Highcliffe

Seeing Highcliffe Castle today you'd never imagine that by the 1980's is was a wrecked shell, after fires in the late 60's had left it derelict and years of neglect had led it to ruin. I remember in fenced off, covered in brambles and invasive shrubs, a fascinating and very dangerous place to explore. Now look at it. Restoration works have been going on since the 90's, with a huge proportion of the building either restored or in the process of being restored. The conservators eye has now fallen on the wider grounds. Between the castle and Steamer Point a parcel of woodland was inaccessible for years, a dense jumble behind fence and gate. The area has now been opened up, much over the overgrown shrubs removed and a series of different level paths exposed and restored. I imagine it would've been part of a romanticized woodland walk which would have extended into what is now Steamer Point nature reserve (the path depressions and low banks continue into there).  How the other half lived, and still do.