The Wednesday Walk 24th June 2015

The Plan

A Fordingbridge walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Lucy (Nice to see you join the group, Lucy) Sue, Trudy B, Trudy H, Trisha, Diane and Tony R, Beatrice and Tony H, David

The Walk

We had a little hiccup to start with. An accident on the A31 meant we had to take a long detour (45 mins) through Verwood, Alderholt and Fordingbridge before turning south again to get to the crossroads at Bicton Ash, where we left the cars. Undaunted, we set off across open fields towards Stucton. No shelter here from the sun. From there we headed west towards Redbrook Farm before turning north towards St John’s Farm on Stucton Road. Now it was just a short hop into Fordingbridge.

Did you know that Fordingbridge is recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Forde’. At that time it was held by ‘Robert the son of Gerald’. I doubt if he could even guess that one thousand years later eleven trusty walkers would be enjoying walking through the land he owned. Before the thirteenth century, the Lord of the Manor at Fordingbridge held a market every Saturday. It was discontinued in the nineteenth century. From the thirteenth century, the Manor was held by the Brune family, ending up with the Rev Brune of Prideaux Place, Padstow in Cornwall. Here’s something else of interest: cloth was made in Fordingbridge in the sixteenth century. In the nineteenth century there were factories here making sailcloth and canvas. The first bridge here - across the River Avon - was built in 1252. Our problem today was that this is still the first bridge to cross the river north of Ringwood and, with that accident on the A31, we had no other way of crossing the river than to drive a circuitous route to the town.

After lunch, we headed down Frog Lane (no, we didn’t see any) past the sewage works and Padstow Farm until we came to Bickton Mill. Then it was just another short leg back to the cars at Bickton Ash.

Our thanks to Sue for the cakes that rounded off the day and to Diane for the photographs.

The Pub

The Ship in Fordingbridge. If you like mushroom provencal, try the dish on offer here. It is very tasty. We all had the senior citizen’s two-course special at £6.95 and were well satisfied.

Next Week

Meet at Tony and Beatrice’s at 0945 for a Sturminster Newton walk.

The Wednesday Walk 17th June 2015

The Plan

Whitsbury to Breamore

The Leader

Trudy B

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

The forecast was for a humid day with temperatures in the twenties. We were glad we chose a walk with plenty of woodland cover. We drove north through Fordingbrige and parked in a layby south of Whitsbury village. From there we crossed the road and set off through the woods. The going was good underfoot and the air much cooler beneath the trees. In the morning we took the more southerly route to Breamore village. After lunch we walked the more northerly route along the Rookery from Breamore (pronounced Bremmer) passing close by Breamore House. For the benefit of our friends from overseas, Breamore House is an Elizabethan Manor House built in 1583 by the Dodington family. In the eighteenth century it was bought by Sir Edward Hulse, physician to Kings George 1 and George ll. The descendants of the original Sir Edward still occupy the house. Nearby is the church of St Mary, an almost complete example of an Anglo-Saxon church. The east window dates from 1340 and there is a ‘leper window’ in the north wall. There is also an Anglo-Saxon inscription dating from the reign of Ethelred ll. Now, don’t you feel so much better for knowing that? We passed through the stud farm but little was happening there. By now we were feeling the effect of the day's high humidity, making the last bit of the walk tiring. But it was a good walk, nevertheless. Thanks for leading it, Trudy.

At the end of today’s walk, we were treated to a cream tea with freshly baked scones, jam and clotted cream. Many thanks Trudy H and Diane.
And thanks to Trudy B and Diane for the photographs.

The Pub

The Bat and Ball at Braemore. The service last time we ate here was poor, but this time it was much improved, primarily because they had more staff. The food was good and the pie-eater was very satisfied with a nicely-cooked steak and ale pie. Customers at the adjacent table disappointed us when they had to ask for our help as to the name of the islands of the western coast of Cornwall. How silly! As if any intelligent person could not know that!

Next Week

Someone on today’s walk noticed a nice shop as we passed through Fordingbridge. Next week we will meet at David’s at 10am for a Fordingbridge walk.

The Wednesday Walk 10th June 2015

The Plan

A Branksome Woods and Bournemouth shore walk

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

Did you know that Branksome Chine Gardens, Branksome Woods and Pinecliff Gardens cover twenty five hectares? The site stretches from Penn Hill to the seafront and includes Branksome Chine. It has tennis courts and a bowling green. There now, don’t you feel better for knowing that?

We met at the usual car park off Leicester Road and walked down through Branksome Woods to the shore. It was a pleasant walk at a gentle pace with little in the way of steep climbs. When we got to the shore we noticed an onshore breeze. A pity because the sun was shining brilliantly and the beach looked clean, open and enticing. No one volunteered to join the few beach-lovers lying on the sand, quite rightly as we were out for a walk, not a swim. Here’s something else you may not know. Bournemouth has seven miles of soft, golden sand and this has helped the town to win four Blue Flag awards, two Seaside Awards and a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver award. Not entirely aware of this, we were simply glad to enjoy a sunny day out by the beach. We walked on to our usual lunch-time venue for this walk, the café beside the Argyll Bowling Club.

After lunch we reversed the walk until we got to Diane and Tony’s beach hut. There we stopped to put our feet up and enjoy a welcome pot of tea. Then we ambled back to the cars.

Trisha generously offered tea and cakes at her house to round off the walk. Thank you, Trisha.
And our thanks go to Diane and Trudy for the photographs. Well done, ladies.

The Lunch Stop

The Argyll Bowling Club Café. We have eaten here before and always found it basic, but very good value. Two walkers had the chicken breast fried in garlic and promised to carry out the return walk down-wind of the others.

Next Week

Meet at David’s at 10am for a Whitbury to Breamore walk, with an end-of-walk cake baked by Trudy H.

The Wednesday Walk 3rd June 2015

The Plan

Woodgreen to Godshill

Who Turned Up

Diane, Trudy B, Trudy H, Ros, Trisha and David

The Walk

It was an ideal day for a walk. Other walking groups must have had the same idea as we saw three of them along our way. We parked the cars on the Woodgreen Common and set off southwards, taking up the Avon Valley Path that runs past Castle Hill. We stopped by Folds Farm - where a horse was being shoed - in order to chat to the lady who runs the farm. She followed us up the next stretch of our path, showing us some of her horses. We walked down through Furze Close Copse and came out at the pub in Godshill. Did you know that people have lived in Godshill since prehistoric times? To the west of the village is an estate known as Sandy Balls. An unfortunate name, but there you go. Before World War Two it was the headquarters of a scouting-like movement known as the Order of Woodcraft Chivalry.

After lunch, we walked back along a rather up-and-down route over heathland and through woodlands. Along the way, Diane demonstrated how to do a flying leap onto the ground without breaking a single bone. A bit of a mucky exercise, but impressive for all that. From that point it was only a short walk back onto Woodgreen Common.

Our thanks to Trudy B, Diane and Trudy H for the photographs.

The Pub

The Fighting Cocks in Godshill. We had not booked a table and the pub was expecting a large party of walkers from Bracknell. They’d been coached into the area and were still out on their walk. However, the chef made a special effort to feed us before the other group arrived, so full credit for that. The food was good, but a bit expensive, and we were happy enough to have been well served. In the event, the other group were an hour late for their lunch. The chef was not happy, not surprisingly as they had already given their orders for a specific time. To cap it all, the walkers didn’t seem to be too happy with the pub as they had to queue for their drinks. We paid for our food and beat a hasty retreat. Nothing to do with us, guv!

Next Week (10^th June)

Meet at the tennis courts in  Leicester Road at 1030 for a Branksome Woods and shore front walk. Lunch at the bowling club café.

The Following Week (17^th June)

Meet at David’s at 10am for a Whitbury to Breamore walk, with an end-of-walk cake baked by Trudy H.