Poole, Dorset

We couldn't go home without stopping for another walk out and more coffee and cake. So we took the short drive from our campsite down the coast to Hengisbury Head.

Autumn has well and truly established itself now, and as we walked among the trees the leaves of fiery orange, reds and purple looked beautiful. Sadly though our walk over, it was time to return home. Time to plan another holiday we think!

Setthorns Campsite New Forest. (Day 4)

Our few days staying in the new forest are flying by. Today we once again walked to Brockenhurst. We love the village, and never tire of it.  We also love the scones baked fresh every morning in one of the tea rooms.

(Last time stayed at Holland's Wood was in our Landy Muddy Marge)

(The same spot today with the campsite shut)

And another pastime we love, is walking around the closed Holland's Wood campsite. It's very tranquil, and with many grey squirrels for company, we gathered mushrooms, whilst they gathered acorns. Everyone was happy.

(Orange Oak Boletes, slightly toxic so cook well!)

Especially John who left with quite a haul. As we made our way out of the village we stopped at the wilting brambles to pick the very last of the blackberries before walking back along the disused railway line back to Margery, stopping once for Angela to dive into the bushes, scrutinised by a judgemental cow who paused from eating fallen acorns to check she abided by the countryside code with regard to relieving oneself in the wild.

This evening as the sun sat on the horizon the sky was ablaze with colours of red, orange and purple. What a stunning sunset. If the weather holds, and it doesn't become too cold, we hope to return to the Setthorns campsite for a few days in November. Walking is beneficial to your mental health, it allows you to process the junk in your head. With so much going on in our lives at the moment we think some processing will probably be in order again soon.

Steps: 27,500

Setthorns Campsite New Forest. (Day 3)

Oh dear, Angela's Hen of the Woods find didn't make it to the frying pan this morning, the maggots had got to it first. But no matter, by the end of today John would forage a good crop of edible fungi (Beech Boletes and Cauliflower Fungi).

Burley was our destination today, a round walk of twelve miles, of which a short distance involved walking alongside the edge of a busy road which was a little unerving.

But as they say ' no pain no gain'. The gain most definitely delicious dorset apple cake and a cream tree upon our arrival at the popular little New Forest village of Burley.

Popular because most of the shops appeal to lovers of witchcraft, sorcery, crystals and of course tea rooms.

Not wanting to have to walk too much alongside the busy road on the return leg, John consulted O.S. maps and we found a route that ran alongside the road, albeit over some boggy ground at times. Tired from a second day of walking twelve miles we were glad to set up our outside gas grill, cook our venison burgers purchased yesterday, and sit out.

As darkness fell, not a sound could be heard. We could get used to this, where we live in Poole it is so noisy. Some good news there though. Our house went up for sale today. Now another adventure begins for us.

Steps 29,500

Setthorns Campsite, New Forest. (Day 2)

Yesterday evening as we cooked fish fingers an unexpected guest flew inside Margery. A large beetle almost fried itself alive by landing on our gas hob.

Fish will do us just fine thanks. As darkness fell, the owls began calling, and continued to do so all through the night. But Angela was awake anyway. Our new thermal pop top wrap around cover is very efficient. She felt as if she was trapped in a sauna, with none of the other pampering included. Tonight, less clothing in bed. This morning we decided we would spend all of our four nights away at the Setthorns campsite. Why move?

It's beautiful here amongst the fungi, amongst the trees, some gnarled by the wind. Beneath our feet a carpet of brown and gold. The leaves falling slow and steady like a light snowfall. The autumn light played tricks on our eyes in the early evening when we went in search of ceps. No luck there, but Angela did find a huge Hen of the Woods fungi at the base of a tree.

Beat that John! Today has been a lovely day. We took a walk along the old disused railway bed to Brockenhurst.

7

Treated ourselves to coffee and scones, before stocking up on supplies, including venison burgers from the butcher for tomorrow evenings dinner.

Outside Tesco the donkeys gathered by the door, their expressions serious. Who was supposed to bring the Tesco clubcard? Twelve miles later we were reunited with Margery. Next spring we plan to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland. It is just under one hundred miles. Training and planning has begun, so another long walk tomorrow.

One of the Pannage pigs clearing up the acorns in Brockenhurst.

Steps 27,600