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.

The Wednesday Walk 3rd August 2016

The Plan

A Salisbury walk

Who Turned Up

Trudy B, Trudy H, Sue, Wendy, Beatrice and Tony H, Diane and Tony R, David (joined by Olga and Ray for lunch)

The Walk

As usual, we parked in the Britford Park-and-Ride and used our bus passes to get into the city. The day was a little overcast but surprisingly warm. The city was alive and a new Ferris Wheel was erected in the main square. The walk out to Old Sarum was pleasant, as always and we met Olga and Ray along the way.

An Iron Age hill-fort was erected at Old Sarum around 400BC, controlling the intersection of two trade paths. It continued to be occupied during the Roman period when the trade paths became Roman roads. The fort was taken by the Saxons in the sixth century and later became a stronghold against Viking invasion. King Henry l had a royal palace built within the walls. When the new cathedral was built in the thirteenth century, the buildings of Old Sarum were dismantled and the stone reused.

We walked the shorter route back into Salisbury after lunch, by which time the heat was beginning to affect some walkers.

Thanks to Beatrice and Tony for their hospitality and Trudy for the special cake. And thanks to Diane for the photographs.

The Pub

The Harvester at Old Sarum. The usual Harvester fare, although the chicken was a bit dry.

Next Week

Meet at Diane and Tony’s at 10am.

The Wednesday Walk 27th July 2016

The Plan

Cranborne in reverse

Who Turned Up

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

The Walk

After our previous errors of navigation, I suppose we should have been a bit more cautious. We decided to do the Cranborne walk, but in reverse. Not walking backwards, just forwards along a reverse route. Funny how familiar paths can look deceiving when seen in the opposite direction! Picking up the paths through the trees wasn’t easy and we had to do a bit of back-pedalling and searching for alternative ways. When we did get close to the right path we were thrown off course by a herd of cows. In consolation, the afternoon walk went without a hitch.

Our thanks go to Beatrice and Sue for the refreshments at the end of the walk. And thanks to Diane for the photos.

The Pub

The Sheaf of Arrows in Cranborne. The pensioners’ specials were good value, even if they did come to the tables in fits and starts.

Next Week

Meet in Wimborne at 0930 for a Salisbury walk.

The Wednesday Walk 13th July 2016

The Plan

Lytchett Matravers to Morden

Who Turned Up

Jackie, Wendy, Sue (morning only) Trudy B, Trudy H, Diane and Tony R, David

The Walk

We parked the cars in the church car park at Lytchett Matravers. It’s quite an isolated church and there’s a reason. I'll come to that in a moment. The name of the village comes from the Brittonic word ‘litchet’ meaning grey wood. Matravers comes from the surname ‘Maltravers’. Until the start of the Norman conquest, the manor of Lytchett was held by a Dane called Tholf. After the conquest, King William gave the manor to Hugh Maltravers. The Maltravers family held the manor for about three hundred years until the Black Death reduced the population in the second half of the fourteenth century. The surviving villagers deserted the original village site around the church and resettled further up the hill. And that’s why it’s a bit of a journey from the village to the church.

It’s not a long walk from Lytchett to Morden but we met a few hitches along the way. The navigational system went a little awry, necessitating one or two back-tracks. And the weather did not behave as the met forecasters said it would. For ten minutes it rained very heavily while we sheltered in woodland. Add to that, we met more stiles than we expected and we met more hills than we expected. We arrived at the pub about an hour later than planned.

After lunch we took a different route back to Lytchett Matravers. This time we made the journey in one and three quarter hours.

Thanks to Trudy and Diane for the photos. And thanks to Trudy and Jackie for the tea and cakes.

The Pub

The Cock and Bottle at Morden. They serve good food at reasonable prices and the service is excellent. When a pint of beer was knocked over, it was replaced at absolutely no cost. Worthy of commendation.

The Wednesday Walk 6th July 2016

The Plan

Tarrant Crawford to Charlton Marshall

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha, Trudy B, Trudy H, Jackie, Diane and Tony R (Tony pm only) David

The Walk

I love this walk, especially on a warm summer’s day, and this was a pleasantly warm summer’s day. Hardy’s Dorset was looking its best. We parked, as usual, by the small weir just beyond the church in Tarrant Crawford and walked along the hedgerow path to the tiny church. The path then took us past the ruined abbey and across the main road. The landscape was largely empty as we traversed the fields, past the old vineyard, across the strange raised walkway and on into Spetisbury. The rivers we crossed were slow moving and remarkably clear but we saw no fish.

Spetisbury is an odd-sounding name to the visitor. It comes from the old English words, speht (meaning woodpecker) and byrig (meaning fort). It is home to iron age fortifications called Spetisbury Rings which were destroyed by the Romans in the first century. More recently, in the eighteenth century, St Monica’s Priory was the home to various religious orders. Most of it is now destroyed, but the remains house the Spetisbury village hall. Spetisbury Manor was once home to the local squire and is now a retirement home.

From Spetisbury we walked the old railway track to Charlton Marshall and our lunchtime pub stop. This was where our attention was drawn to two bear-like creatures enjoying the warm weather. And some of the walkers decided to take advantage of the children's playground. After lunch we returned to the cars on a route very close to the outward walk.

Tea was served at Diane and Tony’s house, the cakes baked by Trudy B. Thanks to you all for the refreshments. Thanks, also, to Diane and Trudy H for the photographs.

The Pub

The Charlton Inn at Charlton Marshall. A pleasant environment, two cheerful and helpful waitresses, and satisfactory food all round. No one chose the pie, but the alternatives included over-65s meals at £5.

Next week

Meet at Jackie's house at 1030 for a walk from Lytchett Matravers to Morden.