Swanage 25 - 28 May 2007 - Report by Jane
Swanage is a small seaside town on the Isle of Purbeck - just across the harbour from Poole . The weekend promised a variety of coastal and inland walks, with a visit to Corfe Castle and a steam train ride thrown in. Eleven were booked in, arriving in small groups throughout the day. Rosemary arrived first and picked the biggest room for the girls, so we had more space, but strange bunk beds that fitted under the eaves.
On Saturday Neil led us out along the coastal path towards Chapman’s Pool. Initially we made slow progress, stopping to see a bee orchid (the first of many spotted by Jim and Neil). Jan got lucky when we came across an unscheduled tea stop at the National Coastwatch Institution’s Open Day at St Aldhelm’s Head. We returned along the Priest’s Way, and saw “The Island” coming towards us. Rosemary assured us that this was a sure sign of bad weather approaching. Coincidentally, this was also predicted by the BBC.
On Sunday, as promised, it rained. Steve dragged everyone out along Nine barrow Down to Corfe Castle . Lunch was in the Greyhound, the most photographed pub in Britain . Its other attraction was a Beer Festival, and after we had compared the merits of Top Totty, Village Bike and Fox’s Nob, the wettest caught the train back to the Hostel. The rest looked round the Castle before taking the easy way back.
Monday was wettish, and windy. I led a short walk from Studland to the Old Harry Rocks. This showed trust, or foolhardiness, as Jan and I had driven round Swanage for an hour on Friday night, looking for the Hostel. Nevertheless, we got back to the villlage in time to inspect the Norman church before lunch and the drive home.