On Monday 12th October a group of 9 travelled down to Swanage for our midweek break. After an ample dinner and breakfast the following day we completed our first walk from Swanage to Corfe Castle. Liquid refreshment in a local pub was very welcome before heading to the Castle. We returned to Swanage on the last steam train of the day. Wednesday was a free day with 2 heading to the RSPB at Arne, one to the pier for a spot of fishing and the rest to Sandbanks on the bus which crossed the entrance to Poole Harbour on the chain ferry - roughly a 4 minute crossing. This group spent the day a Compton Acres - the beautiful formal gardens established in 1920 by Thomas Simpson. Amongst the birds seen at Arne were egrets, cormorant and curlew. And one went fishing - quite a good catch. 

On Thursday we had our second walk to Old Harry Rocks. A welcome break at Joe’s cafe, Studland. Friday saw us heading home with some heading to Kingston Lacy and others to Stourhead. 

Corfe Castle

What a catch - a Pollock

Japanese garden at Compton Acres

Group photo at Old Harry Rocks

Stourhead

Quite a wine cellar at Kingston Lacy