Feeling fatter than a Labrador that has secretly found its way into the kibble cupboard and with cabin fever akin to that of a Z-list celebrity exiting the Big Brother house at the end of the series, I needed a walk today. And so did my parents’ actual Labrador.
And what better way to kick off my Year of Trust with a hike up to the highest point on the Great British south coast – Golden Cap.
Not only is the Golden Cap managed by the National Trust, it is also England’s only natural World Heritage Site, and a quick search on the internet promised ‘magnificent views’ on clear days. The sun was attempting to shine, the fog had dissipated, and thus I was expecting big things.
After a steady uphill walk from the carpark, Golden Cap came into view. It doesn’t look like much to be honest – the sandstone makes it look like a very dead lawn as a result of a hosepipe ban throughout a hot summer.
Unperturbed by the apparent dead-grass mound, dog continued up the path and I dutifully followed in my primary role as snack-dispenser.
And as we crowned the hill and the cliffs fell away from us, I was confronted with the promised magnificent views. And they were magnificent.
Gazing out across a glittering sea, glorious coastline stretched as far as the eye could see on both sides – towards Poole in the East and Exeter in the West.
Rolling hills with neat pocket square fields, clusters of forests and lone farmhouses comprised the view behind us.
The wintery sky was typically indecisive with grey clouds blanketing the world, but a sharp strip of sunlight on the horizon added unexpected colour to the scene. Miniature ships glided across the still sea, and shafts of light burst through the cloud cover.
It all looked like a painting, and I could have stayed up there all day soaking in the views. But dog was on the move again, and there were still mince pies at home that needed eating up.
What a way to start the year.
Verdict: Breathtaking views
A Year of Trust 