The Wednesday Walk 6th June 2018

The Plan

Lytchett Minster to Lytchett Matravers

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trisha, Trudy B, Trudy H, Wendy, Diane and Tony R, Beatrice and Tony H, David (and Jackie joined us for lunch)

The Walk

We parked, as before, a little way along Post Green Road, near the centre of Lytchett Minster. Parking was hampered by large logs left in the lay-bys to deter the annual summer influx of itinerant travellers. We cut across country past Foxhill Farm and into Foxhills lane (a pleasant walk on a nice sunny day) and so into Lytchett Matravers.

After a prolonged lunch we returned back to Foxhills Road by the shorter route.

Thanks go to Sue for the tasty sponge cake and the tea. Thanks to Trudy H and Trudy B for the photographs. And special thanks go to Beatrice for organising next year’s holiday. After some debate, we settled on a coach trip to Snowdonia.

The Pub

The Rose and Crown in Lytchett Matravers. The food was good. The service was slow. Getting the staff to work out what we owed was hopeless. We finally got away at quarter to three.

Next Week

TBD

The Wednesday Walk 23rd May 2018

The Plan

A breakfast walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trudy B, Wendy, Diane and Tony R, David, along with Trudy H in the afternoon.

The Walk

The temperature was forecast to rise to 22 degrees so we opted for one of our popular breakfast walks. We gathered by the school at Pamphill just as the children were being delivered for their day’s work, and we took the usual route down by the River Stour and into Wimborne Town. After a hearty breakfast we returned via QE School. The weather lived up to expectations throughout. A pleasant morning in the sun.

The Pub

The Man in the Wall. The large breakfasts – and the regular ones – went down well, as always.

The Wednesday Walk 16th May 2018

The Plan

A New Forest Walk

Who Turned Up

Trisha, Trudy B, Ros, Diane and Tony R, David

The Walk

A cooler day than of late but that gave us some relief from the heat of the sun. We parked at Forest car park near Stony Cross. It was once a WW2 RAF aerodrome, opened in 1942, and one of the runways is now a long straight road. We set off through the woods, following Trudy’s impeccable guidance until we came to the pub in Nomansland. We experienced no rain on the return walk although other areas nearby did get wet. A pleasant walk. Our thanks to Trudy for the guidance and the photographs.

The Pub

The Lamb in Nomansland. The bar service was rather slow, but the food was good. The home-made chicken and ham pie was superb. Full marks.

The Wednesday Walk 9th May 2018

The Plan

A Swanage walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trisha, Ros, Beatrice and Tony H, Diane and Tony R, David

The Walk

The weather was a bit cooler than the past few days but that proved to be a positive factor. Had we been walking in the heat we experienced over the weekend we would have melted. We took the bus from Poole – one walker getting on at the terminus and the others at Upton – and enjoyed a scenic drive through the Dorset countryside. In Swanage we walked along  the shore and then ambled up to the Pines Hotel in hopes of having lunch there. Sadly, they were full with a conference, so we ambled back down to the town and found a suitable pub. We then walked out to Peveril Point and back to the railway station in good time for the bus home. An enjoyable walk in ideal conditions.

The Pub

The White Swan. A basic but comfortable pub. They had no pies but we all had a decent meal anyway.

Next Week

To be decided.

The Wednesday Walk 2nd May 2018

This Week

Plan A went by the board because of heavy rain, and so did Plan B. Instead, we met at the Bridge House for lunch. Afterwards, when the rain had ceased and the sun came out, we walked around the Longham Lakes.

Next Week

A repeat of this week’s intentions, depending upon the weather.

Plan A. Catch the Number 40 bus from Upton to Swanage (I will catch the bus at Poole bus station).

Plan B. The West Moors walk.

The Wednesday Walk 25th April 2018

The Plan

Creekmoor to Broadstone

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

We had hoped to get to Swanage this week but the forecasters predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms. We opted for the Creekmoor to Broadstone railway walk instead. In the event we met only one brief shower while walking and another while we were having lunch. However, it was a pleasant walk, mostly in sunshine.

The Pub

The Blackwater Stream in Broadstone. No pies here, but they do a generous big breakfast at £4.99 which most of us opted for. Beatrice chose the fish which turned out to be an oversized battered tadpole and had to be taken back. Sue had to search for her second fried egg as it was hiding under the first. Otherwise, it was a plentiful meal.

Next Week

Plan A (if the weather is good). We will catch the No. 40 Breezer bus at Upton at 0942 for a Swanage walk.

Plan B (if the weather is 

The Wednesday Walk 18th April 2018

The Plan

A Swanage walk, hastily changed to a Bournemouth shore walk

Who Turned Up

Beatrice and Tony H, Sue, Trisha, Ros, David (the Bournemouth walk) and Trudie (the Swanage walk)

The Walk

Of late we have been suffering from the curse of the Wednesday Weather. Too many of our planned walks came to nothing because of wet, cold, windy (delete as appropriate) weather. But today was different. The sun was shining in a blue sky and we were promised temperatures topping twenty degrees. We met at Canford Village and queued for a bus into Swanage. The bus duly came and one passenger got off, but the six of us were not allowed on because the vehicle was full. What we did not know then was that Trudie had boarded the bus at an earlier stop and was already safely on board. So she gaily sailed on to Swanage while were left to puzzle over what to do. The next bus was scheduled for an hour later and the driver of the first bus had told us he had left behind fifty passengers who would be waiting for the next bus. We decided to change our plans and walk along the shore to the Argyll Bowling Club café. Meanwhile, Trudie was doing what we had planned to do… in Swanage! Although not planned, it was a very pleasant walk (the Bournemouth one, that is) and we arrived at the café shortly before noon. After lunch we went back along the same route, stopping only to replenish our energy with ice creams.

The Lunch

We ate at the Argyll Bowling Club café, staying long enough to finish Trisha’s Telegraph crossword. The food was good, as always.

Next Week

Meet at Upton bus stop to catch the 0942 bus to Swanage… except for David who will board the bus at Poole Bus Station at 0930.

The Wednesday Walk 11th April 2018

The Plan

A seafront walk

Who Turned Up

Beatrice and Tony H, Diane and Tony R, Trisha, Sue, Jackie, Ros, Wendy, David… and a warm welcome to Linda

The Walk

We have been unlucky with weather this winter but today our luck changed. Spring is now upon us. We met in Knyveton Road and walked down through Boscombe Gardens to the shore. Even before we set off along the seafront some walkers were feeling warm enough to take off their coats. The sun was shining, children were playing on the beach and the weather forecaster’s promise of a good day was coming to fruition. We were pleased to see the cliff lift is now back in service (it was damaged by landslip a couple of winters ago) although we did not use it. We were also pleased to see smart new beach huts in the other area that suffered a landslip.

After lunch we walked back along the clifftop path, again discarding coats as we went. A pleasant day’s walk that was not too demanding.

The Pub

The Kettle and Spyglass. The food and drink were good, as we have found on previous visits. Extra help behind the counter wouldn’t go amiss though.

Next Week

Meet at Canford Village for a 10am bus ride to Swanage.

The Wednesday Walk 7th March 2018

The Plan

A St Catherine’s Hill walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trisha, Trudy B, Trudy H, Tony H, David

The Walk

The snow has all melted. Aren’t we lucky? We had a snow-free walk last Wednesday and a snow-free walk today. In between the country had enough snow to cause chaos.

We parked at our usual spot and walked over the top of the hill. The temperature was around ten degrees so we weren’t cold. After lunch we took the main path back along the bottom of the hill and had to make one or two detours to avoid areas of flooding. This afternoon we were feeling much warmer. Overall, it was a good walk for the time of the year.

Thanks to Tony for bringing our airline boarding cards and we all send our thanks to Beatrice for organising our forthcoming trip. Thanks also to Trudy B for this week’s photographs.

Next Week

Smiles all round

The Wednesday Walk 28th February 2018

The Plan

An Arne walk

Who Turned Up

Sue, Trisha, Trudy B, Wendy, Beatriec and Tony H, David

The Walk

Most of the country was covered in a blanket of snow, but Dorset was – so far – resisting the worst ravages of the weather. The odd flurry of snow drifted down from the clouds, but we otherwise had only the cold wind to contend with. We drove to the RSPB car park at Arne and took our usual walking route. We hurried across the view point as the wind was quite chilly up there. After lunch we took a much shorter walk just to round off the day.

Back at Sue’s house we enjoyed two cakes. One from Beatrice and Tony, and one from Sue. Thanks are due for both of them. And thanks also to Trudy for the photographs.

Lunch

We at at the RSPB café. Only a snack but it served to warm us up.

Next Week

Meet at Trudy B’s at 10am for a walk over St Catherine’s Hill

The Wednesday Walk 21st February 2018

The Plan

A birthday walk

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

It began with a late breakfast at Weatherspoons in Wimborne, for very good reasons: we were anticipating a tasty afternoon tea. Our walk took us around Wimborne, beginning with the cemetery. We had good reason: we wanted to hear the historical story about Montague Druitt who is buried there. Tony found the cemetery registrar who gave us the whole story and then took us into the cemetery chapel.

Montague John Druitt (1857 to 1888) was born in Wimborne and was one of the suspects for the Jack the Ripper murders that took place in London between August and November 1888. Dreitt was employed as an assistant school master at a boarding school, but lost the post for reasons that are not easy to discover. There was talk of him being sexually insane. After the Whitechapel murders, he seems to have committed suicide and his body was found floating in the Thames.

On 9^th November 2888 Mary Jane Kelly was the fifth girl to be murdered in the East End of London since August. Shortly after Kelly’s death, stories circulated that the Ripper had drowned in the Thames. The MP for West Dorset, Henry Farquharson announced that the Ripper was the son of a surgeon who committed suicide on the night of the last murder. The description fitted Druitt. In addition, his pockets contained items which seemed to link him to the killings. After Druitt died, the Jack the Ripper killings ceased. Now he lies buried in Wimborne cemetery.

That was an interesting story to start off our afternoon ramble. From there we went on to the Minster hoping to get into the chained library, but it was closed.

Afternoon Tea

We drove to Stewarts Garden Centre where we had an excellent afternoon tea to celebrate Tony’s eightieth birthday. Our thanks go to Beatrice for organising the event which left us all well replete.

Next Week

Meet at Sue’s at 10am for an Arne walk.

The Wednesday Walk 7th February 2018

The Plan

A Kingston Lacy walk

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

The sky could not have been bluer. Look at the photographs. We spent the morning walking around various paths to see the snowdrops and other winter blooms. We also side-tracked into the kitchen garden where the vinery is coming along nicely with its reconstruction. A very pleasant walk. Sadly, Trudy’s car decided to give trouble and she had to call out help.

The Pub

The Man in the Wall, Wimborne. We’ve eaten here many times and always get good value for money.

Next Week

Meet at St Catherine’s Hill at 1030.

The Wednesday Walk 31st January 2018

The Plan

Coy Pond to Bournemouth

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

We met at Coy Pond just as a hailstorm was passing through. It was a reminder of why we had to cancel last week’s walk. The people who run the weather systems seem to think that Wednesdays are good days for rain while other days are perfect for sunshine. In the event we had a reasonable walk down into Bournemouth, stopping only once to allow a shower to pass through. Trudy H’s photograph shows us sheltering beneath the trees. There was one accident on a slippery slope but, happily, the walker seems to have sustained no permanent injury. 
After lunch in the town, we took the route up the opposite side of the river to Coy Pond. This time we met not a single drop of rain.

Lunch

Some of us ate in Wetherspoons pub in Bournemouth Square. Others walked on down to Harry Ramsdens. Either way, we were well fed.

Next Week

Meet at Kingston Lacy at 1030 am. In the event of rain, discussions will take place.