castle – Dexter

Nearly in Wales

As we awoke yesterday Lenny and I had little idea of what was being planned for us. All seemed normal as we were released into the garden for some serious pigeon and rabbit bothering, accompanied with the song of the breed wafting on the slight breeze across the fields. When we were hastily harnessed we thought nothing was awry but we stopped at the car on the way out of the garden. Adventures! 😀

Duly loaded into our prison cells we went along the lane, right, left, right, under the bridge and then followed the road. Around thirty minutes later we pulled up to a parking spot under the shade of a tree and were safely discharged to begin our shenanigans. Away from the car we went over a wooden footbridge which Lenny took carefully as he could see the river flowing beneath his paws. Along the path, up the slope, circle right, left and then crest the first hillock and there is was, the ruins of Clun Castle sitting atop the hill. Lenny scented a rabbit in the long grass whilst I was off toward the ruins for an explore. My exuberance was short lived however as I was stopped so we could read the sign that told us some history about the location. 🙄

We pressed on to the great tower and looked out over the countryside which was into Wales into a westerly direction.

The town lay below us so Lenny and I were anxious to stroll around the town. Our assistants had other ideas and we forgot momentarily that we were still attached to them so we had to “behave” ourselves on the downward slopes and paths. Left past the bowling green, right up the lane, right again at the end of the road and right again along the high street. Then it was into the Square, left down the hill into the river Clun for a drink.

Then we retraced our steps slightly as we realised we hadn’t walked too far and there was more to explore.

We were enjoying this. Strolling past small shops selling some lovely things, we wandered right up along another footpath and then wondered why there were so many people all in the playing field. There was a running race taking place which looked like it could be fun, however we were told in no uncertain terms that Lenny and I were not doing any running. So we decided to try and pull as much as possible to as many scents as possible along the lane, which led down to a ford in the river where I waded in to get a drink and Lenny stood on the fringes as he’s not really a water hound. Once our thirsts were quenched it was up the hill toward St Georges Church. Some parts of the church date back to the 12th century but much of it was rebuilt in the 1800’s. We saw a sign that said there were Commonwealth War Graves within the churchyard so we paid our respects to the fallen by being really quiet whilst our parents read the roll of honour on the plaque. Then we were off down the hill and back toward the car. Thankfully it was parked under a tree so it wasn’t too warm. Lenny fair leapt into the boot, albeit into my travel crate but I didn’t mind. It is good to see him getting more at ease with travelling in the car.

Back home and our breakfasts were taken, after which, it was time for a snooze and then watch as the parents tried to make our garden into something less of a scrub patch.

And before anyone says anything I did not mess about, eat garden stuff, try to wind up Lenny or wander around bored looking for trouble. All in all a fun walk with plenty of scents and sights. I think I might go back. After all we were nearly in Wales. Only a few more miles and we can say we’ve crossed the border.

Ludlow here we come

We were hurried along last Saturday and found ourselves being walked across the field in front of the house. This was unusual as we had already been for a walk and we were looking forward to a good snooze. All this country air seems to have the desired effect on us. In any case it was clear that there was a deadline to meet so we weren’t allowed to loiter and snack on the gifts that the sheep had left us. Across the road, and then right turn into the train station. Aha, an adventure! Now we’re talking.

Onto the train when it arrived and we were then speeding along, we knew not where. The countryside went past the window as Lenny and I tried to hoover up the various specks of food that people had kindly dropped on the train floor. We also tried to make friends with people on the train but found ourselves being told to behave. As the train arrived at the next stop we got off and found ourselves in Ludlow. Off we trotted to see what we could find, pulling our parents behind us. Ludlow was founded around 1066-1085 somewhere around the Norman Conquest. Its castle sits high upon the hill overlooking the river Teme and is a very impressive, if somewhat ruinous, structure.

Sometime after the castle was built the town was fortified around 1233 due to the squabbles between various English kings and Welsh Princes. There remain over 500 listed buildings in the town which are very impressive.

We went through the streets, past the market, around the castle, down to the riverside walk, back up into the town, around the market square and then back toward the station for our return trip. It was very busy as the Saturday market was in full swing and there were plenty of people enjoying the early Spring sunshine. On our way back, we had to make a detour to the Ludlow Brewery & Tap Room. This is a very dog friendly place in which we also saw another beagle enjoying a relaxing time.

After a while we had to make our train home and strolled to the station for the journey home.

Once more Lenny and I tried to make friends with the other passengers, whilst trying to eat all the tasty morsels dropped onto the floor. We travelled past Stokesay Castle which was built in the 1280’s by very rich wool merchants. It’s looked after now by English Heritage. Stokesay appears in the Domesday Book so it is a very old settlement.

We will visit Stokesay Castle one day soon, although we aren’t allowed inside the building.

Off the train and hurried back across the field, we were deposited into our beds for a snooze after a successful trip. We are going to Ludlow again, more than likely on a quieter day than Saturday market. It seems very dog friendly and we want to get the chance of checking out more places.

Oh deer, what is that scent?

Boing boing boing arooo. Hurry up and get out of bed. Its Bank Holiday Monday and we need to do something instead of having a well deserved lie in. Lenny delivered the wonderfully precise kidney pounce on dad and, suddenly, the morning tea was being made albeit with way too much grumbling about “we should have got Labradors or poodles”.

The spit spot of rain on the windows didn’t dampen our ardour for going on a long walk to dexplore more of the local area. Where would we go today? No one had a clue but we were on our paws and ready. Out of the house and turn left at the end of the road. Up the lane and along the footpath, turning right at the far end and back onto another lane. We know this lane as its part of our regular walks so we can pull and jerk in all the wrong places to get to the scents which lie in the periphery of the drainage ditches and edge of the woods on either side. Just past the stables we saw the squirrels run for cover as we approached. At this point Lenny decided to see a rabbit which caused mum to grumble about her arm being pulled out of its socket. Down the lane and across the brook we went, Lenny and I having a rare old time. Then we stopped in the road and expected to hear that we were turning around to head back home. This was standard practice but something seemed different today. It was decided for us that we would walk a little way down a bridle path which led off one side of the lane. As soon as we got through the gate, my nose was filled with a strange and wondrous scent and I tried desperately to break free from my shackles. It was deer and squirrels all mixed with the heady scent of rabbits. Also there was a scent I wasn’t quite sure of at the time but it would become apparent in a very short time. We strolled along the wide path and came to a tall gate which spanned the width of the path.

Welcome to the Knepp Wildland, part of the Knepp Castle Estate, it read. Please keep your dogs under control and on a lead, it continued. Deer, pigs and various cows roam free within the grounds. Oh my, oh wow it felt as if we had just stumbled upon a veritable playground for Beagles. Within a millisecond my path to fun and frivolity was blocked by dad who told me to sit. I was instructed to behave, walk nicely and not to bay at any animals that we may encounter. You’ve got no chance I thought. I looked at Lenny and he was clearly getting a similar sermon from mum and was thinking the same as me. Our leads and harnesses were checked and double checked to make sure we were (more than) adequately shackled. This was unfair. As soon as we were told to walk on we pulled and jerked on our respective leads so much so that dad thinks he’s invented a new pastime of beagle wrangling. The scents were everywhere. All we had to do was see a deer and our morning walk would be complete. We saw some rather large cows away in a meadow but we really needed to see deer. We could smell them but it seemed they weren’t happy to come and play. As we walked further into the estate the scents kept on coming and we kept on enjoying ourselves more and more.

The smell of the pigs was there, a little faint but definitely around. Ok, that’s enough decided dad as we stopped at the gate which led through to the next field. This was yet another decision taken on our behalf and without consultation with either myself or Lenny. So it was that we were turned around and began the long, slow and very much beagle brake applied walk back to the lane for the doleful return home. I would add though that Lenny and I did make the return journey with silly grins on our faces.

When we arrived home we were subjected to the ritual wiping of paws and it was as much as we could do to bay loudly for our second breakfast. We had earned it, that’s for sure. Then we were off to rest and reinvigorate our weary bones and brains. Six miles of scent and sights were clearly enough for us today.

Is another trip to Knepp on the cards? Oh I hope so as it was so much fun.