The Wednesday Walk 7th December 2016

The Plan

Michael’s walk

Who Turned Up

Morning: Wendy, Trisha, Jackie, Trudy H, David

Lunch: the above plus Sue

Afternoon: Wendy, Trisha, David

The Walk

But for the lack of foliage on the trees, it was a bit like a spring day. We parked, as usual, at Turnerspuddle and enjoyed the tranquil views as we headed across the fields and woodland towards Shitterton and then into Bere Regis. After lunch, we walked through the Brian May plantation. Did you know that the Queen guitarist, as well as being a wildlife campaigner, has a Phd in astrophysics? May’s Wood is a 157 acre site of agricultural land which he bought to preserve it from development. Eight fields will be planted with 100,000 trees, including beech, chestnut, oak, spruce, Douglas firs and walnut. We finished the walk at the Michael Collins plaque. It is now ten years since Michael died in the course of a walk. His plaque is here to remind us of his love of rambling.

The Pub

The Drax Arms, Bere Regis. Although busy with three groups of Christmas lunchers, they made a good effort to serve us well. No pies, but the Mega Brunch was more than the pie-eater could finish.

Next Week

Our annual Christmas lunch.

The Wednesday Walk 30th November 2016

The Plan

A Sandford walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Tony H, Trisha, Jackie, David. (We were joined by Beatrice and Sue for the afternoon walk)

The Walk

The day was cold, but the sky was cloudless. It was a good day for a crisp winter walk. We parked in Woodlands Drive at Sandford and walked up to the heath on the opposite side of the Sandford Road. The atmosphere was very pleasant with no wind and frozen ground. The scenery as we walked across the heath was well worth the ramble on such a winter’s day.

After lunch, we crossed over to Station Road which runs down past what was once the Admiralty Research Establishment. This was opened during WW1 as the Royal Navy Cordite Factory manufacturing cordite for explosive devices. During WW2 it was reactivated to manufacture gun propellants. After the war, the explosives manufacturing was closed down and it became a research establishment. It finally closed in the 1990s. None of it is now owned by the MoD.

Thanks go to Wendy for tea and cakes at the end of a very pleasant walk. And thanks to Trisha for her excellent photography.

The Pub

The Claypipe. This was a big improvement after last week. We discovered that one of our walkers suffered badly for a couple of days after last week’s experience. We’re pleased to say she is back on her feet again. This week the food was good, tasty and reasonably priced. Added to which the staff were cheerful and friendly. So we all left the pub happy.

Next Week

Meet at Wendy’s at 10am for a Bere Regis walk.

The Wednesday Walk 23rd November 2016

The Plan

An Arne walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Tony H and David (plus Sue and Beatrice after lunch)

The Walk

We parked in the RSPB car park and went immediately to the new visitor centre and café for a cup of coffee. Then we took a shortened walk that took in the view point. Arne is a pretty little village but you won’t find it in the Domesday Book, despite its great age. The earliest record goes back only to 1285. The parish church consists of a single-cell chancel and nave and dates from around 1200. It was restored in the nineteenth century and again in 1952. The village was owned by the Shaftesbury Abbey until it was dissolved in 1539. It was always a small community and by 1894 it had a population of only 123 people. A school was opened here in 1832 but it closed in 1922 because of a lack of pupils.

From the view point, it’s easy to identify the islands in the harbour. The nearest two are Long Island and Round Island. Think L-for-Long (on the Left) and R-for-Round (on the Right). Looking at the more distant islands, think of Roald Dahl’s BFG (Big Friendly Giant). From left to right, the islands are: Brownsea (B) Furzey (F) and Green (G). See? Easy peasy.

We lunched in Stoborough and then came back to Arne for another short walk in the afternoon. Both walks were very pleasant.

Thanks go to Wendy for tea and cakes at her house at the end of the day.

No photographs this week. Our deepest sympathies go to Trudy in respect of her absence.

The Pub

The King’s Arms, Stoborough. We were not impressed. The fatty meat in the pie brought its rating down to 4/10, and the £11.50 price tag brought its value-for-money down to the same figure. The curry with three strips of meat was rated just as low. After the excellent value of last week’s three-course lunch in Corfe Mullen, we were left somewhat disappointed.

Next Week

To be decided.

The Wednesday Walk 16th November 2016

The Plan

An Upton Heath walk

Who Turned Up

Tony, Wendy, Trudy B, Jackie (morning only), Sue (lunch only) and David

The Walk

The original plan called for a Pamphill walk, but circumstances quickly kicked that idea into touch. Instead we drove on to Upton Country Park and left our cars in the car park at the entrance. Then we walked up through the heath.

Upton Heath is one of the largest remaining areas of heathland that once spread across Southern England. What’s left covers 205 acres, lies to the west of Poole and is largely protected. To be honest, the main reason it has never been developed is because it is wet, wild and quite unsuitable for building. However, abandoned sand pits and clay pits are the remains of the area’s one time industrial use in pottery and brick-making. In 2011 about a third of the heath was devastated by fire which spread over a kilometre and took the efforts of 200 firemen to bring under control. Dorset Wildlife Trust said that the fire occurred at the peak of the bird and reptile breeding season and it put back wildlife development by twenty five years.

Today, we enjoyed the area to the full with dry, if somewhat chilly weather and only scattered clouds. Our thanks go to Trudy for her excellent photographs which capture the charm of the heathland.

The Pub

Our intention was to eat at the Holmbush, but they didn’t have any food. Well, the sign outside said they had food, but the lady behind the bar said they didn’t. We were fortunate in having Sue meet us for lunch as she was able to ferry the group up to The Dorset Soldier in Corfe Mullen. Posh, the food here ain’t, but value for money it certainly is. Three courses plus coffee for £8 beats the socks off some more expensive pubs. Long may they continue.

Next Week

Meet at Wendy’s at 10am for an Arne walk

The Wednesday Walk 9th November 2016

The Plan

Blashford Lakes

Who Turned Up

Trudy B, Tony H, Trisha, Ros, David

The Walk

It was a cold, breezy day but stayed dry for us to complete a six mile walk around the area of the Blashford Lakes. We parked in the usual car park, and we record here our usual plea for the many potholes on the access road to be filled in. The Blashford Lakes are actually flooded gravel pits, now used for drinking water storage and nature conservation as well as sailing activities. They are surrounded by birch and alder woodland as well as grassland. The reserve attracts wildfowl, especially in winter. There are six hide and it is possible to see bittern and woodland birds. We took the usual route to the study centre and then the first bird hide before continuing on to the pub. After lunch we tackled the climb up over Bigburn Hill and back down to Rockford. A very pleasant walk if a little daunting on the hills. Thank you, Trudy for leading the way and for your usual excellent photographs.

The Pub

The Alice Lisle. We’ve eaten here bore and we know the food is tasty, but it is expensive. A steak and ale pie with a minimal helping of mash and a few vegetables cost £13.

Next Week

To be decided

The Wednesday Walk 2nd November 2016

The Plan

A Kingston Lacy walk

Who Turned Up

Beatrice, Trisha, Wendy, Trudy B, Jackie, David

The Walk

The air was chilly (well, what can you expect in November?) but the sky was blessed with wall-to-wall sunshine. We met at the Kingston Lacy car park and spent the morning on a pleasant ramble around the estate. The autumn colours made the scene quite spectacular. Our walk took us past the Japanese garden and the Philae obelisk. This is one of two obelisks discovered in Egypt in 1815. William John Bankes had one of them transported to Kingston Lacy in the 1820s. It took nine years to get the 6.5 tonne monument from Egypt to England, with the help of the Duke of Wellington. Bankes noted two inscriptions on his obelisk, one in hieroglyphs and the other in ancient Greek. By comparing the texts, Bankes thought he recognised the names Ptolemy and Cleopatra. As a consequence, the obelisk was valuable in the eventual deciphering of hieroglyphs. The inscriptions record a petition by Egyptian priests at Philea and the responses by Ptolemy and Cleopatra. The Kingston Lacy obelisk is now a grade 2 listed building.

We had our lunch in the Kingston Lacy café and then had a shorter afternoon walk. A very pleasant day out. As usual, our thanks go to Trudy for the photographs.

Next Week

Meet at David’s at 10am for a Blashford Lakes walk.

The Wednesday Walk 26th October 2016

The Plan

A Fordingbridge walk

Who Turned Up

Beatrice and Tony H, Trudy H, Trisha, Wendy, David

The Walk

We elected to make this a stile-less walk. We drove to Frogham in the New Forest and took a circular route over Hyde Common that brought us right back to our cars. Along the way we stopped at the church of the Holy Ascension in Hyde (built 1855) to visit the grave of Barbara Wort. We then drove to Fordingbridge for lunch After lunch we left the cars by St Mary’s Church in Fordingbridge and walked down Frog Lane. When we got to the end of the lane we were met by a notice telling us the route ahead was blocked by work on a footbridge. So we circled round back along a different route to the cars. Once again our thanks go to Trudy for the photographs.

The Pub

The Ship in Fordingbridge. We opted for the two-course special at £7.75 and – as on previous visits – we were pleased with the food. Even better, we managed to finish Trisha’s cryptic crossword before the meal was ended. Well done all round.

Next Week

Meet at Kingston Lacy at 1030

The Wednesday Walk 19th October 2016

The Plan

A guided tour of Brownsea Island

Who Turned Up

Ros (leader), Trisha, Wendy, Trudy B, Beatrice and Tony H, David

The Walk

As an October day, it was ideal weather for a Brownsea walk. We parked near the ferry at Sandbanks and caught the 1030 boat to Brownsea. Ros then led us on a walk around the island, taking in places we had never seen before. That’s the beauty of having a guide who knows the place back to front. We stopped in Heart Wood to see how many hearts we could line up. The idea is to get two or three trees in alignment from one precise spot to make the seemingly random markings come together as a heart. We also walked through the children’s natural play area and then passed the remains of the old vinery where a well has been recently discovered. We continued on past the remains of Maryland village. It was established in the mid-nineteenth century to house workers for a new pottery company, but the clay proved to be unsuitable for porcelain. They turned to making drainage pipes, but that was financially unviable so – to quote an expression – it all went to pot. The villagers stayed on working the island’s estate but, when Mrs Bonham-Christie bought the island in 1927, she closed down the local employment. The workers moved to the mainland and the village was abandoned. In WW2, decoy lights were set up here to lure German bombers away from Poole and Bournemouth and, consequently, the village was destroyed.

We walked on with the aim of having a picnic lunch near Pottery Pier. In the event it was a bit breezy by the shore, so we found a nice sheltered spot a bit farther on. After our al-fresco picnic lunch, we continued on through the scout camp and ended up at the café near the visitor centre. Ros very kindly treated us all to tea and cakes. Thank you, Ros, we hope you enjoyed your special birthday this year.

It was a very pleasant walk and we must thank Trudy once again for her photographs.

Next Week

Meet at David’s at 1015 for a Fordingbridge walk.

The Wednesday Walk 12th October 2016

The Plan

Wimborne to High Hall

Who Turned Up

Morning: Beatrice and Tony H, Trisha, Wendy, David

Lunch: Beatrice and Tony H, Trisha, Wendy, David, Sue and Jackie

Afternoon: Trisha, Tony, David

The Walk

We met at Beatrice and Tony’s house in Wimborne. The sky was clear but the air was showing signs of autumnal coolness. However, we were all wrapped up warm as we set off across the Cranborne Road towards Long Close Farm. We turned north parallel with the main road, past Wilksworth Farm and on past High Hall. This is a seventeenth century smaller version of Kingston Lacy. Today it is used as a wedding venue. We left the High Hall estate by the Grange road and continued on to the pub where Sue and Jackie were waiting for us.

After lunch, three of us walked back into Wimborne. We took the footpath to the east of Smuggler’s Lane and crossed the road to come out by Dumpton School. A welcome cup of tea and slice of apple cake were waiting for us at Beatrice and Tony’s house. Many thanks both of you.

The Pub

The Stocks. A pleasant olde worlde pub we have visited before and never been disappointed. The food is good and the atmosphere friendly.

Next Week

Meet at 10am, parking in Brownsea Road, Sandbanks. We will aim for the 1015 ferry to Brownsea Island. BRING A PACKED LUNCH.

The Wednesday Walk 5th October 2016

The Plan

The Winterbornes

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha, Jackie, David

The Walk

The blue skies of summer are still with us but the warmth of recent weeks is receding. Never mind, we still have good conditions for a country walk through the Winterbornes. You all know that the Winterborne name comes from a stream – or borne – that only runs in winter.

We parked at Winterborne Tomson alongside the ancient St Andrew’s church and went inside for a browse around. It is a fascinating piece of history. A grade 1 listed building, it was erected in the 12^th century. It’s a flint and stone structure with a barrel vault roof which curves around the apse. The small font dates from the fifteenth century, and the oak pews date from the eighteenth century. These pews were built as family boxes, but we did wonder how children might see over the screens. Maybe they weren’t meant to. All of the eighteenth century part of the church was provided by William Wake, who was Archbishop of Canterbury. He grew up in Shapwick. There is a medieval gallery at the rear and we wondered if it might have been built for the choir. The building was in a state of disrepair by the early twentieth century. To fund the repairs, a collection of Thomas Hardy manuscripts was sold.

We set off from Winterborne Tomson towards Anderson Manor. From there we headed north along a dusty track. We followed a circuitous route that took us through fields and along country lanes. We returned to our starting point via Winterborne Kingston and Winterborne Muston.

We then had our late lunch before heading back to Broadstone for tea and cakes courtesy of Wendy. Many thanks, Wendy. Sadly we have no photographs this week as our very competent photographers are on holiday.

The Pub

The Botany Bay. Beatrice and Tony joined us here. The pub has been done up of late. The food was good and the service friendly.

Next Week

Meet at Beatrice and Tony’s between 1015 and 1030.

The Wednesday Walk 14th September 2016

The Plan

A Minstead walk

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

Another pleasant late-summer day was ideal for a walk in the New Forest. We parked at Fursey Gardens, Minstead and walked from there to the Walter Tyrrell pub. After lunch we split into two groups, one taking the shorter route back and the other taking the longer route. We all met at the café in Fursey Gardens for ice creams.

The Pub

The Walter Tyrrell. The food was good but expensive. 

The pub is named after the archer who killed King William ll, known as William Rufus. On 2^nd August 1100, the king went hunting in the New Forest. On the previous evening, the William was given six arrows. He kept four and give the other two to Tyrrell saying, “To the good archer, the good arrows.” On the hunt, they group spread out and William and Tyrrell became separated from the others. Tyrrell let loose a wild shot at a passing stag but the arrow hit William Rufus in the chest, puncturing his lungs. It is said that the king broke of the arrow, making the wound worse. He died aged only forty. In panic, Tyrrell fled to France. The king was taken to Winchester and buried within the tower. The next year, the tower fell down.

Next Week

To be confirmed.

The Wednesday Walk 7th September 2016

The Plan

A Swanage walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Tony and Beatrice H, Tony R, Trisha, Trudy B, Wendy, Jackie, David

The Walk

Another glorious day for a walk. Summer seems to just go on and on. We met at Canford Cliffs and used our OAP bus passes to take us across the Studland ferry and on to Swanage. We alighted on the prom alongside the sandy beach where, already, a few people were swimming in the sea. I wonder how many of them remember that 1982 film, By the Sea. It was written by The Two Ronnies under the pseudonyms Dave Huggett and Larry Keith. It was set in the fictional Tiddly Cove, actually the area around Swanage and Studland. It began with a steam train arriving at Swanage station. Ronnie Barker, who played the General, was actually a keen collector of saucy seaside postcards and published several books of them. We didn’t bother with saucy postcards as we set off up the grassy hill towards the Durston Head Country Park. On such a hot day, it was inevitable that the climb was a trifle sweaty and needed rest breaks. Looking back, we saw a drilling rig anchored by the shore. We later discovered it was helping with the rebuilding of the RNLI lifeboat house. We went as far as the castle at Durlston Head and then headed back downhill, looking for a suitable venue for lunch.

After lunch we took a while to admire the views from the prom, where even more people were swimming in the sea, and then we caught an open top bus back to Canford Cliffs. A very pleasant day out and we must thank Tony for arranging it. And our thanks go to Trudy for the excellent photographs.

The Pub

The Ship Inn. A bit basic but we all had an acceptable meal and drink.

Next Week

Meet at David’s at 10am for a Minstead walk.

The Wednesday Walk 31st August 2016

The Plan

Boscombe Gardens and the shore

Who Turned Up

Tony H, Diane and Tony R, Trudy H, Sue, David,

The Walk

The day was overcast but, after so much heat and sunshine of late, it was a pleasure to walk in a cooler atmosphere. We parked at the bottom end of Knyveton Road and walked down through Boscombe Gardens to the pier. The walk along the promenade was a surprise in that the beach was completely empty. Empty as in, not a soul in sight across acres of virgin sand. You’d almost expect to see Beau Geste struggling into view, gasping for a sip of water. We walked up the zig-zag path by the cliff lift and found our way to the pub. All right, all right, let’s be honest, we were walking in the wrong direction and we had to stop and ask a policeman where the pub was. Our excuse is that no one had a satnav.

After lunch, we walked back along the top of the cliff. There were now one or two souls on the beach below and we even spotted a couple swimming in the sea.

All-in-all, it was a very pleasant walk and a welcome change from the Antipodean weather conditions we’ve grown used to this summer. Tomorrow, of course, will be the first day of autumn.

Thanks to Trudy and Diane for the photographs.

And our best wishes to Beatrice, hoping she will be able to join us again soon.

The Pub

The Spyglass and Kettle. It was quiet here and the food was good. We opted for the two-course specials which were very good value at £7.95.

Next Week

Meet at Canford Cliffs in time to catch the 10.05 bus to Swanage. Bring your bus pass.

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The Wednesday Walk 24th August 2016

The Plan

A West Moors walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trudy H, Beatrice and Tony H, David

The Walk

It was a scorcher of a day. We were glad we chose a walk what was (a) short, and (b) mostly in the shade of trees. We parked at the Ferndown Forest Golf Club - how much longer are they going to turn a blind eye to us using their car park? Then we set out along the well-made path towards West Moors. Much of the route is along the line of the old railway known as Castleman’s Corkscrew. This was the name given to one of the region’s oldest railway lines. It ran from Brockenhurst, via Ringwood to Wimborne. It was promoted by a Wimborne solicitor called Charles Castleman and was completed in 1847. The corkscrew referred to its circuitous route.

After lunch we ambled back along the same route and then went home for a cold shower.

Thanks to Trudy for the photographs.

The Pub

The Elephant and Castle in West Moors. Four of the group had a good lunch here. The exception was the pie-eater, who chose a chicken and cider pie. Only six out of ten, I’m afraid. It was small, came with a lot of kale and had no chips or potatoes. Thanks, Tony, for donating some of your chips.

Next Week

Meet at 1030 at the far end of Knyveton Road, near Boscombe Gardens. We’ll walk down through the gardens and along the sea front.

The Wednesday Walk 17th August 2016

The Plan

A breakfast walk

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

The weather is still too warm to be trotting around the landscape in the noon-day sun, so we settled for a breakfast amble from Pamphill to Wimborne. It was a good decision. At 8 o'clock, we met by the school at Pamphill and walked down along the tree-lined paths (useful shade) to the River Stour at Cowgrove. A walk along the river bank took us to Eye Mead. From there it was a short walk through fields until we came to the old allotments. What a shame they are now looking so sad and disused, awaiting house building.

Wimborne was looking delightful in the bright sunshine. For the benefit of our overseas readers, the architecture of Wimborne is widely regarded as one of the foremost collections of fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth century buildings in England. The town’s most interesting buildings include the Minster Church (dating back 1300 years), the Town Hall and the Priest’s House museum. Coming forward in time, the Tivoli Theatre is a classic example of a 1930s art deco cinema.

After a hearty breakfast at the Man in the Wall, we walked up St Margaret’s Hill and round the back of the Broads, coming out at QE School. Then it was a simple walk back through the fields to Pamphill. We were home by the time the noon-day sun reached its zenith.
Our thanks to Trudy B for the photographs.

The Pub

The Man in the Wall. This is a Weatherspoon pub which does a very filling breakfast along with beer at reasonable prices. It’s always worth a second visit. We sat out in the rear courtyard, enjoying our breakfasts in the sunshine.

Next Week

Meet at 11 o’clock at the car park by the Ferndown Forest golf club. We will walk into West Moors.