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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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Lulworth Cove holiday Day 2

Swanage Railway steam engines leave Corfe Castle twice a year to link up with MV Balmoral,  which then sails from Swanage to view the coast as far as Lulworth Cove, so 5 of us chose that option. The alternative was to walk the 6 miles (560ft gain) from Corfe Castle along the Purbeck Way, then hope the train would stop for us at Herston Halt to take us back to Corfe Castle. That all worked but unfortunately the fog out at sea very much spoilt the view for the sailors. On land, conditions were fairly good, with a little cloud on top of the hill. Thanks to Marian and Peter for additional photos.

 

In the 1640s, England was in the grip of civil war and Corfe Castle found itself on the front line of conflict between Parliament and King Charles I. The castle had recently been acquired by staunch Royalists, the Bankes family. When war broke out in 1642, the formidable Lady Mary Bankes made it her home while her husband Sir John was away serving the King.  Within a year, almost all of Dorset came under the control of Parliament but Corfe stood firm. In 1643, Lady Mary and a garrison of just 80 soldiers saw off a six-week siege. When Sir John died in December 1644, Corfe Castle was the last remaining Royalist stronghold between London and Exeter. Pressure increased during 1645 and by October the castle was again under siege – this time by a larger and more determined enemy force. An officer of her garrison sealed the castle’s fate with an act of treachery when he allowed enemy troops disguised as reinforcements to enter. Lady Mary was forced to surrender after 48 days under siege, but was allowed to keep the seals and keys of the castle in recognition of her courage.

Parliamentarian sappers set to work with gunpowder to reduce the castle to the ruin we see today and the Bankes’ estate was seized. However, Lady Mary had the last laugh. She lived to see her estate returned and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. This information thanks to  www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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