Tuesday 1 April 2008

Walkies At White Horse Hill

Well hello there all of you, how the evil are you all? Spring finally seems to have sprung here in Blighty. On Sunday we met up with our good pals Ralf and Molly for a walk in the sunshine at White Horse Hill. Now we hadn't been there before, but we'll most certainly be going back.

Here is the horse on the hill. It is thought to have been cut into the hill during the Bronze Age, some 3000 years ago. It is thought to represent a tribal symbol. It is quite hard to see it when you're near it as it is very large (374 ft or 11o metres long). We found this photo of it online. There are quite a lot of white horses cut into the hillsides around Wiltshire, some ancient like this one, some more modern. The more recent ones were created with the aid of modern technology, but the mind boggles at how the ancient ones were created. You can read more about the white horses here.



This is Dragon's Hill and it lies at the bottom of the hill where the white horse is carved. Dragon Hill is, apparently, an artificial mound with a flat-top, to which clings the legend that it was on its summit that St. George slew the dragon. A bare patch of chalk upon which no grass will grow, is purported to be where the dragon's blood spilled.


The other interesting historical site here is Waylands Smithy. It's a Neolithic burial chamber. It was discovered an excavated in the 1960's and 14 bodies dating back 3500 years were found buried within! You can read more here

Little remains today, but it is still very atmospheric.





Anyway, enough history lessons! Let's get on to the fun subject of four Airedales running free together in gay abandon!


Here's me on the right and Ralf on the left. The girls are in the distance gossiping about something or other. Aren't we a handsome pair?


Cassidy, who lest we forget is a good deal younger than the rest of us (Ralf an Molly are 5 an 6), was in the lead for most of the day. That young girl is one confident pup let me tell you!


There was much bottom sniffing, ear pulling, racing up and own an general fun to be had. The girls id lots of playing, Ralf an I were more content to wander along sniffing and leaving pee mail.


There were hares in the fields on either side of the path. We didn't get to chase any, but they were interesting. Cassidy was intently on the look out here.



The dirty girls were happy to drink out of the puddles, Ralf and I had rather more decorum.



Cassidy has an endless amount of energy, an she was often waiting down the path for the rest of us to catch up. She's a goo girl though and doesn't wander too far away...



...although she did eat a lot of horse poop while waiting for us, yeuch!


Isn't this a glorious sight? English countryside in the spring, the view interrupted only by four fuzzy Dale bottoms! Look at Cassidy, she's gambolling along like a spring lamb!



Poor Molly got tired after all that running up and down with young madame. Her and Ralf are quite woolly at present and it was a really warm morning.



Mind you, I think Cassidy was fairly pooped too - can you see her tongue hanging out in this photo?



There was too much to explore to stop for too long though. We got so many admiring looks from fellow walkers and met quite a few other dogs.


Molly was laying in every puddle we came across, she's a muddy madame!


We climbed and climbed up a steep hill so we could go and see the white horse.



We all had to go back on our leads at this point as we had to walk through fields FULL of sheep. Some of them were pretty mean too. One of them was goose-stepping at me in a rather menacing fashion and I hadn't done anything to him!


And when we got to the top of the hill, who should we come across but another Airedale! She was called Gracie and is American, from Illinois and her mum was so excited to see the four of us. She took lots of photos and Cassidy gave Gracie a welcome kiss. It's a real shame we were in the field full of sheep as we could have had a good old romp as she was doing lots of playbowing and really wanted to have some fun with us!


There were lots of colourful kites flying on the hill. Ralf and Molly's dad said the fancy stunt kites can cost £400 (that's $800)!



And in the distance we could see these windmills used to generate "green" energy. Lots of people protested at them being built as they thought they would be a blot on the landscape, but I think green energy is a jolly good idea and they really aren't that ugly.


Well, I'll leave you with a few more views of the countryside.

It's so nice to see green returning to the landscape after the winter.

How's that for a view? We felt like we were on top of the world!


Here are some of the sheep. Cassidy enjoyed eating their poo too. Mean goose stepping sheep is not pictured.


Three Airedales, King of the Terriers and lords of all we survey.


We will certainly be going back here to walk again, it's a fabulous spot.

Toodle pip

Harry x

34 comments:

Myeo said...

Looks like you guys had alot of fun. We bet you must be very tired after the walk.

Love
Boy n Baby

Amber-Mae said...

Wow, what a cool place! I would have enjoyed myself running around there & playing fetch. Hope you had a splendid time!

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

The Black and Tans. said...

It is nice to get out into the Spring countryside and enjoy a pleasant ramble. We are a bit woolly like your friend Molly at the moment but hopfully we will be all stripped and tidied up very soon and look smart like you Harry.

Molly and Taffy xx

Simba and Jazzi said...

Looks like a great place to go for a walk.

Simba x

Girl Girl Hamster said...

What fun walkies you doggies went. Cassidy sure is a good girls for sticking close and not wandering too far. You all look handsome and cute

~ Girl girl

Molly the Airedale said...

What an awesome walk! The views are just breathtaking! What fun you all had!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Dexter said...

Yowsa! What a cool place. That view is so good I think I can see the Mango estate in the distance.

Those rocks are neat. Nothing like that here in US.

Dexter said...

P.S. Harry, man, the secret to the weight loss meditation is to gain about 200 pounds so that you are soooo huge that nobody notices if you are up or down a few.

Jessie, Jake and Lola said...

We packed our bags to come do that beautiful walk but Mama told us to put our stuff away, she said you guys live far away from us. It is too bad because we think where you live is stunning and so many friendly dogs.

Jake was even curious about the horse poop!

Snowball said...

That is a beautiful place for walkie. How I wish we have a place like that in Singapore too...

Luv
Snowball

Peanut said...

What a lovely place for walks. Watch out for the sheep though.

Patience-please said...

Oh Harry, thank you so very much for taking us along! We didn't even need to get passports, but we felt like we were right there seeing all that wonderful history and green fields and sheep too!

wags from the whippets

Sophie Brador said...

What a great place to walk!

xo
SB

Agatha and Archie said...

Oh what a fabulous place..if only we could have joined you!! That is right up our alley!!!!!PL2 is fascinated by all the history and is going to go read up on everything,and we are FASCINATED by the sheep poop and horse poop.Not only do you get a good romp but delicacies also!! HEAVAN!! Love A+A

Faya said...

Non seulement c'est magnifique, mais en plus vous avez le soleil pour vous tenir compagnie en promenade ! Quelle belle journée pour toi, ta famille et tes amis...
Ici il fait encore très froid et toujours pas de soleil...
Bisous tous froids, Faya

Gus said...

What a marvelous outing! And you had a photographer along so you could share it all with us. Please thank your Mum or Dad or whoever took the pictures. We loved seeing history across the back of four dales.


kisses
gussie

Lacy said...

woofies n burfs...me loved da picturs of da old ruins..dats one of da proffessions me mama wood of like to do, arcieology...u all look like u wuz havin lot of fun on u walkie...

b safe,
rocky, bear and angel lacylulu ;)

Princess Patches said...

What a beautiful place for walkies! Miss Cassidy, you be getting soooo big! The only way we can tell you are still a puppy is from the black going down your leggies!

Aire-hugs,
Poppy & Penny

Finni said...

This walk has everything a good walk needs: sun, wind, good company and ... muddy puddles, not to mention plenty of history and ... er ... sheep.
Looks like you had a fab day out.

Love
Finni xx

Joe Stains said...

Looks like a great day, Mom is amazed that you guys don't just wander away! We do not listen!

We love the photo of the four fuzzy butts!

Anonymous said...

Our person really enjoyed the photos and has heard of White Horse Hill before. We wish we'd been there to play with you and enjoy the countryside.

Caz and Ludo the cool dude said...

you have really grown Cassidy it looks a fantastic area to walk in and what views when you got to the top. Fancy meeting a dale at the top what are the chances of that?
It looked so nice and sunny no wonder molly wanted to lie in all the puddles I do the same.
Glad you hand a good munch on the pooh, can't beat a bit of pooh.

I bet you all slept for hours when you got back home.
Thanks for showing us your adventure.

Ludo the cool dude

Noah the Airedale said...

Hiya Harry mate,
What an interesting post. That place is fascinating. Pinkies are so keen to visit the UK again and this time they want to do the bottom part so they can put White Horse Hill on the list of places to see.
How is Ralf these days? We know he had a turn last year and we hope all is well with him now.

Hugs and tail wags
Noah Willow Tess & Lucy

Mr. T-Bone Beasley said...

That looks like the best walk ever! If some sheep tried to goose step me I woulda bit him and ran. Silly sheep!

Slurp!
Mr. T-Bone Beasley

Lorenza said...

Hi, Harry!
That is a very interesting place! The horse in the hill is beautiful!
And you all were so lucky to go there for a nice walkie!
Sure Cassidy is full of energy!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Ben & Darling said...

This is a berry berry berry berry berry berry......*drink some water* berry berry berry berry berry berry beautiful place!!!! You pals are sooooooooooo lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

Anonymous said...

Cassidy & Harry
I just heards Ms. Cassidy is going to enter her first shows, I sews sited, I nevers met a Celerbraty before, I just nose use will do specktacular and shows all those other Dales use gonna be #1 in the whole worlds, good lucks and pwease lets us all nose whens it is, ok?

Hugs, Bellyrubs, Smoochies
Pearl

GO, GO MS. CASSIDY

Deetz said...

Hi Cassidy and gang. Cassidy, I think my mums vet is stupid too, for not doing his job. My mum just loved your photos that you posted. I think they are pawsome too. The horse one is excellent. We don't have anything like that here in KS at all. It is a boring place...Just miles and miles of wheat fields. We get tornados!!! It was so enjoyable to see you playing on the path....
paw hugs to all
P.S. I got a helmet from Hammers mum....
Deetz

the many Bs said...

what a wonderful place to visit and romp and walk. we can see why you like it so much. we would have loved it too.

that old cemetary place is pretty cool. our mom likes to explore old places like that.

we sure wish we were there to come to that wonderful place with you. we would have so much fun and our mom would love the scenery.

woofs!

Deetz said...

Harry:
I guess we could say we are having bad EAR days.....lol
Deetz

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

So very cool..
Hey I like those sheep. Mom has us in obedience class and then I get to start herding sheep. Louie won't be able to since he is deaf but he is learning to be obedient even though he really can't quite figure out what is going on. He is to busy watching everything around him.. Such a duffus...

Big sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie

Stanley said...

Man, Harry!

I wanted to jump through the pooter screen and run along right there with you all! Looks to me like FABulous place to see & be seen!

We also especially loved all of the photos that picture the 4 fuzzy airebums!

Glad you got to meet an American Dale. Did she have an accent when she barked?

Goober love,
Stanley

Johann The Dog said...

Sheep, sheep, let me at 'em!!! Love to herd those sheepies. Woofs, Johann

Weeny&Daisy said...

Woweee what a lovely walk! We're glad you had so much fun!

Love W and D
xx xx