Brownsea

Brownsea Island is a little bit special. Sat in the middle of Poole Harbour, it only takes a short boat ride to reach the small dock but from here you seem to enter a different world!
Beneath the shadow of the castle, the same castle that is so familiar to anyone using the car ferry from the Isle of Purbeck, a small cluster of buildings lead you to the start of many paths that crisscross the island.

Brownsea Castle

Once you get past the entrance buildings you can take one of the many footpaths that crisscross the island, all of these give you different views across the harbour to Poole or towards the Isle of Purbeck.

If you are lucky you may spot one of Brownsea's Red Squirrels. These beautiful little animals are one of the reasons so many people come here, but only one of the reasons.

The Red Squirrel

High Winds, Big Seas and the Song of the Skylark

As the weather cleared and the Sun made an appearance, a walk to St.Aldhem's Head was needed to blow the cobwebs away.
The wind was still blowing strongly and howling as it snaked through the trees and hedges and the waves could be heard crashing against the cliffs way before they could be seen! Above all of this noise though, louder and stronger than anything else nature could throw was the song of the Skylark. A beautiful little bird that is always wonderful to see and here.

East To Anvil Point

West to Emmitt's Hill, Houns-tout, Swyre Head and Beyond

The Radar Memorial, St.Aldhelm's Head

The Skylark

Big Seas

We have had a few days of interesting weather lately and that has lead to some amazing seas. With the wind coming from the south and west the cliffs on the south side of the Isle of Purbeck get the full force of the waves.
This is always amazing to watch.

Swanage Bay

Swanage Bay

Purbeck Footprints Weekend Wanderings #1- Durlston to Dancing Ledge

The weather today was just about perfect for our rain-delayed, first open walk of the year.
We started from Durlston and took the top path along the crest of the cliffs, slipping and sliding through mud which only makes things better as far as I'm concerned. A lovely group of people helps too and time flies as we have to start the descent to the old quarry of Dancing Ledge.

Anvil Point Lighthouse

Westward

Fisherman's Ledge

 The walk back was just as slippery, but we were closer to the crashing waves. The sound of the waves on a day like this is incredible as was the height that they made as they cannoned into the cliffs.
Regardless of the mud though, everyone seemed to have a fine time, which is what it is all about.
The next open walk is scheduled for the end of February and should be just as good.

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.