MMM – September 2019

steamtrainsthat makes people smile?
Staying atthe Corfe Castle campsite fo r
a se cond night gave Terry the op portunity
for both sunset and sunrisepictur es of the
castle. However, our last day did not go
according to plan.
Just before we left the ca mpsite, our
waste wa ter tap and pipe cameoff and our
planto visit Studland Bay on the wayhome
was quickly changed so that we could head
into Poole to get things fixed.
Fortunately, we managed to find an
excellent garage just on the ou tskirts of
the town.
Poole was anunexpectedsurprise for
us. A popular tourist resort, the town has
a large natur al harbour, acommercial
port with cross Channel ferry services and
several excellent beaches.
We walked around Poole Quay, home to
a Grade II listed Customs House that is now
a ca fé/resta urant andthe old Town Cellars,
repurposed as an interesting history centre.
On the quay is a large metal sc ulpture
called Sea Music, designed by Sir Anthony
Caro,that you can walk up to enjoy fr om
differentheights. There is also a bronze
to commemorate Robert Baden-Powell’s
crea tion of the scoutmovement onnearby
Brownsea Island in 1907.
Across the quay you cannot miss t he

Sunseekershipyard with it s impressive

range of luxury motor yachts that only the

very rich can afford.

Our next activity was aboat tour of the

harbour. The 70-minute trip to ok us past

Brownsea Island, a wildlife haventhat

used tohost the Baden-Powells’ scout and

guide camps.

Brownsea Island was also the in spiration

for Enid Blyton’s Whispe ring Island inFive

Havea Mystery toSolve.

Now owned by the NationalTrust, the

island is home to red sq uirrels, sika deer

and anabundance of migrating birds.

Further in to the trip, we saw Sandbanks

• dubbed Britain’s ‘Palm Beach’ as it has
  the fourth highest land values by areain
  the world – as well as the Sandbanks Ferry,
  a chai n ferry which links the spit of land
  to Shell Bay in Studland. We came close to
  the va st Condor carferry on its dail y trip to
  Guernsey and to a lifeboat training session
  (the RNLI has its headquarters in the town).
  Back onshore, a ca ll from the garage
  meant that it was time to pick upour
  motorhome and head back home.
  Sadl y, we only had time for ahurried
  lunch before set ting off. But we vowed to
  come back toDorset to see more of the
  sights – andto planeven more motorhome
  adventures over a decent breakfast!

TRAVEL Weekend Break

Mustsee... Corfe Castle, one of the

last royalist strongholds in the civil war

THE CAMPSITE

West Bay HolidayPark,

West Bay, Bridport, Dorset

DT6 4HB

)03301 234850

parkdeanresorts.co.uk

March – October

£ Two adults, pitchand

electric:From £12

Corfe Castle Camping and

Caravanning Club Site,

Bucknowle, Wareham, Dorset

BH20 5PQ

)01929 480280

campingandcaravanning

club.co.uk

1 March – 3 November

£ Two adults, pitchand

electric:From £24.65

ABOVEFirst light at

Corfe Castle

98 outandaboutlive.co.ukSeptember 2019