Basset walk Alfred's Tower August 2012

LATE NEWS: We will be doing a shorter walk than usual due to the expected heat. There is a good lake halfway then we walk largely within trees so it should be quite reasonable.

Our first walk as a pack since March, which seems so long ago. We are limited to thirty people, not Bassets, you must email me here if you intend coming. If by some chance we get an avalanche I will have to decide I suppose on First Come First Served - so don't delay, drop me a line. Thank you.

This will be our 126th walk. Yes an old favourite but still worth repeating because it's a good walk with a nice variety of woods and fields. The walk today totals four miles with a stop by a lake at half way. And it's easy to find – close to the A303.

To see a video of our last walk at Stourhead - made notable by the attendance of a magnificent Bloodhound - please click here.

We start from the car park near Alfred's Tower (see right) that is not far off the A303 past Wincanton - or before if you drive from Wiltshire. We meander through gorgeous woods - keeping a wary eye out for the alleged pack of wild boar hereabouts - to open meadows and views of three counties. We tackle a couple of really wee slopes, but there are steps up part way so it will be quite cushy.(For a map of our walk see here.)

To reach the start (10.30)

To see a road map please click here.
Leave the A303 near Mere on the B3092 clearly signposted in big brown signs to Stourhead Gardens. Drive along till you see the Alfred's Tower sign also in Big Brown. Follow the signs not missing the small one shown on the right here that will lead you off to the left. Now drive into the woods for more than a mile till you see the Single Track road sign (pic on right) and 50yds past there on the right is the car park.To the left is Alfred's Tower – which you won't see from the road. (If you start descending a steep hill you've unaccountably gone past). There will probably be lots of cars and people milling around. It is exactly 5½ miles from leaving the A303. The SatNav is N51º07.008, W 2º21.612, though this does shift around on my TomTom.

For those who want to become the Trivia Bore about Alfred's Tower, go to this excellent website where you can learn all one would decently want to know about this folly.

You will read about the unfortunate US bomber that managed to hit the tower killing five occupants, and that 1.5 million bricks were used. It is three sided as it used to bestride three counties, though Dorset has now moved. And that the tower is theoretically open to ascend for a fee of £3 but I've never seen it open.

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