I decided that I didn’t want to stay indoors on Friday 6th February, the sun was shining with clear blue skies, the temperature was just hovering on the 0°C with a sharp wind. I wanted to blow the cobwebs away and that is just what I did. I walked over Hambledon Hill from home taking Kim with me. I walked towards Markham cottages on the footpath beside the Hanford road and then skirted up the hill via the track rather than take the vertical climb.

It was quite muddy and sticky where the surface was thawing and it made it quite hard going, but it wasn’t long before we were at the top gate. There was a Buzzard flying near the top of the hill enjoying the thermals, they are fantastic to watch and before long he landed on a tree close to where we were walking.

There was of course as always a Robin wanting a piece of the action and could I resist…no!

When we got to the top we were greeted by a very icy blast from the east, even Kim had her ears back and wasn’t too impressed so I decide to walk the ridge facing west away from the prevailing wind where it was much more pleasant. I didn’t take too many pictures as it was quite hazy over the Blackmore Vale and the ground was very slippy; I just enjoyed being up there. There are now sheep on the hill grazing until March so I had to keep Kim on a lead. We have an update in our village magazine from the National Trust ranger who informs us of what is happening on the hill which I really enjoy, which includes animals grazing, clearance and what they are hoping to do with the hill.

I just stopped to take a couple of pictures of the end of the ridge, the sun was highlighting the ridges before I made the descent, it was quite difficult even with walking boots we zig-zagged down the hill steadily I did slip once but we managed to get down the hill in one piece…Phew!