Dolebury Warren Circular Hike Including Burrington, Part I,'The Start Along the North base of Fort'
Channel: semw52
Date: 2023-06-05

I am exploring for the first time the North side of the Rowberrow & Dolebury Iron Age Hill Fort skirting the base all the way to Link Cottage at Burrington. Fortunately  the first field crossed had no cows or calves despite  large warning signs.I enjoy the excitement of exploring even though I am very familiar with the Fort and the South side and Rowberrow Warren...I had often wondered about the North side ---now I have arrived and  so much history  including ruins, old walls and tall trees...The weather started cold,grey and with a cold north easterly wind but the trees offered brilliant shelter and a perfect wind break--later in the day the weather will be quite hot and the wind welcoming. On this part I follow narrow dry paths and at times enter dark areas of the wood--spooky--Woodland plaques offer a small map and details about the wood including 'The Loop' and 'The Look-Out' and a place called 'Mendip Lodge'---now a ruin but once a grand country house with history and mystery--part of a 1000 acre site created by a Rev Dr. Sedgewick Whalley---filled with ash, Oak, Hazel and  ancient Yews---once pleasure and  landscaped gardens with many secrets---more to follow in Part II as I progress along the tracks and pathways to the 'Look Out'......