Route: Hengistbury Head
Area: Dorset
Date of walk: 7th August 2015
Walkers: Andrew and James (plus Gilly Lucy and Phoebe at start)
Distance: 4.7 miles
Weather: Sun and blue skies
By coincidence it was one year ago to the day that we last walked on Hengistbury Head, the peninsula which shelters Christchurch Harbour. Once again we were staying at the Christchurch Harbour Hotel and started the walk from there. After reaching the end of the bay we caught the passenger ferry across the mouth of the harbour and disembarked on the narrow sandy spit at the other side
We then walked along the beach past a line of beach huts (which cost the same as a small house in other parts of the country), before climbing up the steps to Hengistbury Head
The views from the top were superb in every direction and after reaching the end we descended down an easy path, and then walked back on a low level path below the headland
When we reached the beach huts we retraced our steps back to the start of what had been a beautiful and interesting short walk
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Looking across Christchurch Harbour from our hotel jetty - the harbour is an important site for birds…
A family of swans passes by
Well camouflaged Common Sandpiper
Oystercatcher with its mad red eye
One for the family album - Lucy, James, Gilly and granddaughter Phoebe as we leave the hotel
Walking towards Mudeford Quay
Mouth of the harbour
Crabbing
Here comes our ferry, which will take us across the mouth of the harbour to Mudeford Spit
This is far enough for Phoebe - James and I continue along the sandbank
Beach huts along the spit
Huts like these are currently selling for around £250,000
Facing out to sea
Looking back along the spit
Mudeford Sandspit Lagoon, an important site for birds
Little Egret
Greenshank
The steps leading up to Hengistbury Head
Looking back along Mudeford Spit
Zooming in on the Isle of Wight and The Needles, about 9 miles awzay
Walking across Hengistbury Head
A carpet of heather, not yet at its best
The Needles again
Freshwater Quarry Pond
Looking back along the headland
Looking across the harbour to Christchurch and its priory
Looking along Southbourne and Bournemouth beaches from Hengistbury Head
Trig point at the highest part of the headland, looking towards Bournemouth
We descend an easy path before walking back below the headland
Looking across the lagoon to Christchurch Priory
Stonechat
Christchurch Harbour on our left
We pass through a small wood
The beach huts as we reach Mudeford Sandspit Lagoon again
Sandwich Terns
We retrace our steps along the spit and take the ferry back to Mudeford Quay
Mudeford Quay - and our hotel in the background
