Autumn Walk October 2025 New forest and Swanage,
2/10/2025 - 6/10/2025
Thursday 2nd October.
We had arranged to meet at The Royal Oak at Fritham for food and light refreshment before the usual warm-up walk. The menu was limited to a Ploughman's Lunch but had lots of options (all tried by various people, good). Beers were straight out the barrel.
Those who met there were Ralph, Ian, Paul, Dick, Steve, Pat, Pete, Mick, John W, Ben, Andy, Graham and John S. On the way to the Royal Oak there were Pigs (commoners rights for acorns), Asses, Ponies and Donkeys.
The walk was circular through Gorley Bushes, Amberwood Enclosure, Alder hill Enclosure and back to the cars. Then we went on to Burley to the Hostel for the night's accommodation. The weather had stayed fine with patches of cloud but no rain, quite warm at times.
The Hostel was not open when we arrived so called in at The White Buck Inn, 200 yards from the hostel, where we met Ray and Will. Once we had checked in and refreshed ourselves it was back to The White Buck Inn for dinner again. Good food and ale though a bit expensive.
They had fire pits around the hostel so Will bought a pack to have a fire later. It was supposed to have kindling in but none was there so he borrowed some from the White Buck, the evidence was lost in the fire. Several people joined in on the way back after dinner bringing their own supply of wood, from the nearby Forest.
Friday 3rd October.
There had been heavy rain overnight but we woke to a fine but overcast morning. After breakfast we all went to Corfe Castle to do various walks aiming to get to The Scott Arms for lunch at Kingston.
Dick, Pete, Steve, Pat and Ian walked out through Corfe Castle on to the Hardy Way. At the end of the road Ian stayed on the Hardy Way walking on his own as he was slower. The rest turned off and followed a lane to Blashenwell Farm (which had an old water wheel) and on into Kingston and The Scott Arms.
The others set off west along the Purbeck Way. Andy and John S dropped off the Purbeck Way to go through Church Knowle, West Orchard farm and down to Kingston getting there just before the rain. The others carried on along the Purbeck Way until they dropped down to Whitehall farm and on towards Kimmeridge before picking up the Hardy Way to Swyre Wood (where they met the rain) and on into Kingston.
After refreshment had been taken Dick, Pat, Pete and Steve left to go back to Corfe on a bus arranging to meet the others in the Fox Inn later. Pat had left without paying for his food but was taken care of by both Paul and Roland, who had arrived with Phil on the bus after getting a train down earlier. The others set off at various times to walk back along the Hardy Way, apart from Ian who got a later bus as had taken longer to get there than expected, and Roland and Phil who had a jamming session until getting a bus direct to Swanage.
Will had slipped on a Stile whilst climbing over hurting his foot. All made it to the Fox Inn, some wetter than others, where light refreshments were taken before returning to the cars and on to Swanage and the Hostel for our accommodation.
Once all were checked in and washed and changed it was out for dinner. There was a Blues weekend causing the town to be packed. Some went to a chippy for takeaway fish and chips, some went for a sit-down fish restaurant but it closed as they got there so ended up back at the chippy. Others went to the Red Lion for food. There was a group playing so they stayed there and with the help of the others who joined them later drunk the bar dry of beer (with the help of the other customers). Dick had abstained from drinking again as he still had a delhi belly. By the time some came back it started to rain quite a lot and they had to avail themselves of the drying room. Ralph had to ring the guys in his room as they had fire doors he could not get through without a key card.
Saturday 4th October.
We woke up to a fine but blowy morning. After a good breakfast we again split into different groups with the aim of meeting at The Bankes Arms Studland.
Dick and Phil walked from the Hostel into Swanage along the coast path to Old Harry Rocks then on round the coast path to the Bankes Arms. As they neared the rocks a Squall came in with even stronger winds making it hard to stand and put on waterproofs. Once they had put coats on it soon stopped raining.
Will and Ian wandered around Swanage and got the bus to Studland later to meet the others. Pat went trainspotting before returning to Swanage to get the bus to meet the others. He had a few mishaps though, just missing a bus and leaving his poles behind, which were still where he had left them. That was lucky!
The others got the train to Corfe Castle to walk along The Purbeck Way East as far as Ballard Down and then down into Studland. It was very windy up top and they also had trouble putting on waterproofs when the squall came in. Whilst in Corfe some had stocked up with supplies from the bakers before setting off.
Whilst at the Bankes Arms Ralph went to make fuss of a dog which suddenly was sick just missing him.
After lunch Dick, Pete, Pat and Ian got the bus back into Swanage to try and catch some sport but despite wandering around failed to find a pub with it on so settled for a pint in the Ship before returning to the hostel. Will got a later bus back and managed to find a pub with football on (The White Horse) to watch Liverpool Chelsea game. The rest walked back along the coast path taking in Old Harry Rocks and a Trig Point, which was a steep climb, where some climbed it with Ray's help. As they got back down to the beach Ray, Ben, Andy and Ralph decided to go for a dip, none had costumes but as the sea was cold there was not much to be seen!! They then met Will in the White Horse to watch football and listen to music staying there until late. Others went to the British Legion for food (very good) and music (Robin Bibi group). Dick and Pete stayed at the hostel, Dick was still suffering so was staying dry.
Sunday 5th October.
We woke up to a fine sunny morning, not so windy with just occasional rain spots during the day. Today's plan was to walk to the Square and Compass for lunch at Worth Matravers and return to the hostel.
Ian got the bus to Acton to walk to the Square & Compass returning the same way later. Dick, Pete and Pat walked out of the hostel to pick up The Priests Way trying to stay up through Townsend nature reserve and the holiday park to avoid losing some height but ended up climbing to start with before dropping on to the way. Once on track it was plain sailing to the lunch time stop.
Ben wanted to take in a bit of the coast path he had missed in the past so set off before the rest but as he was on the phone as he left he went the wrong way (don't phone and walk) so had to retrace his steps to get back OnTrack.
The rest took the coast path out of Swanage via the tea room at Durlston Head, along to Seacombe Cliff where some went up the path to Worth Matravers, others came up via Winspit. Whilst on one climb Will engaged his turbo, gassing the people behind, not our group though, oops.
As always excellent beer and pasties had by all.
After lunch Roland was going back to Kingston to sort out the double payment of Pat's food in the Scott Arms but just missed his bus so got one back to Swanage instead.
Steve, Pat and Pete walked to Acton to get the bus back. Once back they stopped at the White Swan to try and organise dinner for the evening. The only place we all could get in was an Italian so it was booked. All the rest walked back along the Priests Way taking in the Dinosaurs footprints.
Dick and John S had walked back together and as it had been hard trying to navigate the path on the way out walked into town stopping at the British Legion for refreshment. All went to The Red Lion for an aperitif before going to eat at the Italian (good but dear) then going back to the hostel to raise a toast to absent friends.
Monday 6th October.
After breakfast some went straight off, others took a walk around Peveril Point. Once back at the hostel, in the car park we noticed 2 deer grazing in the bushes. Then with goodbye's said we hit the road. Another great weekend.
P.S. Roland got his money back.
