What a glorious afternoon to go walking in the footsteps of smugglers and witches!
Highcliffe was less about barrels of rum and magic-making this afternoon but more about blue skies and wagging tails of happy dogs playing in the sand.
The wind was a little sharp, reminding me that we are only just into February, but as I wandered away from the busy beach towards the Chewton bunny, the tree-lined path sheltered me and the babbling bunny.
The trees shifted from shimmering muted colours to silhouettes as I squinted through the dappled, low winter sun which poured through the boughs. Passing Mill House always sends my imagination wild, with stories of smugglers and witches, amongst other well-known characters and the antics that this house has seen and seemed to attract over the years.
It's not long before I was heading back towards the coastline, but walking the cliffside path was more sedate than the busy beach. I could still hear the ebbing and flowing of the tide and the smell the sulphry sea, but my company was Holm oaks, gorse flower and a tame robin.
When I reached the grounds of Highcliffe Castle, people were enjoying cream teas in the sunshine, albeit in layers, hats and scarves. (So very British!)
I continued my walk through Holm oaks and history at Steamer point nature reserve. Great tits were singing and gulls were calling and dogs were starting to join my path.
Back into the bright sunshine and chatter of people enjoying a stroll in the sunshine, Avon beach was busy. But, it didn't stop me joining a short queue for coffee to take a moment to sit in the sun and to observe the world round me for a moment, where I watched the kestrel hover. Without fail, he appears everytime I visit and goes unnoticed by most.
My meander back was along the shoreline of low tide. It made a change to have boots full of sand and salt rather than mud, and probably took me longer than it should to get back as I had to say hello to every happy dog and bathed in the happy energy of people enjoying beautiful views, a sensory walk, happy conversation with friends, or beloveds having a stroll hand in hand with a good, hot coffee or others having great fun with their dogs.
I hope the weather is just as beautiful when I take this walk again in March as a guided walk.
Find details here if you want to come along, and don't forget your Nature and Nurture membership discount
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