Late for Breakfast

Those that know me will be aware that I live up to the hobbit analogy of enjoying a good breakfast. For me to miss a breakfast or be late for it would take a pretty amazing run.

The run I did on Sunday was one of those runs that you only do a few times a year. Perfect weather, perfect fitness and amazing views. My only regret was I didnt share the run with anyone.

We pick up with this blog where we left off with  Dave and I at a most excellent Labyrinth party. It was a chance for merriment and fun times and also for Dave and I to 'carb load' on sports drink again.

Carb load we did.......a lot

Sports drink we did........a lot.

I woke up feeling unaturally OK at about 8.30 am on the sunday morning. No one else of the 20 or so guests were awake and I thought I'd do a run before breakfast and be back in time to have some eggs and shower and pack before leaving by midday (when we all had to be out of the farmhouse) I hadnt specifically agreed to do a run with Dave that morning so thought Id go on my own.

The view across the hills from Burcombe

The sun was shining in a clear blue sky and it was very cold and fresh. I set off on my own intending to do about 5 or 6 miles of a different route to the day before and be back by 10am.

I ran up through the South Poorton Nature Reserve through some beautiful scenery and realised with cold hands that I had made my first mistake of the day not bringing a camera. My smart phone does a sterling job with pics but I do like my 14MP compact for good shots.

I love the quaint names of Dorset villages

I used my ordnance survey app on my phone to plan a rough circular route that would take about an hour. As I got to North Poorton I  came across a disused church .

disused church at North Poorton

From there I headed north for a clearly marked trail on the map (which turned out to be a jubilee trail) . This was where the scenery became really spectacular.

Jubilee Trail near North Poorton

Petrol pump near the disused church at North Poorton

I ran up a very steep hill path which led me on to a wide ridge with views in all directions. The thing about the West Country is just how rolling and STEEP the hills are and yet whenever I take a photo it never looks as STEEP and epic as it does in real life.

The steep ridge on the Jubilee Trail near Burcombe

The path wasnt clearly marked here and I made my second mistake of the day. I ran along some of the strip lynchetts ( strips in the hills leftover from medieval ploughing techniques on steep hills)  and came to the peak of the ridge and down the hill looking to take a minor path off the Jubilee trail back towards Loscombe.

one of the 'footbridges' in Burcombe Wood.

I got lost. very lost.


Even for an experienced Greensand Way navigator I ballsed up on a really large scale. I ran through a gate at the bottom of the hill that clearly wasnt a path. I ran through various fields littered with shotgun cartridges used on previous tresspassers trying desperately to find a route through to the jubilee trail. Nothing worked. I couldnt get across the streams and high fences at any point.

My stress levels went up because -

• I had no signal on my mobile to call for help or look properly on my ordnance survey map app on my phone

• There were shotgun cartdridges everywhere so this area MUST be owned by a gun toting townie hating maniac

• I had to be back within a certain amount of time so that I could pack and leave on time

• worst of all.....I might miss breakfast !

After running round in most directions like a stupid pheasant I retraced part of my route and found the jubilee trail again. The 'minor' paths on the map were non existant, which meant I had to stay on the jubilee trail and use the roads to run back to the farmhouse in West Milton. Although I knew it would take quite a while to get back I was relieved that I wasnt lost anymore. Also now the sun was up fully it was much warmer and pleasant.

The joy of finding the Jubilee Trail again near Mapperton.

I popped out on the road near Mapperton having had no time to look at the amazing Mapperton House properly .

Mapperton House

Once on the roads the route was much more obvious and I started a fast hard run down towards Loscombe

Loscombe Sign

In the far distance to the south and Bridport i could just make out the sea as I ran along the narrow high sided lanes. In this part of the country I saw no cars at all, but did see 2 road legal quad bikes zipping past. ( I wonder what the hash call would be to warn of an approaching quad bike?)

looking from Loscombe towards Bridport with the sea in the distance

With a final burst of speed through Loscombe I made it back to the farmhouse about 5 minutes later to loud applause and relief from everyone eating breakfast. It was 2 hours and 15 minutes after I started and I had run just short of a half marathon....by mistake. But what a great mistake it had been.

My favourite photo of the day near Loscombe

I visit Devon and Dorset each year usually to go diving so it was great to have had such a wonderful 2 days running instead. As we drove back to Surrey later that day I commented to Dr G that it was the first time Ive ever driven back not covered in sea salt on my face from diving.....but still with a huge smile on my face, This was one of the best Sunday Rundays Ive done in a long time.