From Forest to Moorland Part 1

The last few days of our stay in the New Forest were a bit damp and chilly. We made a visit to Bolderwood which has a deer sanctuary enclosure within and graded walks.

Being 1/2 term there were lots of families about despite the damp conditions. You can tell the locals - they're the ones wearing sensible galoshes to cope with the muddy trails! It was a beautiful place with a serenity about it. Tall oaks, yew, beech and wildflowers abound. I could almost imagine a royal hunting party in pursuit of their game.

We did see some deer a short distance away resting in the long grass.

 Animals have right of way in the national forest so you have to look out for the ponies, cattle sheep and donkeys nibbling their way right to the verge of the road.

Had dinner at the Green Dragon Inn on Thursday. There are inns and pubs all over the place and very popular even on week nights.

On Saturday we set off for Devon via Dorset to visit Chesil Beach which is a World Heritage sight mostly renowned for its geological pecularities, namely instead of sand there are thousands of rounded pebbles which form into dunes and also range from fist size at the Portland Harbour end to tiny pebbles about 16 miles further onthe beach. This is result of action of the tides.

the pebbles of Chesil Beach

 we arrived at our destination in Moretonhampstead about 6 pm but of course it was broad daylight. The journey to Devon was a delight as we saw more valleys and hills covered in lush green grass with fields of grazing sheep and the moorland in the distance. Of course the roads became narrower and were often lined by high hedges as well as winding. It seems every little village is on the side of a hill and possessed of narrow lanes. Politeness is called for giving way to oncoming traffic. But they ARE very picturesque  (the villages that is).

Lex on Chesil Beach Dorset

Guess who?

In Devon