A Freezing Walk at Chapmans Pool

Friday 6th January 2017

We had a cold walk today, so cold in fact I had to wear a hat and that doesn't happen very often, once a year maybe twice!  We parked near Worth Matravers and walked on a footpath across the fields to the cliff overlooking Chapman's Pool.  I stayed calm as we walked through a herd of cows, luckily they seemed amiable enough!  

More interested in eating than me - suits me just fine!

Evidence of the hat!

And it's back to muddy conditions again!

The cottages at St Aldhelms Head.

This down and up again section of the footpath doesn't look too offensive but it is!!  Steep down and hard work back up again.

Once up the other side, here's a view looking back.

Moody skies.

Time for coffee, and a walk back through the fields to the car.

Romsey in the Frost

Thursday 5th January 2017

I had a lovely unplanned walk this morning around Romsey, it was cold and frosty but wonderfully fresh and crisp.

Romsey Abbey

The War Horse Memorial in the Memorial Park, for details of the tribute, see here

The Bandstand.

Then I took more photos in the Memorial Park as it was such a lovely morning.

I saw lots of birds, this thrush (not sure which it is a song or mistle), a magpie, a swan flying overhead, mallard and aylesbury ducks, a chaffinch, pied wagtail, dunnock, robin, blackbirds (all over the place), wood pigeons, sparrow, moorhen, wren (close up) and a male blackcap.

This lot were in a right old flap, very vocal (mind you so would I have been sitting on the River Test in this cold weather!).

Moorhen (also being very vocal)

My favourite bird, singing his little heart out, taken by zooming in to infinity and beyond, but it's not bad I didn't think?

Then I just zoomed in a bit and took one that should be more in focus, but to me it doesn't look an awful lot different.

Then it was time to get on with the shopping as I was on a bit of a time limit, a very pleasant way to spend 20 minutes.

Epic Christmas Window Displays in Swanage!

Wednesday 28th December 2016

The shop keepers in Swanage certainly know how to celebrate Christmas, their window displays are just great.  I've taken a few photos to show how everyone makes an effort and how good the town looks at Christmas.  

Quite impressive I reckon!

A Cold December Afternoon Beach Walk

Friday 16th December 2016

Despite the cold we had a lovely walk along Swanage Beach from Shep's Hollow this afternoon.  There was alarming evidence of cliff falls all along the beach from heavy rain and fierce seas, enough to keep me away from too near the cliffs!  Walking back along the beach we came across a couple of teenagers swimming/body boarding in the sea - without wetsuits, just thinking about it makes me feel cold, goodness only knows how they felt!!  

The sand from the main beach appears to be at the north end of the beach for now, and the main beach seems to have lots of stone.

A couple of nice finds, a tiny cuttlefish and a mermaids purse.

A welcome bit of colour on a dull December afternoon.

A festively coloured beach hut complete with a Christmas wreath.

As the sun sets, so ends another walk!

Poole & Harbourside Park

Wednesday 7th December 2016

We had a brief shopping trip to Poole this morning, mixed in with a walk along the harbour.  Despite it being the end of the first week in December it was surprisingly calm in the town centre and we were in and out of the shops quite quickly and painlessly.  

There's so much more in the little streets off of the main roads.

The tourist information centre even had a postbox for mail to Santa!

I didn't dare go in to this old fashioned sweetshop, as I may well have had to try everything!!

The harbour Christmas tree, alive to the sound of singing....

house sparrows.  A lovely temporary home for them amongst the branches.

Now and then as we walked passed the fishing boats and fishing equipment, it smelt revolting, very fishy!!  

Black headed gulls keeping watch.

The tide was coming in and there were plenty of wading birds about.  We saw several of these turnstones and among others, cormorants and oyster catchers.

The par overlooking the harbour is a nice place to just sit and watch the boats coming and going, away from the hustle and bustle, overlooking Brownsea Island.