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Lulworth Cove holiday Day 6

Last walking day at lovely Lulworth and we couldn't leave without seeing Durdle Door. This slab of limestone, now almost vertical, has a large hole in it (and a smaller one higher up) and surrounding rocks have been washed away by the sea. Nearby is the steep valley called Scratchy Bottom, used in the making of Far from the Madding Crowd and other films. For those doing the longer walk, Scratchy Bottom was surprisingly home to a large number of Bee Orchids and Cinnabar moths. After traversing the hiills above Lulworth, we descended and just managed to reach the Church of the Holy Trinity before the rain started. In the end we were forced to brave the elements to reach the the meeting point - the Castle Inn, where we rested before the final trip back to West Lulworth House and another pleasant evening with the HF organization. The walk was only around 5 miles but the 850ft of ascent certainly tested us all.

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Lulworth Cove holiday Day 5

This day was based on Studland and the surrounding area. Keen walkers headed for Old Harry Rocks, via Agglestone Rock and Ballard Down. The Agglestone is a large lump of sandstone rock perched on top of a large hillock on the Godlingstone Nature Reserve. How it got there is anyone's guess, but the story that the devil threw it from the Isle of Wight to destroy Corfe Castle and missed, is unproven.

After passing through a golf course we ascended Ballard Down. Great views of Bournemouth, Poole and also the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Back to Studland for some refreshments and to hear stories from those who wanted a shorter walk. The story that there was little of interest on the clothing optional Studland beach was mostly accepted. Thanks also to Marian for additional photos. The walk was just over 7 miles, with 670 ft of ascent

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Lulworth Cove holiday Day 4

As we were in Thomas Hardy country, we felt obliged to do some touristy things. First to a lay-by on the A35, but things soon got better as we attempted to round up sheep in the rolling fields of Dorset. Hardy's cottage was disappointing as the National Trust  don't  open on Tuesdays. A pleasant  walk along the River Frome then brought us to Stinsford Churchyard, complete with a long line of Hardy family memorials. Back to the lay-by, then to Maiden Castle for picnic lunch in the car park. This colossal earthworks remained un-explored by us as it was raining hard. From there to the monument to Vice-Admiral Hardy with extensive views, including a glimpse of West Fleet, behind Chesil beach. Thanks to Marian and Peter for additional photos

If you want to see clips from an old film click the link below

 Far from the Madding Crowd

 

 

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Hooksway Day walk 22nd June 2016

Paul's pleasant walk to Hooksway was fairly damp and misty. There were a surprising amount of horseflies with a great hunger for humans unfortunately. Common Spotted orchids in abundance and in different colours. Just over 6 miles in total, with about 600 ft of ascent. The Royal Oak looked after us very well. On the way home some of us were rewarded by the sight of a rook and a red kite in aerial combat, with no apparent winner or loser. 

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Lulworth Cove holiday Day 3

We started in the ancient viilage of Worth Matravers, home of the Square and Compass Inn, where cider is brewed out the back. Food is limited to delicious homemade pies and pasties and this alehouse has not got around to having fancy bars, so all food and drinks is served through a hatch. Earlier customers have been physicist and astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell and nobel laureates Sir Alan Hodgkin and Sir Martin Ryle who were busy developing radar on the nearby cliffs from 1940 to 1942.

In the churchyard nearby are buried Benjamin Jesty and his wife. Many years earlier, in 1774, Benjamin innoculated his wife and sons with cowpox to ward off smallpox. It worked, but he failed to spread the news, especially as some of the locals feared his family would grow horns. Twenty year later Edward Jenner had the same idea, got a better publicity agent and was handsomely rewarded.

Similarly impressive was the walk that some Midhurst folk did recently. We started in the village, inspected the local cattle for pox, then headed seaward. Some then chose an easier route to St Aldhelm's Head whilst others headed fo the beautifully shaped Chapmans Pool and the cliff walk. There is part of this South West Coast Path that should be called the South West Coast Steps. It is a precipitous descent of 180 feet followed by a similar ascent to St Adhelm's Head - very tiring!!  The Head is home to the 12th century St Adhelm's Chapel and a lookout station manned by volunteers of the National Coastwatch Institution. From there we travelled along the coast path to the remains of the Winspit Quarry, occasionally home to Dr Who film crews. The return to Worth Matravers was well rewarded with refreshments in the garden of the Square and Compass and no-one felt quite able to walk in the afternoon to the nearby Dancing Ledges. Another time perhaps. Thanks to Marian and Peter for additional photos.

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