The Wednesday Walk 29th November 2017

The Plan

A Highcliff walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trisha, Trudy B, Beatrice and Tony, David

The Walk

These days, cold air is wafting down from the wild and wintry north, but at least the day started out bright and sunny. Last week’s blog said we would meet at Avon Beach car park but that was a mistake. It should have been the Avon Run Road car park. Parking here was only fifty pence while at the Avon Beach it was over three pounds. Because of the mistake we didn’t get ourselves organised for the walk until eleven o’clock. When we did get underway we were glad to have wrapped up warm. It was, otherwise, a pleasant amble along the beach and up into Highcliffe.

On the return walk we took a detour through what seems to be a redevelopment of the nature reserve. Along the way we saw a buzzard sitting in one of the trees. We stopped for tea at the cafe beside the car park. It was a pleasant walk. Thanks, Trudy, for the photographs.

The Pub

The Globe in Highcliffe. The food was good, the chicken pie scoring 10/10 which is praise indeed.

Next Week

TBD

The Wednesday Walk 22nd November 2017

The Walk

A West Moors walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha, Trudy B, Trudy H, Ros, Jackie, Tony and Beatrice H, David

The Walk

The forecasters told us it would be dry in the morning and wet in the afternoon. They got it wrong. It was raining as we drove towards the golf club car park. And the sun came out into a blue sky as we drove home in the afternoon. It wouldn’t have made any difference to our plans, but it would have been nice to know.

Instead of the usual walk into West Moors we took a new route in the form of a reconnaissance. Most of it was through woodland, working out where the paths went. Eventually we came out in Pennington Road, only a short walk from the pub.

After lunch we returned along our usual path.

A pleasant walk despite the weather. The photos are courtesy of Trudy H.

The Pub

The Elephant and Castle in West Moors. As usual, the food was good and reasonably priced.

Next Week

Meet at Avon Beach car park, Mudeford at 1030.

The Wednesday Walk 15th November 2017

The Plan

Originally Fordingbridge but changed to Avon Country Park

Who Turned Up

Trudy B, Trudy H, Sue, Trisha, Wendy, David

The Walk

Roadworks outside Trudy’s house made parking a problem, but we coped. We changed to two cars and drove to the usual parking spot beside the footbridge at St Leonards. The day started out cool but became warmer as the day wore on. Coats were opened or discarded. It was the usual walk through the woodland but somehow we seemed to attract a few accidents. Sue tripped over a flower bed and injured her leg. Blood was spilt. A couple of other walkers tripped on tree roots but got away with it. Overall, however, it was a pleasant day out on one of our well-trusted routes. Thanks to Trudy H for the photos and Trudy B for the tea and biscuits.

The Pub

The St Leonards. The food was good, as always, but one walker had the unusual experience of having the starter delivered to the table half way through the main meal. Oh well, at least it was good food and reasonably priced.

Next Week

Meet at the usual gold club car park at 1045 for a West Moors walk.

The Wednesday Walk 8th November 2017

The Plan

A Wimborne walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Traisha, Trudy B, David… and Beatrice joined us for lunch and the afternoon walk

The Walk

The skies remained blue and unblemished by could throughout the day, but it was chilly. Never mind, we had a very good walk which warmed us up. We drove to Canford Magna and parked near the school. Then we walked along by the River Stour. We turned off the straight and narrow path to take a wooded detour closer to the Stour. This entailed us climbing up some very steep steps and then down some equally steep steps back onto the pathway, which came out on the Oakley Hill Road. We then walked into Wimborne. After lunch we took the more direct route back to Canford.

The Pub

The Man in the Wall, Wimborne. We got there just in time for three of the group to order the all-day breakfast – it finished at noon. The food was good and, as always, reasonably priced.

Next Week

Provisionally, we will meet at Trudy B’s for a Fordingbridge walk, unless circumstances change

The Wednesday Walk 1st November 2017

The Plan

A Kingston Lacy walk

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

It was a nice autumn day for a walk. The trees are turning red and brown, the heat of last week has faded and autumn is now making itself felt, but in a calm and pleasant way. We drove to Kingston Lacy and took the perimeter walk around the estate. After lunch, we back-tracked to the kitchen garden to look at the work that has gone on there since our last visit. All-in-all a very enjoyable day. Our thanks for the tea and cakes goes to Beatrice.

The Lunch

We ate in the stable eatery at Kingston Lacy. Some meals were good, including the chilli and the baked potatoes with filling. On the other hand, the so-called sticky sausages were grossly over priced and rather bland in taste.

Next week

A Fordingbridge walk