Hills and views- The Hardy Monument

The monument in the Autumn mists

High on a hill near Dorchester, and visible for many miles around, stands a monument to a man chiefly remembered for kissing a sailor.
The Hardy monument, a rather squat ugly edifice, was erected in 1844 to the memory of the other Hardy, Trafalgar veteran Admiral Thomas Masterman Hardy.

So kissable....

Hardy, born at Long Bredy in1769 lived close by at Portesham. 
He was captain of the Victory at Trafalgar when his dying friend, Nelson, uttered those three fateful words, 'Kiss me Hardy,' so consigning the poor bloke to be the butt of schoolboy jokes for eternity.






There is another more prurient version of these events, by the way, with Nelson's dying words being interpreted as 'Kismet, Hardy'... meaning...'Fate, Hardy.'
Away from the smoke of battle the views across Dorset are breathtaking. Footpaths radiate to all points of the compass as do bridleways; so bring you dog or mountain bike or even a mountain biking dog.

Hills and Views 4 - Stonebarrow (SY412930)

Lofty Stonebarrow Hill was originally part of the coaching route between Bridport and Charmouth; abandoned because of the impracticably steep ascents and descents.

 Today it is still popular with horse riders, the odd jogger and dogs walking their owners. The area is part of the National Trust's Golden Cap estate and as their car park is sited at the top of the hill, you get the view without the struggle...except the struggle for change...even here you have to pay parking charges..

To the right in the blue distance is Lyme to the left rises Golden Cap, Dorset's highest coastal point; while at your feet wind acres of paths and a million picnic spots. In Autumn you'll find blackberries in abundance.

Hills and views 3-Pilsdon Pen SY414009

View across redundant trig point.

Braving hail, wind and then sunshine we scrambled to the top of Pilsdon Pen for a flask of tea and a breathtaking 360 degree view. The hill, the highest point in Dorset, hosted yet another Iron Age high rise until eviction by the Romans.

Ordnance Survey trig point silhouetted against the approaching hail storm

Its hummocky summit is just a short walk from the road and bears witness to various degrees of occupation: Bronze Age burial mounds, the remains of a medieval rabbit warren, and silhouetted against the skyline, another poignant relic, an Ordnance Survey trig point now consigned to history by the arrival of gps.

Needless to say, it's another satisfying location for kite flyers, dog walkers and the odd jogger.

There is a God!! The sun puts his hat on!