Another day in West Dorset

A beautiful drive into West Dorset and another view of the western end of Eggardon Hill Fort. The earthworks stand 827 feet above sea level and were built as a fortified Iron Age settlement 2,500 years ago! More recent claim to fame in the 18C was the pirate Isaac Gulliver who planted some pine trees on top of the fort to help the smugglers navigate to Burton Bradstock on the coast with their contraband of silk, lace, gin and tea. Isaac had bought the farm below the fort and ran 15 boats and all his mates wore the traditional smock of the Dorset farmhand. He was quite a powerful figure being in control of all the smugglers' coast in West Dorset.

The sun was shining after a white frost and today I helped my brother decorate his new house with a well-earned sandwich at the local pub. He has quite a lot to do since the walls have been replastered and need countless coats but he should be in just after Christmas.