The Wednesday Walk 31st July 2013

The Plan

A walk to Old Sarum

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha, Jackie, Trudy H, Tony and Beatrice H, Olga, David
(Joined by Ray at the pub)

The Walk

After such brilliant sunshine over the past few weeks, today we faced the reality of low cloud. However, it was warm and humid. We drove to the Park and Ride outside Salisbury and used our free bus passes to get into the city. After a short walk we met Olga who then walked with us across the meadows to Old Sarum.
Ray was waiting for us at the pub… nice to see you again, Ray.
After lunch we came back across the meadows to the city. The weather turned a bit windy but didn’t spoil our enjoyment of the walk.

The Pub

The Harvester at Old Sarum. We’ve eaten here before and never been disappointed.

Next Week

Meet at David’s at 10 am for a walk to Fordingbridge.

The Wednesday Walk 24th July 2014

 

The Plan

A Branksome Chine breakfast walk

The Leader

A democratic vote

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trudy B, Trudy H, Diane and Tony R, Beatrice and Tony H, David

The Walk

After last week’s exceptional heat we were glad of a cooler start to the day. We met by the Branksome tennis courts at eight o’clock and walked down through Brnaksome Woods. There was some cloud cover and we had the additional advantage of tree cover so the walk was refreshingly cool. Along the way we came across a poor lonely toad who didn’t seem to like our efforts to get him out in the open for a photo shoot. At Branksome Chine beach we bought our morning infusions of coffee in the beach shop and drank them on the beach-side seats. We then walked along the shore and up through the gardens to the Argyle Bowling Club. Breakfast was eaten in the club café.
After breakfast we walked back down to the shore and followed (almost) a reverse route back to the cars. By now the beach was getting busier with families out to enjoy another day of sunshine.

The Pub

No pub this week. The Argyle Bowling Club did a nice line in breakfasts which we judged to be as good as last week’s Weatherspoons’ breakfasts.

 

Next Week

Meet at Tony and Beatrice's no later than 0945 for a trip to Salisbury.

The Wednesday Walk 17th July 2013

The Plan

A breakfast walk

The Leader

Wendy

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Sue, Trudy H, Trudy B, Beatrice and Tony H, Diane and Tony R, David

The Walk

We met at Pamphill beside the village school. We then walked down Holly Lane, a narrow country path, to Cowgrove. From there we walked along the bank of the River Stour to Eye Grove and photographs were taken on the bridge. We saw numerous trout in the river here. We then walked through the fields to the Wimborne allotments and so into the town. We tried to get our breakfasts at The King’s Head but they hadn’t enough food for nine of us. No problem, their loss. We went across the road to Weatherspoons and had some very good breakfast meals.
Three walkers ended their walk here while the other six took the return route to Pamphill. All agree that the idea of a breakfast walk was a good one.

The Pub

Weatherspoons Man in the Wall in Wimborne. Very good value for money. A large breakfast represents a full-sized meal and was reasonably priced. And they serve beer with it, again at a very reasonable price.

Next Week

Meet a Branksone Chine by the tennis courts at 8am for another breakfast walk

 

The Wednesday Walk 10th July 2013

Our thanks to Diane for the write-up on this walk

The Plan

Mike's Walk at Turners Puddle

Who Turned Up

Trudy, Trisha, Wendy, Tony H, Tony R, Diane, Beatrice and Sue.

The Walk
The original plan was to walk Preston but as the hot weather continued we opted for a cooler walk under the trees. We followed the usual path through woodland onto a small heath and down through more woodland into Shitterton. The walk passed fields of poppies The choice of this walk was a good one as we managed to stay relatively cool but never the less arrived at the pub after a visit to Bere Regis church feeling rather warm.Three ladies opted to do half the walk and remained in Bere Regis. The valiant five set of in the heat of the day to a return journey following part of the morning walk. We deviated towards the end to view Mike's plaque, that is after Trudy had valiantly thrashed the overgrown ferns. We watched a glider being released from the tow plane and he spiraled upwards using the thermals.
Our thanks to Wendy for tea and cakes at the end of the walk.

The Pub

The pub was busy but we all managed to sit either inside or out as was our choice. The service was prompt and courteous and the food very good and reasonably priced.

Next week

Ring Diane about 6.00 pm on Tues. to decide on a breakfast walk at Pamphill or a walk to Hengistbury Head meeting at Trudy's for 9.45 am the choice is according to the temperature!

 

The Wednesday Walk 3rd July 2013

The Plan

A walk on Brownsea Island

The Leader

Wendy

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trudy B, Trisha, Beatrice and Tony H, Diane and Tony R, David

The Walk

We are on the verge of a period of hot weather, but it hasn’t hit us yet. Today was overcast but not too cold, almost ideal for walking. We parked in the side streets near the Sandbanks Ferry and caught a Brownsea Island Ferry from the adjacent slipway. The morning walk took us along the main paths to Pottery Pier. The afternoon walk took us back down the western side of the island and included a stop at the site where Baden-Powell held his 1907 experimental boy scout camp. Look at the photos to see our own scout gathering. Look also to see the animals we encountered, including a peacock who showed us his magnificent erection, a peahen with her four chicks and a red squirrel. We finished the walk with tea and coffee at the island café before catching the ferry back to Sandbanks.

The Lunch

No pub this week as we took packed lunches and ate them on the beach near Pottery Pier

Next Week

Meet at Wendy’s no later than 0945 for a drive to Preston (no detours to Blackpool envisaged)