6/5/07 - The leaders (Tracey and Martin) arrived a bit late at Gatcombe church on a cooler and overcast morning to find the road full of cars – a bit of a shock until we realised most belonged to churchgoers, and our group was a more usual size of 13 which included the return of Harry from South America, plus 2 dogs.
A brisk start due to most of us being in training for Walk the Wight next week, we headed up past the church and round past Sheat Manor to the main road where a short walk on the verge took us to the lane towards Loverstone Farm. Back onto footpaths here and after crossing a few fields we were treated to the last of the bluebells in a small wooded area. Downhill to Ramsdown Farm we crossed both Worsley and Shepherds Trails and walking around Berry Hill headed across the main road on the Worsley Trail and uphill to the TV mast.
From here it was straight through to Dukem Copse where we debated whether to have lunch out of the wind, but decided to carry on a bit further as we were making good time. On to Frogland Copse where we lunched in the field below sheltered by the copse.
After lunch the group split into two – Tracey and three others plus Archie crossing fields to Garstons and back along Snowdrop Lane to the church which made about 7½ miles taking 3 hours, and Martin leading the rest of the group plus Robbie heading across the road near Idlecombe Farm and up onto the Tennyson Trail to walk back to Clatterford, down through the ford and onto the beginning of the Shepherds Trail to follow back to Gatcombe and the church, this adding about 4 miles to the route and an extra hour’s walk.

Leader - Tracey & Martin

Total Distance - 11 Miles (ish)