Route: Arne Nature Reserve
Area: Dorset
Date of walk: 5th November 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.1 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Mostly sun and blue skies
Arne is owned and managed by the RSPB and overlooks Poole Harbour and many of its islands. The landscape is made up of heathland and woodland and is a haven for wildlife
I parked in the RSPB car park at the end of Arne Road and entered the nature reserve. There are various trails to follow, all helpfully waymarked and described in a leaflet which is available at the visitor entrance. I followed the long trail which took me out to Shipstal Beach and back again
Having arrived back at the start, there was still time to explore the other section of the reserve, the marked trail round Coombe Heath. I was hoping for a sighting of the rare Dartford Warbler, but was out of luck today. No matter, for I’d seen plenty of interesting wildlife in addition to the stunning surroundings which made this a thoroughly enjoyable walk
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The RSPB visitor centre at the start of the walk
I pass by the church of St Nicholas
I follow ‘the long trail’ in a clockwise direction
Near Arne Farm
Big Wood
Poole Harbour and Poole beyond
Looking across Arne Bay to Poole Harbour
Brownsea Island and Furzey Island, with Poole Harbour entrance between the two. Long Island in the foreground
Little Egret
Teal
View over the marshes from Shipstal Hill
Descending from Shipstal Hill towards Long Island
Shipstal Beach
Corfe Castle in the distance - and three sika deer grazing in the marshes
Shipstal Beach
Poole
Poole again, this time from the beach
Long Island
Brent Geese
Sika Deer
Having completed the circuit of the ‘long trail’, I set off along the shorter Coombe Heath trail
Coombe Heath
Looking across Middlebere Lake
Zooming in on Corfe Castle, 3 miles away
End of the Coombe Heath trail
......and thank you for having me, what a wonderful place
