Day 13 - North Dinton to West Frome (Vallis Veg)

The route (all links open in a new window)

Start point: Marshwood Farm Camp site
w3w: ///vehicle.cured.toasters
Accompanying video

I woke early after an incredible sleep! It is so relieving and revitalising to get a good night's sleep. I worked out a decent pillow system that included me using the sprung mesh backing of my backpack along with a stuff sack of clothes. It was very 'Heath Robinson' but it did the trick. There was no light or noise pollution. Perfect conditions.

One of the bell tents at Marshwood Farm campsite. I was tempted but settled for my own one-man tent.

From my sleeping bag I unzipped the inner tent and my immediate thought was that it must have rained in the night as there were little pools of water on my ground sheet. It hadn't. My tent had a huge amount of condensation on the inside such that any mild shaking of the tent caused droplets to run down the inside and finally drip onto the ground sheet. Clearly I should have opened the door slightly last night to create some air flow. This oversight delayed my departure by a few hours as I needed to let my tent dry (or at least be far less wet) so I didn't have to carry the extra weight. It just meant I had a fairly leisurely pack up.

The good sleep had me in a very buoyant mood. I'd also spoken to the owner of the campsite the evening before and they assured me my revised route to Vallis Veg campsite (my next port of call) was a good one. There was only one section that she was unsure of as it was a road section which she hardly ever uses. This was all positive to me so my mind was at ease as I strode out on my days hike.

Another perk of staying at the campsite I had just left was I could walk across their fields which brought me out onto the Monarch's Way. This is a very extensive path that extends from Worcester to Stratford-upon-Avon to Charmouth to Shoreham. The route is described in the Long Distance Walkers Association as "The Way is based on the lengthy route taken by King Charles II during his escape after defeat by Cromwell in the final battle of the Civil Wars at Worcester in 1651, when for six weeks the 21-year-old was hotly pursued by Parliamentary troops." The total length of this route is a whopping 625 miles but for me today I was only going to be needing its services for a few miles.

A paved farmers track gave way to fields once again and I was greeted by field of llama. They always look so surprised, as if constantly thinking "how did I get here?" which makes me chuckle each time I see them.

"Can you point me the way to... erm?"

Shortly after this humorous meeting I was wandering across a field which didn't seem quite right. My path had been blocked by cows so I had deviated only by a matter of yards a few fields earlier but this had put me on course to walk straight across a shooting range. It's always good to keep checking ones directions. I dropped the ball here but thankfully there was only bird song and crickets chirping at the shooting stands.

The day continued to be an upbeat one. I covered a lot of distance without really seeing anyone at all. Once again it felt like I had the English countryside to myself. My water, or lack of it, being my only concern. Not too big of a concern as you are never really THAT far from civilisation here in the Southern reaches of the UK. 

I rounded a corner and through a gate, into a church yard where I was met with the view of St. Leonard's Old Church. This building looks to have become partial ruins with one end in perfect working order and the other missing windows, walls, and a roof. It's an interesting little find and worth a look if you are ever in Sutton Veny. Their website gives good information and directions as well as an opportunity to donate to its upkeep.

St. Leonards Old Church. Partial ruins and a good point of interest

Out of the church yard, down a tiny alley and I was out onto  main road walking past yet another church - The Church of St. John the Evangelist - whose spire had been in my distance up until now. This signal halfway for the day. I was making good progress! 

At this point the day took a slight turn. My attempts to get water were failing and the scenery had become that of housing estates. Not inspiring in the slightest. The lack of water was bringing me down so this was a priority. I needn't have worried as I managed to refill fairly soon after hitting the town of Warminster. I had a new concern however, the road that my previous nights landlady couldn't advise me on was approaching and I could hear a lot of traffic.

I popped out of a hedge and stood next to my nemesis. The A362. There was no way I was going to try walking down this road. It was a main arterial route to/from Frome and was bumper to speeding bumper with all sorts of vehicles from scooters to articulated lorries. I immediately abandoned the idea of walking this road but I did manage to cross it. This, fortuitously, put me on a track that I could use to get to the next village only a few hundred yards away on A362 but a good 15 minute stroll for me. My legs were tiring...

It was clear at the next village that things had not improved when it came to the brief feasibility study that I carried out of the A362 at this new location. Again, it looked like a death trap so I had to add a little over a mile onto my route to cover the next few hundred yards. Not the sort of thing one wants to do with already tiring legs.

No mater, I got back onto my intended trail which, by now was entering Frome. A sprawling town and it was rush hour. My mood had gone from positively upbeat to one of wishing the day would end. I trudged along, following the little red path on my watch. Turn left (road), turn right (road), Left, Road... urgh.... but then suddenly I was in a field!

One minute I was sucking on a tailpipe, the next I was chatting away to a local swapping stories of what a lovely day it was. I felt like I'd turned over two pages at once such was the change in mood and scenery. There is a definite correlation to the two. Both mood and scenery/environment are clearly inextricably linked and my campsite, which was now a short walk across a field was one which embraced nature.

The site used to be farmers fields until the current owners purchased it, rewilded it, erected amenities such as wash booths (where one can was with a bucket of water in the booth with no roof), sinks for washing up, and sawdust toilets. The waste from which was processed by worms then eventually used as fertiliser on vegetables which are subsequently sold. My little piece of heaven (AKA my pitch for the night) was nestled amongst the trees that had been planted just a few decades previously. Nature was all around me and I loved it!

I got clean. Cooked. Ate. Slept. Ready for day 14!