Heaven's Gate

[puddleshark]

Where to go walking in the wet Dorset winter? It's so hard to plan a walk at this time of year. Can't take the Coast Path - the cliffs are unstable after heavy rain. Don't want to go slogging through fields deep in mud, because I've been battling with a bad back all week, and it has just finally started to settle down. And I took the stone track down to Winspit a few weeks ago.

Decided in the end to take the track up to Heaven's Gate, to make the most of the sunshine and the views.




The lane from Kingston to Encombe, running along the high ground, rather bleak in winter, with vast empty fields to either side. There's a little car park in the muddy puddled area on the right, and from there I set off along a farm lane that soon dwindles into a stony track up through the fields. A kestrel was hunting from the fence posts, and I followed her up the track.




Kestrel.




A Stonechat perched above the crumbling dry stone walls.




Heaven's Gate. Someone once wrote the name in blue paint on the wooden gate here, and the name is now semi-official, if not yet appearing on OS maps.


The view from Heaven's Gate. Clavell Tower on the left, by Kimmeridge Bay. Clouds hanging over the pale golden stone of Gad Cliff. The sheep in the field in the centre of the picture are not lining up to form words of greeting. The farmer just drove through the field scattering a straight line of sheep feed.



Sat for a while on the memorial bench. I found it intrusive when it first appeared on the spot, but now it's weathered and I'm used to it, and I look forward to reaching it so I can sit down and drink coffee. What a sybarite I am become.


Followed the path through the sheep fields to Swyre Head, but there was too much sun glare for photographing views of Encombe today.


The bowl of Encombe, and St Aldhelm's Head.


Following the path along the rim of the bowl.





On my way down from Swyre, I said 'Good morning' to a women riding a chestnut thoroughbred. Once past me, they set off at a gallop up the hill, and a minute later were standing on the round barrow at the very end of the headland, outlined against the sky. It's been many years since I last galloped up this headland in the company of a thoroughbred, and I had forgotten how they eat the ground. Distance becomes nothing.

Comments

[watervole]

Wonderful walk.

[puddleshark]

I didn't used to walk to Heaven's Gate very often when I had a dog, because there are always sheep in the fields there. But these days it is one of my favourite walks. The views are just stunning.

[kaishin108]

Heaven's Gate, what a name. And I can see why it's called that, wow!

[puddleshark]

Yes, you can see how it got its name! The views there are always breathtaking.

[asakiyume]

Gorgeous, gorgeous views. Will share with Wakanomori.

[puddleshark]

:-)

The light was fabulous on Saturday, but don't be deceived - those fields are very soggy indeed. We have had so much rain. The rivers are all up over their banks.