Quick walks and the Search for Roe Deer

We have quite a large population if Sika that were first introduced on to the Isle of Purbeck, from their native Japan, a little over 100 years ago. Like them or not, they are here to stay and I for one always enjoy seeing them. The main problem as far as I am concerned is that they are gradually squeezing the small number of Roe deer out of the area.
Today, I went to where I knew they would be to see how close I could get.

One of three Roe deer

As it happened, I couldn't get very close but seeing part of our very small local Roe deer population is always special.
The walk back wasn't too bad either.

The Purbeck Snowdrop

Two For Breakfast

We have known for a while that a Fox was partial to spending a bit of time in the garden, but this morning we had two. Both in very good condition they tolerated me for a while and let me get quite close before I had to leave them to it.
I prefer to see Foxes in their own environment and not mine, but it was great to get close.

Wet Feet, a Yellowhammer and the Hedbury Cannon.

The walk to Hedbury Quarry started well under crisp, blue skies but was never going to be an easy one. Turning off the Priest's Way and following the path towards the ridge above Dancing Ledge was passable but the steps down the hill were fenced off. This meant a slight detour along the ridge and the chance to use a path that I hadn't been down for many years. This path is well used by cows and is usually muddy but today there was stream running along it giving a clear but wet place to walk.

Look West

The descent to the coast path was interesting and involved an ungainly and more or less uncontrollable slide down the sodden grass. I kept upright more by luck than skill and was happy to reach the comparative surefooted safety of the coast path. The path into Hedbury itself was easy after that but it was obvious that time was against us. Dark clouds were building up and St.Alhelm's Head, in the distance, was already feeling the first drops of rain.

The Hedbury Cannon

 With the clouds building up and the skies getting ever darker, it was clear that we were going to get wetter, but on the plus side this would probably wash of a lot of the mud!

 The walk back to Langton was easy too, well, apart from the steep climb that catches me out every time. It made me realise that I really need to walk more after another wet winter has kept me inside.
My new best friend on the way back was a rather beautiful Yellowhammer and we spent a little time together until we both got fed up of the rain.

Yellowhammer

Fields, Floods and the the Black Swans

When the River Frome floods at Wareham it is easy to see why the Isle of Purbeck got its name. From the north at least, you would have needed a boat to cross the half mile or so of flood water and access from the west was difficult.

The Frome at Wareham

Black Swans

Black Swan

Mud, Stones and Sunbathing Lizards.

Winspit is an old, disused quarry perched on the cliffs not far from the village of Worth Matravers. Worth is now probably more famous for its one and only pub, The Square & Compass, which serves more walkers and cyclists than locals these days.
Apart from the mud and puddles, the walk from The Square to Winspit is an easy one, a gentle decent towards the cliffs.

East From Winspit

Take time to wander through the quarry, the remains of buildings can still be seen and you can wander into the dark workings if you fancy it.

Winspit

Apart from the views and the very history of this place, the local lizards can keep me amused for quite a while.

The walk back to Worth is steady, though uphill of course, and will give you the chance to talk about the quarry, the people who worked the stone and anyone else that have left their mark.

Smile & Wave

The weather has been interesting lately and that has made photography a little difficult. Snatched walks between showers has been the only way but they are still enjoyable.
A walk along the cliffs when  the seas are wild really blows the cobwebs away!

Old Harry, a Bacon Sandwich and the Restless Fox

The weather has been a little inconsistent to say the least and so waking up to beautiful blue skies was just what I needed. I have a walk planned for New Years Day when I will be taking a group up to The Pinnacles and Old Harry, a collection of chalk stacks along the cliffs north of Swanage Bay, and I needed to check the route. After so much rain lately the paths were always going to be muddy but the going was firm
enough and we made good time as we left Swanage behind us.

Swanage Bay

 When you reach the ridge the views to the south over Swanage Bay and to the north over Poole Harbour are truly immense and a photograph cannot do them justice. On a clear day let your eyes follow the coast and you can see beyond the ancient Hengistbury Head , to the north the equally ancient rings at Badbury can be seen as long as you know where to look.

North from the Ballard Down

It is time to continue east towards Old Harry but don't worry, the views do not get smaller or any less impressive and will stay with you as you walk.
At the end of the chalk ridge, where the land drops vertically more than 300 feet to the sea, you turn more or less north following the cliffs (this is your only option, as continuing east will result in wet feet...eventually). On a day like today the Isle of Wight, that sits some fifteen miles away to the east, is clearly visible and it is easy to imagine the land that you are standing on being connected to the very similar chalk ridge at The Needles before erosion changed this place.
The walk along the cliffs to Old Harry is about a mile and doesn't take long but gives you some great opportunities to look at the cliffs from above.

The Pinnacles

Old Harry himself sits at Handfast Point at the most northern part of the chalk and, in my opinion, is really best seen from sea level. The view from the cliff top will do however and the bright white shapes that remain are always good to see from whatever angle.

Handfast Point

From here the path heads west towards Studland following the cliffs that edge its bay and a decision needs to be made! Either drop down onto the sand and head towards one of the beach-side cafes and grab a well earned bacon sandwich or continue inland before taking a track south and back up onto the ridge. A tough choice but the sandwich won.
A steady walk back over the ridge to Swanage was straight forward and gave us the same amazing views as before but this time with the welcome addition of a Fox that was unable to make himself comfortable in the Winter Sun.

The Restless Fox