Which way now?


Which way to go that is the question. Let's just carry straight on ...


As the days of heavy rain become slightly less frequent, it is easier now to find some drier spots and put the hiking boots on and take a longer walk....


The monument above is Hardy's Monument and is a local land mark that is visible from miles around. It was built in 1844 to remember Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy who was Flag Captain to Admiral Nelson and commanded HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. As Nelson lay dying of a musket shot his last words spoken were, " I have done my duty, thank God, now kiss me Hardy."


The Dorset countryside is so varied that you don't need to go far to experience many different landscapes. I was first introduced to the Dorset countryside through the author Thomas Hardy's novels. The countryside settings varying from beautiful vales where everything was lush, green and fertile to barren lands and stoney lands where it was difficult to grow anything. On our walks I am often reminded of this first introduction, although I have to admit that it is the more attractive countryside that attracts our attention!


 We walked along a path to Hells Bottom and came across this abandoned farm. I always feel so sad for abandoned buildings and wonder about their history. On returning home I was trying to find out the reason for naming this Hell's Bottom and instead discovered that this farmhouse was one of the locations used in Thomas Hardy's novel Far from the madding Crowd adapted for film in 1967. It looked so different then with a roof on!


We passed by another abandoned building - two in one day which is quite unusual!


There were also buzzards soaring overhead, pheasants hiding in the undergrowth, a deer that was too fast to capture and black beetle. I was fascinated how the end of its legs looked like barbed wire.

Thank you for helping with the identification  many of you have told me it is a stonechat.
    There has been a number of land slides along the coast over the past few weeks and also instances of fossil hunters getting stuck in mud slides.


Landslip at Seatown 
 The latest landslide happened along East Cliff in West Bay overnight last Sunday, so luckily there was no one on the beach at the time.


We had always assumed that by walking closer to the water's edge and away from the cliffs that it would be safe, but the latest rock fall managed to reach the water's edge as you can see below.

Image by National Police Air service (NPAS)



Although some of the rock fall has already been washed away  as can be seen above, The image was taken a long distance away with the zoom camera. It will be at the lowest tide that we will be venturing along this stretch again. There are  however many stretches of beach that can still be enjoyed and carry less risk.



Did anyone manage to see Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury on ITV on Friday night? It featured a beautiful walk from Colmers Hill (which has often been featured here) to the Jurassic Coast see here.

Colmers Hill

We have been celebrating Mother's Day this weekend in the UK. I know this is a different date to many other countries. I received a huge bunch of my favourite spring flowers from my children and despite my son being on holiday in Scotland my daughter working most of the day I was still given a lovely tea out in between her shifts. I' m sure you have all been spoilt too!

 Take care until next time.
 Sarah x

Comments

  1. So many beautiful walks in your corner of the world. Loved the Julia Bradbury walk in Dorset. I have always loved Colmers hill, it reminds me of background landscapes in Leonardo Da Vinci paintings! We hope to do that walk one of these days. Have a lovely week. B x

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  2. Those rock falls are a bit scary. And humbling. Forces of nature beyond our control. Take care out there.

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  3. You've spotted some great views and sights again. The one with Tavi is just wonderful. I share your interest in abandoned buildings. They look both sad and fascinating. But I can't believe the beetle's legs.

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  4. oh wow, that is some big landslide!!!! Love your stagbeetle with his wire-pincers!!! x

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  5. Happy Mother's day! And thank you for another walk through your paradise!

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  6. Between the falling down houses and falling down cliffs I was glad to glimpse some spectacular scenery! I hope your weather will finally settle down.

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  7. Oh, such beauty. I cannot imagine how wonderful it would be to live there.

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  8. Those landslides send shivers up and down my spine. You must have the possibility of one happening at the back of your mind every time you walk along the cliffs. Surely the fossil hunters must know the danger. Wonderful pictures, and I'm glad you've been able to find some time when the weather was good to be out and about, Sarah.

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  9. Such a beautiful setting in winter! Love the views and your writing about it. Great adventure!

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  10. Mothers day so early in the year? I remember a mothers day in April, is that possible? We have been in a public garden.
    Lovely seaside views!

    Sigrun

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    1. How Mother's Day is linked in with Easter so that is why it is so early this year. Sarah x

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  11. I've really enjoyed your photos Sarah :-)

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  12. Yes, I watch J.Bradbury walking Hell Lane and Colmers Hill, lovely hidden gems, hope the world and his wife don't find them now. Golden Cap is on my list for this summer, used to be a school outing for my children, we are so lucky living in such a beautiful county. Sarah (North Dorset)

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  13. Beautiful photos from a beautiful walk! The bird is a stonechat.

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  14. LEAD THE WAY, TAVI! The fearless westie, with his face set like a flint! And the path is a story book. Every corner, every cliff and field Sarah is beautiful. Wishing you a belated Mother's Day! Anita

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  15. Glad to hear you were spoilt yesterday! My only experience of Dorset is through Thomas Hardy - I'd love to visit properly one day! Juliex

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  16. I do like your header photo, in fact I like all your photo's.
    Landslides can be quite scary and seem to be happening more frequently, glad no-one was hurt.

    So pleased you had a pleasant Mothers Day ... countdown to Eater now I guess?

    All the best Jan

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  17. What lovely landscapes you live in! Like you, it was Thomas Hardy who first brought me to Dorset and the Purbecks and I always want to come back. Fortunately one of our sons now lives in the Purbecks so we go as often as we can.

    I think your bird might be a stonechat? A bit chunkier than a black cap and with a rusty coloured breast. There are plenty up in the gorse here every spring and summer, chit chatting away to stop you going too near their nests.

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  18. Hi Sarah, I'm fairly sure your bird is a stonechat (not a blackcap). Gorgeous scenic photos, as usual, and what a landslide! It's been a winter for them, hasn't it? I'm sure a bit more has fallen off by the recent one here. Take care. Sam x

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  19. Wonderful pictures. I am very fond of the setting of the Hardy Monument and the views from the hill. The bird is a stonechat I think. I am not 100% sure about the beetle but it may be a Bloody Nose Beetle.

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    1. Thanks Philip for those identification hints. Looking at google images the bettle does look very similar to a bloody nose bettle. Many others too have told me it is a stonechat. Sarah x

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  20. Amazing pictures Sarah and the light... so beautiful. Often the light by the sea is something special and no wonder painters often took their escape to the sea side to paint. You live in a very beautiful place Sarah and I'm so glad we can tag a long every now and then on your walks. :)

    Big hugs to you and have a great week.♥

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  21. Happy Mothering, Sarah! I'm glad you had a happy celebration yesterday. Thanks for another interesting post with stunning views [including the black beetle!] of the world around you. I appreciate the walking link, but have not signed up so that I can view it...yet :) I plan to go on a long weekend to the Oregon Coast this weekend with three other friends, and am so looking forward to our time! xx

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  22. Glad you had a good mothers day! A lovely walk to go along on with you. xx

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  23. What gorgeous photos, and such a beautiful part of the world. I'm a big fan of Thomas Hardy as well, and I've been visiting Dorset all my life. Love it. Sobering to see that land fall. Let's hope there aren't any more for a long time. CJ xx

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  24. Sarah, the photos of your walk are stunning. Dorset is certainly a beautiful county, my DH sings a song made popular by The Wurzels - "Dorset is beautiful wherever you go" and that is certainly true. what a shame about the cliff falls though, it is frightening how quickly parts of our coastline is eroding. xx

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  25. Thanks for a really interesting post. I enjoy the combination of lovely scenery and snippets of history. Beautiful photos! The landslides on the cliffs are a reminder of changing times and weather..

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  26. Happy Mother's Day and thanks for the wonderful visit to Dorset.

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  27. Lovely photos of your interesting walk. I first went on holiday to Dorset as a teenager with my head full of Hardy's novels, so I had a sort of romantic view of it at once! I'd love to go back as some of my ancestors came from there - and of course it has such beautiful countryside.

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  28. What a great post Sarah. The first shot of Tavi on the path is exquisite. And I'm glad you mentioned the barbed-wire beetle feet, or I wouldn't have noticed. Very weird and cool. The aerial shot of the cliffslide was sobering. Imagine the huge whomping noise when it came down. I've always had an outsized fear of being buried in an avalanche (having lived in Alaska for many years), and now I'll be giving beach cliffs a wide berth. Yow. Brenda

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  29. I feel nice and refreshed after our walk, Sarah, having learned a bit of history on the way. Here it is all dry heat and strong winds, yuk.
    Amalia
    xo

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  30. What a lovely post. I've never ventured down your way, but the coast looks fabulous. Those landslides look pretty dangerous though. X

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  31. Ahhh....another look, another breath of fresh sea air.

    Sarah dearest, thank you kindly for coming to my blog post. HUGS TO YOU and Tavi!

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  32. I feel so sad when see abandoned buildings. I too keep wondering how many stories that building would tell if the walls could talk. Very interesting history! I would love to see that movie. Scary to have the landslide all the way to the water line. Thank you, this was a very interesting and enjoyable post!

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  33. Such beautiful photographs. I always feel like I am travelling along with you on your day out! That landslide looks scary. Loving the Hardy countryside. I was such a Thomas Hardy fan at school, but it's been a long time since I read his books.

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  34. I could live here in a heart beat. What a beautiful Area.
    The old buildings look like my Grand Mothers house on the coast of Ireland.
    yvonne

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  35. I always enjoy photo's of your walks Sarah. The British coastline is so beautiful. Love the diversity. We have sand and dunes only. The falling rocks of the cliffs sound scary though.

    Happy weekend ahead.

    Madelief x

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  36. A lovely walk - I am such a fan of Thomas Hardy and visited his homes when we holidayed in Dorset a few years ago. Such a shame to see abandoned homes. Thanks for sharing your walk with us.
    Caz xx

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  37. I enjoyed the lovely walk with you. Love the countryside from Thomas Hardy's novels. Looking forward to visit England again.

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  38. My dear Sarah,

    the photo with Tavi is wonderful, your little pathfinder.
    Thank you for the lesson in history.

    Wish you a wonderful weekend, maybe in the garden?

    Barbara xx

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  39. Your new header photograph is wonderful Sarah.

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