Field of flowers

 

Our route by way of the Corfe Valley had us encounter a huge field of wild flowers, through which our footpath fortuitously passed. Approaching the final hill of what was an arduous Purbeck walk, the wonder and colour of the field was a welcome distraction.

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.

Purbeck

Back to the Isle of Purbeck this morning, an early-ish start too, as the day had the potential to deteriorate...which it did, a bit.  It was another bright spring day to start, although a thin misty haze hung in the air and clouds could be seen gathering sneakily on the horizon...I see you cloud! Again we parked below the castle and set off along the footpath running along the base of the Knowle Hill, between the rough grassland and gorse of the hills and a matrix of hedged fields and small pockets of ancient woodland that define the Corfe Valley. Our path rose briefly as it transferred from Knowle Hill and Ridgeway Hill at bare Cross, affording us vistas along the Valley. They were short lived though as we soon descended again into the fields of the Corfe Valley, crossing it's titular river before rising up past Hyde Wood to the ridge above Kimmeridge, with stunning views of the Kimmeridge Bowl and along it's western arm...our direction of travel. We passed fields of bright yellow rapeseed which shone like gold, so vibrant. The western arm of the Kimmeridge Bowl is a favourite walk, views into the bowl and out to sea on one side, and into the Tyneham Valley on the other, really lovely. Out here it's hard to imagine you're so close the expansive BCP conurbation. A couple of miles undulating path and we reached the extent of our outward walk, Tyneham Cap and Townley Shenton's Seat with the most stunning view over Gad Cliffs and Worbarrow Bay towards Weymouth and the Isle of Portland. In Weymouth Bay you could see the cruise liners still hunkered down at anchor due to covid. We sat a while to take it all in before beginning our journey back. Another lovely walk, 11.7 miles. I don't mind walking alone, you can really connect and absorb, which I enjoy deeply, though it would be nice to sometimes share these walks again with others.

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.    

Creech Hill

Purbeck again this morning, and what a wonderful day for walking, the light on the landscape was stunning, the vistas had an ultra real quality to them. We parked at Corfe and made our way along the base of Knoll Hill, our now familiar route easing us into the hills, where after a couple of miles or so we rose up Ridge Hill with it's fabulous 360 degree views. I know I'm repeating myself, but Purbeck is something special, a landscape unique. After taking our fill of sites, we walked on following the high ridge past Grange Arch, an 18th century folly, and eventually reaching Creech Hill where we sat looking along the Tyneham Valley with the sea and Portland beyond. Man, what a breathtaking rural scene, a patchwork of fields, hedgerows and copses, nestled in the folds of hills and cliffs, I breathed it all in. Later as we descended Ridgeway Hill we met a chatty elderly local lady on her way up and we got chatting; I try not to miss any opportunity to indulge my passion for local aural histories. The lady told of being born in the Corfe Valley, having lived here all her life and of all the changes she'd seen. Of how the nature of the population had changed, how when her children were young there used to be 40 children on the school bus from Kimmerage to Corfe. Of how the land has altered, how there used to be lots more small fields, more hedgerows and how the valley bottom fringing the Corfe River used to be all flower meadow. I could endlessly listen to people telling the story of a land they're intimately connected to; I love it. My mind wandered as Geoff and I continued on our way, imaging the valley as the lady described; so, a timeless landscape more changed than I'd imagined. 

Kimmeridge Bowl

Just as yesterday in the forest, Autumn stalked the countryside again today, only this time we were over in Purbeck, and the windswept ridge above Kimmeridge. Kimmeridge sits in a bowl surrounded by a ridge, the other side of which are the Tyneham and Corfe Valleys, it was that ridge we were walking today (the same ridge we took out to Tyneham Cap last week). The day was confused, a strong wind scoured the landscape, again Bel was a reluctant player, playing peek-a-boo between the thick grey clouds which scud across the sky, though it was still t-shirt walking weather. Odd indeed. As always, the Purbeck Hills were magnificent this morning, ancient and weathered, with their timeless wild feel, and a certain, on the edge of the world quality to them. Purbeck really is a magical isle. Getting out here early, having the tracks to yourselves, your mind lost in the rugged landscape, it's hard to imagine you're only a few miles from one of the South Coast's biggest conurbations. You might as well be a hundred miles away, and hundreds of years back in time. Today’s walking was good for ails you walking. 

Norden Wood

Although the sun was just beginning to burn through the mists, the Corfe Valley remained veiled in gossamer...there were to be no views of the coast this morning. That didn't matter though, what was on offer was more than enough to satisfy the senses. The land's coming alive. You can see the trees and shrubs straining, they're champing at the bit ready to unfurl their glories. Whilst below them the race has already begun, the path sides are thronged with competing spring greens. In Norden  Wood the Ash buds are fit to burst, under them the ramsons and dog mercury (both ancient woodland indicators) have formed a lush dense green carpet, a fragrant carpet spotted with primrose and the beginnings of bluebells. The energy in the land is tangible, the birds shout natures on the clock, and that wheel keeps turning. This landscape has always been a landscape rich in resources of all kinds, and subsequently has seen human activity for millennia, amongst the lush carpet we pass by an ancient prehistoric boundary which can be traced, highlighted in green. Green would certainly be the word of the day.

Corfe Valley ramble

A ramble through the Corfe Valley.