15/3/09 - A glorious sunny spring day heralded our largest ever turn out, with 30 walkers and 5 dogs massing at the priory car park. After some chatting and introductions we were away, heading up the Shepherds Trail to the top of the hill, where we re-grouped to remove a layer of clothing in the unseasonal heat.
Heading on downhill to Little Gatcombe, we paused again on the road while Poppy made a muddy mess in the stream. Up Snowdrop lane (with few snowdrops but much garlic), we passed the nice looking house at Garstons, before heading round the fields to pass Frogland Copse.
Alison received a phone call from some backmarkers who had become detached from the group, so we waited while they caught up, before tackling the steep hill to the lunch spot.
After a pleasant meal in the sun, we continued on through the Monkham to discover a nice path through the Copse before rejoining the Tennyson trail down in to the back of Carisbrooke.
Down through the bottom of the valley, crossing the ford at Clatterford we climbed up to the Castle, round the perimeter and back to the car park.

Leader - Tracey

Total Distance - 7.5 Miles