| Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 10 March 2017 Wareham Clive Clive, Peter, Ray 6.25 miles Sika Car Park Backers Arms ★★★☆☆ |
Having chickened out on Wednesday when the forecast looked dire we woke up to lots of mist in Westbourne this Friday. Magically it vanished as we approached Wareham and the day brightened up considerably. It wasn't sunny but very pleasant for walking.
Leaving the Sika Trail car park we walked along the road towards Wareham, crossed over and joined the track taking us back towards our starting point but inside the fence line. We need not have bothered because there is an entrance right opposite the car park!
The path across Cold Harbour Heath started very well, with a large solar farm on our right, became a bit boggy and then we found an excellent boardwalk across the next wet patch before turning left at the junction. We soon reached the road which was very quiet but it was nice to turn back again onto the Wareham Forest Way. At Ferncroft Farm we found it a bit of a struggle to see exactly where the path was supposed to be. There may have been some recent re-routing but we managed reasonably well. Although it looked very muddy the surface was hard underfoot and it was not a problem.
Leaving the Sika Trail car park we walked along the road towards Wareham, crossed over and joined the track taking us back towards our starting point but inside the fence line. We need not have bothered because there is an entrance right opposite the car park!
The path across Cold Harbour Heath started very well, with a large solar farm on our right, became a bit boggy and then we found an excellent boardwalk across the next wet patch before turning left at the junction. We soon reached the road which was very quiet but it was nice to turn back again onto the Wareham Forest Way. At Ferncroft Farm we found it a bit of a struggle to see exactly where the path was supposed to be. There may have been some recent re-routing but we managed reasonably well. Although it looked very muddy the surface was hard underfoot and it was not a problem.
 The Beautiful Countryside |  The Beautiful Countryside |
Shortly after going under the railway we crossed the River Piddle using the bridge by West Mills where the water was running at quite a speed. It was then an easy path to reach the bridge passing under the A352 and coming to a small car park where there is a seat that is ideal for three. It is also a little memorial place for local people who enjoyed the countryside.
A sign for the Wareham Walls Walk provides a reminder that life could be harsh in times gone by.
A sign for the Wareham Walls Walk provides a reminder that life could be harsh in times gone by.
 Wareham Walls Walk |  Don't Loose Your Head |  I'd Rather Walk |
 The Beautiful ........... Gorse | A short stroll along the high street and back over the railway took us through the Northmoor Park hosing area and out onto Northport Heath which we think of us typical Wareham Forest territory. Good wide paths with opportunities to branch off onto more grassy tracks and bright yellow gorse to enliven the scene. We chose to walk around the outer edges where we could. It was very pleasant and quite easy going. |
After a fairly easy walk back to the car we drove to the Baker's Arms where we had a very good lunch. Peter and Ray splashed out on two nice rump steaks but only because a voucher could be used to pay the difference between that and chicken pie. Thank you Vintage Inns!
A good walk with a lot of variety including fields, country lanes, a high street with shops, a housing estate and some open heath and forest.
A good walk with a lot of variety including fields, country lanes, a high street with shops, a housing estate and some open heath and forest.
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