

[puddleshark]

It is such a beautiful area to go walking, in all weathers. I never mind the fog or the rain too much.

[birdylion]

Those old trees look awesome! The atmosphere in these photos is amazing.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

I can never resist photographing old beech trees - the way those beautiful sinuous branches reach out over the path...

[kaishin108]

What beautiful but dreary photos, lol. I love how you don't let the weather stop you!

[puddleshark]

LOL

Yes, as always the British weather takes no pity on landscape photographers! 😊

[ribirdnerd]

Wonderful shots!

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

It is such a beautiful landscape, in all weathers.

[liveonthesun]

i love how haunting this looks. i want to meet a ghost here.

[puddleshark]

The paths are very lonely in winter. You can walk for hours and not see a living soul.

I've never felt uneasy walking here, but there are certain roads around Beaminster that are said to be haunted by a coach and horses.

[linky]

Ooh, so pretty!

[puddleshark]

Yes. It is such a beautiful area, in all weathers.

[weird]

It’s what Hardy would have wanted (the weather)

[puddleshark]

LOL

Truly.

[semielliptical]

You captured the misty beauty really well!

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

It was such a beautiful, atmospheric day to be wandering on the hills.

[bleodswean]

These are lovely and mysterious and just gorgeous. Wallpaper!!!

I'm feeling drawn to landscape work myself lately and have never undertaken learning it....I think, since the majority of this forest was lost in July....

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

I hope you can find a way through your photography & your writing to express your grief for that lost landscape, and your hope for its recovery.

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I love paths that disappear into fog. They are so full of possibility.

Re: Yay!

[puddleshark]

Yes! The familiar world, made strange and magical...

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

There's got to be a ghost there somewhere!

[puddleshark]

There are reports of people hearing a Roman legion marching on the downs when it is foggy.

Thankfully, I've never met any ghosts myself. 😊

[apachefirecat]

BEAUTIFUL!!! Thank you for sharing this, especially for us Yanks who'll likely never be lucky enough to see it in person!! <3 <3 <3

[puddleshark]

You're very welcome!

It is such a beautiful area. One of my favourite places to go walking.

[apachefirecat]

Walking in England -- anywhere in England really -- has always been one of those dreams that I don't dare to dream. <3 So again, THANK YOU! <3 <3 <3

[ranunculus]

That was a lovely virtual walk. Thank You.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

It is such a beautiful area to go walking, in all weathers (provided your boots are stout enough).

[sparowe]

Fog suits me just fine. This is beautiful! <3

[puddleshark]

Yes, me too. I love being up on the hills in the fog. Who needs wide vistas! 😊

[ravena_kade]

The fog makes these images very dreamy.

[puddleshark]

Yes, fog makes everything magical. All the familiar paths become strange.

[shirebound]

Much fog! I can imagine the hobbits hiding from the Black Riders along those paths.

[puddleshark]

It's probably the barrow-wights you have to watch out for on the Wessex Ridgeway. Where the path passes by old burial mounds, it can be quite a creepy landscape to walk through in the fog...

[shirebound]

Eeeee, poor hobbitses. What a marvelously atmospheric place.

[yourlibrarian]

What a wonderful set of photos! I especially like that first one, such a great mood and framing.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

Beech trees are so helpful when you are trying to take a landscape photo - the way they reach across the path to frame the shot! 😊

[scintilla10]

So atmospheric! Loved these, thanks for sharing.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

Although I still didn't get to admire the famous views, the fog did make for some amazingly moody photos!

Delightful in that creepy, gloomy

[jesse_the_k]

...can't wait until the solstice way.

Re: Delightful in that creepy, gloomy

[puddleshark]

Yes. There may be a few leaves hanging on in the hedges, but suddenly the landscape has crossed the threshold into winter.