January 28th dawned bright and sunny in the Forest, it's been three weeks since the trauma of Black Hill in Cheshire and it was quite mild this morning so feeling brave and a touch Spring-like we headed off to bag another peak, Milk Hill in Wiltshire. Having done all the nearby peaks we have to venture further afield every time we venture out. I felt a little over-dressed in the winter sunshine and a balmy temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, I was probably going to regret my three top layers and wish I'd got my shorts on.
Its not a big deal at all, coming in at number 31 on the hit-list and reaching a massive 295m but it does have a lovely white horse on it which is always nice.
It's easy to see how there was an argument until www.countryfile.com settled it in 2009 about which was the highest point in Wiltshire, Milk or Tan Hill, neighbouring hills at the west end of the Vale of Pewsey. But we had a trusty map (more sellotape than map) and we knew where we were going but first the all important matter of breakfast!
We have made it our mission to identify and consume the finest all day breakfasts throughout the land, the current holders of the enviable title being www.morrisons.com, in particular the Ross on Wye branch and its very fine buttered white toast.
Ours was a forlorn mission, Marlborough though lovely doesn't appear to cater for those in search of a breakfast blowout.
We spotted a lovely little pub www.theoutsidechance.co.uk in Manton, no breakfast but a bellybusting Sunday lunch which could not be faulted.
On we went and moored up at the car park. The trouble was that the weather had turned. We'd gone rapidly from wearing too many layers to grubbing around in the back of the truck for anything that could be worn.
So we are another high point closer to our goal.
Its not a big deal at all, coming in at number 31 on the hit-list and reaching a massive 295m but it does have a lovely white horse on it which is always nice.
It's easy to see how there was an argument until www.countryfile.com settled it in 2009 about which was the highest point in Wiltshire, Milk or Tan Hill, neighbouring hills at the west end of the Vale of Pewsey. But we had a trusty map (more sellotape than map) and we knew where we were going but first the all important matter of breakfast!
We have made it our mission to identify and consume the finest all day breakfasts throughout the land, the current holders of the enviable title being www.morrisons.com, in particular the Ross on Wye branch and its very fine buttered white toast.
Ours was a forlorn mission, Marlborough though lovely doesn't appear to cater for those in search of a breakfast blowout.
We spotted a lovely little pub www.theoutsidechance.co.uk in Manton, no breakfast but a bellybusting Sunday lunch which could not be faulted.
On we went and moored up at the car park. The trouble was that the weather had turned. We'd gone rapidly from wearing too many layers to grubbing around in the back of the truck for anything that could be worn.
Just because you've got a map doesn't mean you're going in the right direction, the above peak (Walker's Hill) represents fail number one but it was pretty obvious where to head to next.
Someone thought they'd made it to the top of Milk Hill but this was fail number 2.
Onwards and upwards, through barbed wire and look back to see where it had all gone wrong.
To be absolutely honest the summit is somewhat underwhelming involving an element of roaming around (not unlike Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire) until the altitude app on your phone confirms you're at the highest point.
Things I have learnt today: always wear warm clothes even when the sun is out in January and Avebury is always lovely and magical whenever you go, even if half of it was shut because of erosion.
Comments
Post a Comment