Completing the Shire Rack and escaping reality (well almost)

The start of the Shire Rack at Garston Wood

Having avoided it for decades, believe it or not I have recently been introduced to the game of Dungeons and Dragons and if I am honest, I have found it good fun! Well, it would be no shock to anyone who really knows me that I enjoy the drama of role playing, even if it is constrained to the design of a Dungeon Master’s scheme and, shall we say, slightly geeky. There is one thing though, in playing the game at least my character, an elvish wizard and his halfling bard companion, can have some influence on the outcomes of the storyline, this is due to their innate abilities and the value of the dice that they throw. Who knows, perhaps the same is true in real life? I really hope so.

In fact game playing table top taverns are popping up everywhere in the county. Its new found popularity is likely something that relates to the DNA of Wiltshire, as it aligns with such folklores that tell of warriors sleeping under the barrows, wizards having a hand in creating Stonehenge, the miraculous appearance of crop circles, the cunning of the Moonrakers and not to mention that it is fabled to be part of “The Shire”. And anyway, who can blame anyone for finding a means to escape from the current global realities of wars, shifting alliances, earthquakes, asteroid trajectories and disastrous weather patterns. It almost seems that the Dungeon Master that controls our lives is also keeping a tight hold on the dice and letting things play out in as chaotic a fashion as possible.

Of course we don’t need a table top tavern in order to escape from the news items of doom and gloom. A trip to the glorious Wiltshire countryside will achieve this far more readily, and if you choose as you marvel at the beautiful scenery you can imagine yourself in any role that you desire from Hardy characters and historic heroes to the D&D fanciful characters of myth and legend, all can be accommodated and who knows maybe even nurtured. And so it was on the other Sunday that Mr P and I (bard and wizard) seeking escapism and adventure, shook our many sided dice and landed on the quest to complete the walk of the Shire Rack.

I have written a blog about the Shire Rack before, but that walk only took us along a short stretch of the boundary path that separates Wiltshire and Dorset. However, it is possible to follow it much farther west towards Minchington Down before the boundary heads into private land and the Shire Rack peters out. In fact the full extent of the Shire Rack runs from just south of Bowerchalke, but it is now only possible to walk the western part of the ancient route. Still this western route through ancient woodlands and past forts, tumuli and settlements of old was a sufficient quest for this bard and wizard team plus there would be the route back through the unchartered and possibly hostile territory of Dorset!

The flowers and berries shone like jewels

So having parked the transportation at the RSPB Garston Wood car park and with staff in hand (well GPS) we embarked on our quest. Immediately, we regretted the decision of walking the desire path by the perimeter fence of the reserve as it was somewhat overgrown and there were fallen trees to negotiate. Therefore, I would recommend that other quest seekers take the road route to the start of the Shire Rack. However, the going was easier once we reached the main footpath. As we walked, the early morning sunlight highlighted the budding trees and delicate spring flowers. The bird song was glorious, and it took no imagination at all to believe that we were on a path in some fabled land. The red berries on the butcher’s broom, wood anemones, violets, primroses bluebells and even toothwort all shone like jewels. “A good omen” (or words to that effect) I remarked to my companion, but he was lost in his own world probably composing some song or other as bards do. No doubt being inspired by his surroundings as he negotiated the undulating path.

As we walked, our hearts sang at the glimpses to our right of the rolling hills of Wiltshire. It seemed a sharp contrast to the wooded undulating path of the Shire Rack, it was as though the boundary had created its own micro universe where you could look out onto another land but not attain it. I have no doubt that my half elf wizard character would have been able to break through the barrier with a spell, but my human half remained firmly behind the fence.

Wiltshire from the Shire Rack

So we remembered our quest and didn’t dally as we still had much ground to cover and soon we were on less familiar territory.

Less familiar territory along the Shire Rack

Here the path opened into a clearing with the woodland now on the Wiltshire side. The bird song changed and the sounds of the mistle thrush, black cap, chiffchaff and robin were joined by the loud call of the raven. We were deep in Chase Woods now and miles away from civilisation and any thoughts of world events. Ravens soared over our heads appearing from the dark woods to our right. There was no one else in sight it was as though this ancient track had taken us up and into its own realm, one that had lasted for centuries and one where we could remain enchanted forever. To complete this feeling as we walked, we noticed footpath signs with the initials HW, and immediately thought of Hidden Wiltshire. Could it be someone welcoming us and showing us the way? However, on closer inspection, we saw that it was indicating that the footpath we were now on was part of the Hardy Way. It seems imagination can only take us so far.

The finger post showing the HW route

It was at the same time that we also started to notice strange signs of arrows and crosses on the trees, could some strange events be occurring here? The arrows pointing deep into the forest and who knows what lurking beyond. I considered the white and black lodges in Twin Peaks and remained firmly on the footpath. In reality I suspect they are part of the modern day management of the trees by the Rushmore Estate that own the woods. And, as we walked, we soon became aware  that some of the once magnificent ash trees were now skeletal and devoid of leaves, the ash dieback claiming more lives. These signs would be a warning to my wizard character that all is not completely well here and a reminder to the real me that these trees are sadly being lost to a disease that is most likely made worse through climate change.

The signs on the trees leading you into the dark woods

Brushing these concerns aside, the bard and wizard felt sure that nothing else would encroach on their escapism. Alas, this was not to be, for as we exited the woods we found ourselves greeted by wonderful views but also the path was taking us through the middle of a golf course with many folks all vying to get their balls in the holes on the shaved grass. As I watched the play and ducked when I heard shouts of “fore” I couldn’t help wandering if the earthworks of the bunkers were those of the Romano-British settlement and enclosures that exist here. However, as the Rushmore Estate was the home of archeologist Augustus Pitt Rivers, this is definitely not the case and the settlement still remains untouched. If we had taken the path south through the golf course we would have no doubt found that to be true. But for us the quest continued and we proceeded west, watching the golfers as we went and I couldn’t help thinking of someone else who plays golf.

The Rushmore Park Golf Course

It isn’t clear to me if the Shire Rack ends at the golf course, but the route along the boundary path continues and so we also headed on through a small area of woodland where we saw a herd of deer and found a place to eat lunch. Here we suddenly realised that we were now firmly in Dorset.

One of the Scrubbity Barrows

After lunch we continued on through open fields the path clearly marked but not necessarily completely following the OS route. Nevertheless, it was good to have a well defined route and we soon found ourselves back in Chase Woods. It was pleasing that the weather was dry as the deep ruts in the path here suggested that it could be very muddy and difficult to negotiate otherwise. We passed the wonderfully named Scrubbity Barrows and were soon crossing open fields to the equally splendidly named Snowpuddle Farm. But then we noticed it, a field of cattle. I realised my wizarding skills were of no use here and one large dark brown cow was ominously standing close to our route. It was watching us intently and not moving. I commented to my bard friend that the cow wasn’t moving to which he replied that well they are only really a problem if they are moving. The statement was an uncontroversial truth and feeling a Dr. McCoy and Scotty moment on concerns about who invented transparent aluminium. I smiled, and we crossed the field without incident none of the cows moving at all. This disinterest wasn’t the case for the sheep and lambs who were in a nearby paddock they all came running along to see us and their sweetness was captivating, but their interest waned just as quickly as it came so and we rejoined to HW way for a short time before heading back to Garston Wood and the transportation. Returning to our human selves, we enjoyed a welcoming flask of coffee before heading home tired but happy.

Dorset view and sheep with their lambs

We had truly had a wonderful walk and an amazing adventure! And we did manage to escape from it all, at least for most of the time.

Route map courtesy of OS maps.