Walking over the Giant’s Head – Allington Hill from April into May.
From my kitchen window is this view of the sleeping giant, head resting on Allington Hill. Often looked at and photographed (by me) and in April, when walking near home was the only kind available, often climbed. In this post, the photos take us from April into May, up the hill, over the hill, through the giant’s beard and back through his hair.
Allington Hill 10 April 2020 AH 12 April 2020
April into May: a time of tremendous transition. Here the Sleeping Giant still looks bristly and bare.
The photos begin from 10 April after I cleaned the windows. One consequence of the C19 lockdown was that the window cleaner didn’t come. I had to remove the seagull strike myself: an unusual pattern like sperm swimming upwards.

The climb begins. Here at last is the view looking back over a misty Bridport from the spot where the road stops and the path enters the woodland. Still a way to climb to reach the top.
Bluebells and celandines AH 12 04 20 Primroses AH 12 04 20 Primrose Path AH 12 04 20
There are many paths on Allington Hill so the walk can be varied every day. Despite my worries about meeting people, it was always possible to divert or step aside. The days were sunny and dry, sometimes chilly in the early mornings, or when caught by the breeze. Sometimes hot in the sun. You get to know people by sight and greeting: the same dog walkers, mostly, sometimes parents with children. Not crowded except with flowers beneath the trees here on the way to the top.

Out into the open again and the grassy summit beyond the stand of trees that make up the giant’s beard and hair.
I imagine that the people we meet – if they think of us at all – might call us, from our use of trekking poles, the skiers.
On top of AH far side Shadows and Colmer’s beyond Symondsbury Shadows – view from the top of AH 21 April 2020 View from the top of AH 21 April 2020 From top of AH looking West to Colmer’s Hill
From the top and on the far side; the coast and glimpses of the sea to the south are not quite in the picture. Here looking west over the village of Symondsbury towards Colmer’s Hill.
Tall Trees – the Giant’s Hair and Beard 22 April 2020 Young beech leaves All Hill 22 April 2020 Sunlit young beech AH 22 April 2020
On the way back, walking eastwards again, one of the paths takes us under tall beech trees newly dressed in young green.

On the way down the slope again on the eastern side, walking through a meadow and looking back up at the leaf burst of the giant’s hair.
Rain coming at last 28 April 2020 Breath of the giant 30 April 2020
And home again, back to the view from the kitchen window and the end of the month. After so many dry days, April rain falls at last and the trees and the garden are glad of it. What an eruption of colours and change in the course of a few weeks!

We have walked into the view, under the trees, over the hill and seen the other side.
The sun shines on the giant’s head: the 1st of May. No maypole celebrations: but nature’s dancing.
Are you walking more now that exercise is rationed?
Has your walk changed because of the restrictions? What have you discovered and what are you missing?
If you have posted photos of your walk, please feel free to share a link.
And thanks for coming with me.
Apparently, it’s national walking month! Unexpectedly timely of me. I found out through Seren’s blog post: the Friday poem https://serenbooks.wordpress.com/2020/05/01/friday-poem-helvellyn-by-andre-mangeot/
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Beautiful photos of your walk, Maria! I walk outdoors more now, since I have no indoor exercise room available during this time. I’m better for it, even with the allergies:) Now if only I had some scenery like yours, I would be all set!
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Thank you, Becky. I hope you still have something beautiful to look at on your walks.
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Thanks, Maria. There’s so much building going on around the Square. But, there are still some vacant lots with native grasses and wild flowers…and that big sky near sunset. It’s very flat, here, in my part of Texas, and I also miss the Great Lakes from Michigan. The large fountain near my library is the only water body nearby, but at least that’s something!
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How glorious! Thank you, Maria, that’s just what I needed to lift my jaded soul.
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I thought of you when putting this together, Gretchen. Thank you for encouraging me to post pictures of our little Dorset life!
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More pictures are always welcome, Maria 🙂 Your Dorset landscape is robust yet soothing at the same time.
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How lovely it is – or was. No doubt by now the view of the distance and up close has already changed. I’ve been missing out on walking, during April, so it’s really good to take a share in the views other people are taking.
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It is changing all the time and that’s one of the best things about a familiar walk though there are lots of paths and new things to discover. If you haven’t been able to go on your own walks, Cath, I’m glad that you have enjoyed sharing mine.
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A breath of sea air is always longed for…
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Beautiful photos 💖
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