Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 11 January 2017 Mudeford Peter Peter, Clive, Ray 6.9 miles Medford Key Pay and Display The Curlew ★★★★☆ |
The plan was to follow a 4.5 mile route described by Edward Griffiths in Dorset Magazine but this was not to be. There was a strong and very cold wind blowing in our face when we set off northwest from the car park so we turned back and headed northeast along the front instead. This turned out to be an excellent choice as we were well protected from the wind and it was bright, sunny and warm as we walked towards Highcliffe Castle. We climbed up around 116 steps to wander around the Nature Reserve and then climbed down about 118 steps back to the beach. It was the same number but we couldn't agree on the figure! We continued our journey to Chewton Bunny interrupted by a very pleasant interlude sitting by the sea while we had some nice warm drinks.
We then headed slightly inland with the idea that we might walk along the cliff tops. We found this impossible and became stuck at the end of a couple of cul-de-sacs eventually being forced to walk alongside the main road for a short distance. We were then able to walk through the grounds of Highcliffe Castle and decent the same steps back to the beach where we retraced our route back to the car.
We stopped at the Curlew for lunch. The chicken pie was very good, the tea was good and strong and the service excellent.