The Wednesday Walk 30th March 2016

The Plan

A Cranborne walk

Who Turned Up

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

(Joined by Beatrice and Sue for lunch)

The Walk

Our intentions were good, but the ground underfoot was not. We drove to a layby near the Pottery on the B3078, hoping to find a clear path back towards Cranborne village. We were out of luck. We had gone no more than a quarter mile before we came to water covering the entire path, with deep sticky mud underneath. There was no way we could get through. We drove back to Cranborne and had a walk around the village before lunch.

After lunch we drove to Castle Hill Lane on the outskirts of the village. We parked here and followed a path through the woods that took us past the Cranborne Motte and Bailey Castle. We continued onwards until we branched down onto Mill Lane, the path we had hoped to join in the morning. Two things would have helped us now. Firstly, we hoped to have passed the muddy parts of the lane. Secondly, we hoped we would escape the showers forecast by the met office. We were unlucky on both counts. We found the path to be wet, muddy and slippery, and it started raining. And the rain got heavier as we made our way back towards Cranborne. It was good exercise, but a walk we might have enjoyed more in the heat of summer.
Our thanks go to Diane for the photographs. Welcome back from Spain, Diane and Tony.

The Pub

The Sheath of Arrows in Cranborne. They had a senior citizens’ special: a meal and a pot of tea (or cup of coffee) for £6. It was good value and the service was friendly.

Next Week

No planned walk next week.

The Wednesday Walk 23rd March 2016

The Plan

An Arne walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trudy H, Trisha, David

The Walk

The day started bright and calm. The water of Poole Harbour showed hardly a ripple. We parked at the RSPB car park and straight away sussed out the new café on the site of the old toy museum. It looked a suitable option for a light lunch.

Did you know that Arne village was owned by Shaftsbury Abbey until its dissolution in 1539? By 1894 its population was only 123. The school closed in 1922 but you can still see the building – now a private house – as you pass through the village.

Here’s something interesting. Holton Heath, only three miles away from Arne village, was once the site of the Royal Navy Cordite Factory. During WW2, it was an obvious site for German bombing so several decoy sites were set up. At the first sign of approaching bombers, tar barrels and pipes containing kerosene were lit, giving the appearance of a burning factory. On the nights of 3^rd and 4^th June 1942 the decoy was used in anger. Enemy aircraft bombed the open countryside as a consequence. The fire burned for six weeks.

After the war, the village of Arne was largely derelict. In 1966 it came under the jurisdiction of the RSPB.

We took our usual route through the nature reserve and were lucky to catch a deer in the process of feeding.

After lunch we took a shorter route as the morning sunshine had given way to an overcast afternoon.

Thanks to Wendy for much appreciated tea and cakes.

Lunch

We ate at the new RSPB café. It only does snacks and is a bit pricey, but it is clean and pleasant, and it saved us the bother of driving back to Stoborough.

Next Week

A Cranborne walk.

The Wednesday Walk 16th March 2016

The Plan

Whitecliff to Poole

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

A cool but pleasant day, it started off overcast but quickly brightened up. We met in the car park at Whitecliff and took a gentle stroll along the harbour-side into Poole. We stopped for morning coffee at a quayside café. David and Tony then took a longer walk to the lifting bridge and then up into the town. The ladies followed the more direct route between the shops. From there we went to the pub in Newfoundland Drive.

After lunch we walked on up into the town, through the Dolphin Centre and then down through Poole Park. A very pleasant and easy walk.

The Pub

The Foundry Arms. This was a first tie for all of us in this particular pub. The food was good and the service was friendly. Worth another visit.

Next Week

An Arne walk. Wait for details of where to meet.

The Wednesday Walk 24th February 2016

The Plan

The Boscombe seashore

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha (newly returned from a tour of South America) Sue, Trudy B, David

(Joined by Beatrice and Tony at lunchtime)

The Walk

It was a good day for a walk, dry, sunny and not too warm. We parked at the Southend of Knyveton Road and walked down through Boscombe Gardens to the shore at Boscombe Pier. At one point we stopped to watch a group of white doves in a leafless tree.

The history of Boscombe pier goes back to 1884 when it was proposed as a visitor attraction. In 1888, a contract to build it was priced at £3,813. The approach roads would cost a further £938. The original pier was two hundred yards long and there was a landing stage at which steams could berth. The pier was opened by the Duke of Argyll, probably because the architect was closely connected to the duke’s family. The pier head was not added until 1926. Like most piers, it was partially demolished during the Second World War to prevent enemy invasion. It remained derelict for some years and was not fully restored until 1962. The building at the end of the pier was reopened as the Mermaid Theatre, then a roller skating rink, and then an amusement arcade. It closed in 1989. In 2005, the whole pier was declared unsafe and closed. It reopened again in modified form in 2008. A surf reef was built alongside it, but the less said about that the better.

Today, we noticed that a lot of activity was taking place, not at the pier, but on the beach. There appears to be some great effort being made to replace the old wood in the beach groynes.

After lunch we returned along the cliff-top path. We stopped for a while to watch diggers having fun building sand walls on the shoreline. Great fun, obviously, but what was it for? We couldn’t decide.

Our thanks go to Trudy for the excellent photographs.

The Pub

The Spyglass and Kettle at Southbourne. Most of us opted for the lunch special – two courses for £7.95. It was okay, but nothing special. And the value-for-money didn’t match last weeks’ three courses for £8.50. The waiting time didn’t impress either.

Next Week

A Bere Regis walk. The meeting place and time still to be decided.

The Wednesday Walk 17th February 2016

The Plan

A shore walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Jackie, Sue, Trudy B.

David turned up for lunch.

The Walk

The forecast promised a wet day, but we area a hardy group. Four brave souls turned up at the Ferndown Forest Golf Course car park and walked from there to West Moors in the rain. They arrived too early for lunch so enjoyed a coffee shop treat before moving on to the pub.

After lunch, everyone cried off another walk. It was just too wet and we were all well filled with a hearty meal.

The Pub

The Elephant and Castle, West Moors. The lunchtime special offered two courses at £6.50 or three courses for £8.50. At those prices you might wonder if the meals were rather sparse. Well, they were most decidedly not sparse. Two people chose the bacon and mushroom rarebit starter. One person ordered the same dish as a main course! The others enjoyed main courses that were ample and filling. Only one person was up for a sweet, and that was tasty as well. Overall, very good value for money.

Next Week

Weather permitting, we shall meet at the Boscombe end of Knyveton Road and do the walk we planned for this week.

The Wednesday Walk 10th February 2016

The Plan

Avon Heath Country Park

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Jackie, Trudy B, Trudy H, David

The Walk

We parked adjacent to the footbridge at St Leonards, and crossed over into the Avon Heath Country Park. The weather was cool to start with but we soon warmed up and enjoyed a very pleasant stroll through the park. It is one of the largest in Dorset with beautiful scenery consisting of forest, heather and heathland. It has many different species of trees, plants and wildlife. The RSPB and Dorset County Council maintain and protect the natural surroundings.

After lunch we enjoyed another stroll back through the woods and heathland.
Thanks go to Trudy for the photographs.

The Pub

The St Leonards Hotel. This is a hotel we have used before and enjoyed a decent meal. You’ll find something unique thing about this place if you study the walls in the bar area. They are inscribed (behind protective glass) with the signatures of pilots who flew from local wartime airfields. Here, you’ll see the names of Guy Gibson (of dambuster fame), ‘Catseyes’ Cunningham, ‘Sailor’ Malan, Douglas Bader (the legless fighter pilot) and Johnnie Johnson. One of our walkers (not with us today) has a house that abuts Bader Road in Canford Heath, named after the pilot. My understanding is that he pronounced his name Bah-der, but many people seem to call it Bay-der. I wonder why?

Next Week
Meet at the end of Knyveton Road at 1030 (opposite Boscombe Gardens)

The Wednesday Walk 3rd February 2016

The Plan

A Kingston Lacy walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Sue, Trudy H, Jackie, Tony, David

(and Beatrice joined us for lunch)

The Walk

It was a dry day with a cold, brisk wind. We met in the Kingston Lacy car park and walked the route through the snowdrop area. The ground was sprouting more than just snowdrops. Daffodils and other colourful flowers made the ground look far from wintry. We went on past the Japanese garden to the kitchen garden. Then back to the car park.

After lunch, most of the group opted for a walk around Wimborne.
Thanks are due to Trudy for the photographs, and to Beatrice and Tony for the tea and cakes.

The Pub

The Lamb’s Green. Fortunately, it was open this week, and it was quite busy. The food was okay but something seemed to be lacking compared with previous visits.

Next Week

Meet at the car park by the entrance to Upton House at 1015. We will walk into Poole.