Day 19 Yetminster to Compton Valence

Yetminster to Compton Valence

16 Miles

As you go through life it never ceases to amaze me how many people turn up several times. If you retain contact you never know when they may come in handy. Thus it was that Norina and I spent a happy evening with Paul and Pauline Chesterman, one-time migrants to North Oxfordshire but now returned back home to their beloved Dorset. Paul is a great ambassador for all things West Country and introduced us to the “best chip shop in Dorset”. This was followed by several excellent ales in his local pub in Nether Compton. Fortunately my good lady was on hand to drive us afterwards.

So Paul joined me this morning and we made good time to Melbury. I had been looking forward to the walk through the Melbury Estate. Afficionados of “Fawlty Towers” will recall that “Lord Melbury” was the upper class confidence trickster who Basil fawned over. The chances that there was a genuine Lord Melbury was a source of delight! Unfortunately my later research showed that there was no genuine Lord Melbury.

The walk through the estate was nonetheless very enjoyable. Melbury is designated as a deer park and the path through the estate was an extensive avenue of mature trees, with others spread across the grassland. Although there were plenty of signs warning us not to feed the deer the creatures themselves were staying out of sight.

Melbury Park

After the managed parkland estate the Macmillan Way reverted to the natural Dorset Hills and it was up hill and down dale until finally reaching the tiny village of Compton Valence. There was nothing to note at Compton Valence. The name is longer than the village!

My plan to get ahead of the game over the last few days has really paid off. Compton Valence is 282 miles from Boston Stump, leaving only eight miles to complete.

There are three large hill climbs to tackle during the final section so that will slow me down anyway. I will also have plenty of company for this last leg of my journey. A group of friends from Bicester are waiting in the hotel bar and it could be a long night.