Last Friday I flew to Southampton on my way to Poole in Dorset. I was having a weekend break and in the process I was visiting a good friend who lives there.
A little extra spice was added to the flight as Flybe use a propeller plane for the trip. I wasn’t expecting that, and because of its smaller size I struggled a little with my hand baggage. But the cabin crew were very helpful and sorted everything out.
I was picked up at the airport by A, and we had a few days to go and do whatever we wanted. We quickly came up with a plan.
It was a simple plan.
The weather was great. I think it was cooler than in Ireland at around 16 degrees, but the skies were blue and the sun was shining.
I know Dorset quite well as I worked there once upon a time. I ended up staying there longer than planned because I liked it so much. It’s a good while since I visited so I was looking forward to having the chance to explore old haunts.
On Day 1 we took a route to Poole, stopping in Hythe, Calshot, Beaulieu, Lymington and Highcliffe. Each town was different to the last, and all were worth visiting.
I think the highlights were Calshot’s beach huts, Beaulieu and Highcliffe Castle. Beaulieu in the New Forest National Park was stunning.
On Day 2 we concentrated on the Purbecks, visiting Studland, Swanage, Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
Kimmeridge, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door were the highlights here. We parked at Lulworth and walked to Durdle Door along a path that seemed to go up and up without end. I need to get fitter I think.
Kimmeridge is famous for fossils dating to the Jurassic period. It sits in an area of Dorset and East Devon known as The Jurassic Coast.
The weekend was fantastic – thanks A.
We had a great time exploring, taking in the Southern England countryside and treating ourselves to well deserved pints of ale and bitter.
Having a couple of pints of Tanglefoot before going for an Indian meal at the end of Day 1 was a real treat.
With Flybe flying to Southampton Airport and Ryanair flying to Bournemouth, the south of England is easy to reach.
The train service provided by South West Trains will take you along the coast from Weymouth to Southampton before travelling on to London.
I headed back to Southampton Airport on the 10:50 from Poole, which stopped at almost every station possible on its 80 minute journey. Seeing the coast and the New Forest again from a different angle was a nice way to end the weekend.
Since I’ve got back I’ve been thinking that staying in the New Forest for a week, hiring bikes and exploring by train could be a really good holiday at the end of summer.
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It’s a good thing you weren’t scheduled to go this last weekend – you might have had to fight for a ferry seat to get back…
It looks lovely, you got some beautiful shots.
I was very lucky.
The previous week the weather was fairly nasty over there, plenty of rain, definitely not good for sight seeing.
And this week – well as you wrote I’d either be trying to get back via train and ferry or extending my weekend.
Mmm – a tough decision.
Getting good weather and missing the effects of the volcano was as lucky as it gets.