Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle is currently in the middle of a 3 year site clearance, restoration and stabilization program, the aim, to ensure this important site is protected and preserved for future generations. It's impressive passing below its ruinous form today, you can only imagine its impact when at the height of its glory, the keep tower painted white on the order of Henry III it stood high above its' surroundings. 

Approaching Corfe

Following the chalk track down the side of Challow Hill you approach the village of Corfe and the ruins of it's magnificent 11th century Norman castle;  once one of the countrys' strongest, and definitely most picturesque castles, now it's the most picturesque ruins.  Surviving sieges through the ages Corfe wasn't brought low by battle, but rather through betrayal, and was subsequently demolished so it could never stand again. Hell of a castle, with a rich history.

Purbeck

The day was set to be a fine one, and so this morning it was off to Purbeck for us. We set off from Brenscombe Little Wood up the deep cut and winding rough track onto the downs of Brenscombe Hill, looking back as we rose we had views through the canopy across the Purbeck Forest and Poole harbour. From the downs your eyes are drawn westwards over the village of Corfe and on further along the Corfe Valley. We followed the ridge way towards Corfe, at Challow Hill we descended towards Corfe before hair-pinning back along the base of the hills. Our route was now was muddier than I'd anticipated, it's amazing how quickly these tracks will deteriorate after a bit of rain. So instead we followed the winding and undulating under-hill road for a mile or so before turning off to scale the steep chalk parh back up onto Nine Barrow Down. We sat a moment with the barrows before descending Brenscombe Hill returning to our starting point. Perfect.

Corfe to Flowers Barrow

 

It was Purbeck for us this morning, and stunning it was too. A bright spring day punctuated by scudding clouds casting dramatic fast moving shadows like searchlights across the landscape. Although the sun had warmth there was a bit of a chill wind which certainly took the edge off. We parked below the castle, our route was to be along the Purbeck Ridge from Corfe out to it's westerly terminus at the Iron Age citadel of Flower Barrow and back again...12.5 miles. Regretably beyond the bottom photo, taken from the high point of Ridgeway Hill looking back towards Corfe, there's no photos after I stuffed my lens through the application heavy handedness to delicate mechanisms. Shame. It was a really lovely walk too, with endless photo opportunities. The ridge line allows you spectacular views along the curving Corfe Valley, over Poole Harbour and the remnants of the Great Heath, and from Flowers Barrow stunning vistas of the Jurassic Coast. It's easy to see why Purbeck is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage site. I love this landscape and never tire of walking it.    

Corfe Castle

The turf segment of our walk today also took us past the magnificent ruins of one of England's most important castles. One of the earliest Norman castles in the country originating in the 11th century, though it really became a fortress, the ruins of which you see today, by the 13th Century. One of the strongest castles in the kingdom, through the years it was an royal castle, arsenal, prison, at one point the crown jewels were stored here. Under siege twice during civil wars, the castle was never slighted or taken in battle, rather it fell through treachery and the destruction you see was done afterwards by engineers, so that the castle could never be used to any effect again. It's a wonderful site, and sight for that matter, and well worth a visit if you're in the vicinity.    

Garlic wood

Even though the Ramsons of Norden Wood are going to seed after another glorious seasonal display, the woodland still looks gorgeous and remains heavy with the scent of garlic. A fairytale wood at this time of year.

Post Brexit national flag

Not well advertised (which may have explained the poor turnout), and without any pomp or ceremony, our post brexit national flag was unveiled in Purbeck this morning.  Up on the Purbeck Ridge, overlooking Corfe Castle, a castle, you don't get a better symbol of sovereignty than that, the apt new red, white and blue symbol of British sovereignty fluttered proudly. It hung on a barbered wire fence, another symbol maybe, this time of a nation imprisoned by a narrative built on a false premiss, that of a Britain that never was. Still, nice to see we've kept the red, white and blue. 

Corfe

Corfe Castle, gateway to Purbeck, tucked quietly away on the Dorset coast, though a castle which crops up again and again in the national story. In it's day it was regarded as one of the most tenacious of castles in the country, founded by William the Conqueror, it served at different times as a home, a weapons store, a prison and a mint, as a royal stronghold it withstood sieges in both civil wars, and never fell in battle, finally falling to treachery and subsequently slighted by order of parliament.  It is the most archetypal and romantic of ruined medieval castles.

Swyre Head walk

Lime Kilm

Chapmans Pool and St Aldhelms Head from Swyre Head

West from Swyre Head

Encombe Bowl

Corfe Castle

Purbeck was stunning today, I say today, Purbeck is always stunning, no matter what season or weather it's a landscape that stirs the spirit. Purbeck is a landscape with millennia of human activity etched into it, though never really tamed, it remains in essence a wild place. Yeah, on a sunny day it looks the rural idyll, but walk it in bad weather and it can transform into a formidable and foreboding environment. Still, today was the former and beautiful walking it was.