I took an early train from Waterloo toTisbury to resume my walk.

Just before arriving at Tisbury station.

The railway network map made it look like a very long way from Tisbury to Maiden Newton!

Tisbury station.

The railway bridge on the way out of Tisbury.

I initially followed some other footpaths and bridleways for a while before I eventually met up with the Wessex Ridgeway again.

Crossing some fields.

A nice tree lined country lane.

Approaching Old Wardour Castle.

Old Wardour Castle.

The lake next to Old Wardour Castle.

I probably should have stopped to take a proper look around Wardour Castle, but with many miles ahead of me today was keen to press on, so just had a very quick pause at this bench for a sip of water.

A slightly more intact part of Old Wardour Castle.

...and now I had rejoined the Wessex Ridgeway.

Last views of Old Wardour Castle before heading on.

A very hollow tree.

I found this gate quite intriguing.

Presumably some connection to Old Wardour Castle?

That's (new) Wardour Castle in the distance. Doesn't look much like a castle.

Mangelwurzels?

Pale Park Pond.

A nice old gate on the approach into Donhead St Andrew.

Thatched cottage.

I had the sense the farmer perhaps didn't want people to follow this section of the path, leading into Ludwell.

Overgrown paths through corn fields have become a familiar encounter on my walk along the Wessex Ridgeway.

Arriving in Ludwell.

The timing was right, so I stopped for lunch at The Grove Arms.

A pint of badger.

Watercress beds, as I headed out of Ludwell.

I think this bit of woodland is rather oddly titled Elliott's Shed.

I made a planned shortcut here, having decided to just follow the road for a section, rather than the U shaped route the Wessex Ridgeway takes at this point.

The road wasn't too bad, and in hindsight I'm happy with my choice.

Standing straw auction?

More of the road on my shortcut.

Scabious.

I rejoined the Wessex Ridgeway somewhere in the village of Ashmore.

Also Ashmore was the point on the route where I crossed the border from Wiltshire into Dorset.

Caution overhanging thatch. Not a sign you see very often.

Nice old road sign.

The village pond in Ashmore, which apparently is where the name for the village derives from.

To my surprise and delight, although Ashmore didn't have a village shop or a pub, it did have this little vending machine corner.

One sold coffee...

...the other sold cheese!

Beyond Ashmore.

Heading into Ashmore Wood, which was significantly larger than the village.

I had prudently put on my silly hat at this point, as it was a bit sunny.

One thing I noticed once I got into Dorset is that the style of the footpath signs changed.

Hazelnuts.

Field mushroom?

I think this is somewhere near Iwerne Minster.

Strange this village seemed to have two names - either Shroton or Iwerne Courtney.

I would have liked to have stopped off at the pub here, but alas it was one of those country pubs which close for a bit in the afternoon.

Heading out of Iwerne Courtney now.

Heading up Hambledon Hill.

This was a bit of a slog, especially as the sun had got rather strong at this point in the day, but the views from the top of Hambledon Hill were quite nice as a reward.

Views from the top of Hambledon Hill.

I do like trig points. Please excuse the red facedness here.

Hanford House School.

Bridge over the River Stour.

Passing under a dismantled railway on the way into Shillingstone.

On the road in Shillingstone - is this a dead adder?

Quite a steep climb out of Shillingstone up into Eastcombe Wood.

I was a bit out of breath!

At the top of the hill now, and I think most of the climbing for the day done.

From here on the Wessex Ridgeway did actually seem to follow a hilltop ridge.

The sun starting to think about setting already.

Nice skies along this final section of today's walk, although the enjoyment of it was rather hampered by an annoying cloud of flies which seemed to follow me.

Almost at the campsite now...

At my campsite for the night - having anticipated I'd arrive around 8pm, I was impressively on schedule!

To my surprise I had the whole field to myself!

Setting up my pitch.

...while enjoying the sunset from this great vantage point.

Lovely skies this evening.

My little tarp shelter, with a view of the sunset.

A view of my tarp shelter plus bivvy setup from the front.

I went over to the picnic bench to cook dinner, thinking it would be a bit easier having a flat surface.

Some cheese snack things I picked up from the cheese vending machine earlier.

My hipflask of whisky.

...and of course the all important titanium spork.

Video of my campstove and the sunset.

Looking quite pleased with myself for having found such a great spot to camp.

Another camp stove video.

Tonight I was going to have a change from the usual macaroni cheese, and instead try the spicy pasta arrabiata.

I supplemented it with the cheese snack things. Didn't look very appealing but was actually quite tasty.

A couple of last shots of the fading light before turning in for the night.