Handfast Point

listen to ‘Handfast Point’ on Audioboo

On Studland Beach

listen to ‘On Studland Beach’ on Audioboo

Don't push me ...

... cos I'm close to the edge.

I'm trying not to lose my head.

Uh huh huh huh.

Not a shag in sight

Autumn Break

Intermission

Panorama

Panoramic view of Studland Bay (click on photo for larger version)

No-Anchor Zone

The westernmost part of Studland Beach, aka South Beach. A voluntary 'no-anchor zone' has recently been introduced to protect the local seahorse population..

Hope it's more successful than the mandatory 20 mph Home Safety Zones back in the big smoke.

Shag watch

Perched on the cliffs at Old Harry Rocks, looking for shags, or are they cormorants ?

Cormorants and shags


(Press play for Sealoop)



A dozen canoeists paddled by.

Nine Barrow Down

View towards Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island.



View towards Corfe Castle.



There's an overgrown stone circle in a wood at the foot of the hill by the road, which for some years has been fenced off by the landowner, Rempstone Estates, who've erected signs to warn off trespassers. It's possible that it was built by the same Bronze Age tribes who were responsible for the burial mounds / barrows, on top of the chalk ridge.

themodernantiquarian.com
megalithic.co.uk

Studland Little Sea

Fresh water lake cut off from the sea by the formation of the sand dunes as recently as 1880. A haven for birds, with several hides around the shore, but relatively poor in nutrients and supporting little aquatic life. (Not much bird life about either today)

Studland

Bankes Arms

Sir Bill Cotton

A managing director of the BBC and son of the big band leader Billy Cotton, who lived in nearby Sandbanks at the same time as my grandfather and Marconi, Sir Bill Cotton, who lived in the last house on the hill out of Studland up to Ballard Down, known as The Glebe, died this summer and is buried here in the graveyard of St. Nicholas church. My Mum confirmed what all the obituaries had said, in that he was a jolly nice chap. She went on to explain that they have to wait for the ground to settle before placing a headstone at the grave.

Old Harry Rocks

Coastguard !

Walking down Watery Lane to the beach at Studland, we were investigating badger sets up on the bank, when the coastguard flew over.

The appearance of the beach has changed over the 35 years I've been visiting. You don't always get such a great view of The Isle Of Wight.