Coast to New Forest – A Fool Afoot.

The fool afoot thought he’d lost his wallet with his cards in so he cancelled them and then found the wallet. In the meanwhile he’d rung his mate to ask him to get him some money and forgot that it was his mate’s birthday. Prick of the Week!!!

Good breakfast in the hotel and set off at 9.30 on the (wet) road again. I cut south to the sea down one of the many chines in this part of the world. A chine is a steep sided gorge leading seaward. So there! Didn’t you know that? Jesus! Are you daft or what? At least you didn’t cancel your credit cards. 

 

I walked along the beach for 4 miles, aiming for Mudeford ferry at Hengistbury Head. The tides throw sand on roads and benches every week apparently.

Darker skies and occasional showers but it was a lovely walk, with the Isle of Wight getting closer every minute.

Until the sky cleared a bit and Hengistbury was there in front of me, with the IOW and the Needles in the background.

The sand was turning into pebbles but I kept higher up on firm ground to avoid the crunching exhaustion of a pebble dash. Hengistbury isn’t high but it has a great 360 view. Looking northwards into the almost landlocked Christchurch bay. 

Then looking southwestwards towards Swanage and Poole.

Here’s where I were at. There there. With a short walk from the top of the Head down towards the ferry point.

Along the full length of the sandbank were dozens of wooden beach huts.

Some with great views like this.

The ferry was a small boat berthed at the far side so the trick was to walk out on the wooden pier and wave. Within ten seconds the boat was on its way.

It was a bit bouncy with the wind and waves and we covered a few hundred metres but the channel itself wasn’t very wide.

Climbing up to the quay there was a sight for sore eyes – a fish shop!

I bought three big oysters for my lunch and the bloke opened and prepared them for me. Delicious.

Now, head down Smithy, don’t muck about, a mile along the shore and then inland for a week. One last look at the Swanny Sea and then off.

The track cut up the cliff side past Highcliffe Castle and up to a main road into the New Forest.

Cutting across the heathland I made the YHA in good time. Fish and chips, tent up in the garden in the sleet and a damp and chilly night ahead.
Night night.