Micro Event: Quayside and Seaside, Wetland and Headland (1b)

The group on this walk will set off at 11.00.

The features that made the site a prime location for settlement for the Saxons (at the confluence of two rivers and on a wide yet enclosed natural harbour sheltered by a headland) have since made it a prime location for tourism for visitors. Christchurch in Dorset (formerly Hampshire) offers abundant attractions both historic and natural. The former include the huge Priory Church, the pretty quaysides and a busy Georgian and Victorian town centre; the latter include two agreeable rivers, a sizeable harbour, a formidable headland and an enjoyable sandy beach. And that human/natural divide is how our marvellous day out will pan out: town and ferry before lunch; beach, headland and riverbank after.

The sights:

Christchurch: 'Of all the great churches of England, Christchurch is perhaps the least well-known. Its tower rises above the water meadows of the River Avon near the coast, which has taken more punishment than any. The continuous ribbon of retirement suburbs from Lymington to Poole is a landscape without redemption [!]...The church itself is sensational' (Simon Jenkins). The Priory Church (founded 1150) was bought by the town at the Dissolution and its long profile (it is reputedly the longest parish church in the country) dominates the town. Robust Norman nave, magnificent Norman arcading on the north side, ravishing C14 Lady Chapel and Quire with a lierne vault, Great Screen with the Tree of Jesse, opulent renaissance chantry to Margaret, Countess of Salisbury.  An ascent of the C15 tower involves climbing 176 steps on a spiral staircase to get a spectacular view (£4 for adults). In the well-kept grounds of the Priory are a C12 castle and Constable’s House which are ruins.

Stanpit Marsh: Built from the accumulation of sediment from the Rivers Stour and Avon in Christchurch Harbour and having a range of habitats including areas of salt marsh, freshwater marsh, reed beds and sandy scrub. An SSSI and an important nature reserve. Our path uses a prototype Bailey Bridge to cross 'Mother Siller's Channel', a creek that supplied the landlady of Stanpit's pub (The Ship in Distress) with contraband.

Mudeford: A fishing village now caught up in Christchurch's sprawl. Its lovely views over Christchurch Harbour and Christchurch Bay brought it Victorian retirees and holidaymakers, and a pretty fluted pillar box as well as the villas date to this phase of its expansion. Mudeford Quay (from where the ferry sails - cost £2 cash) still has weatherboarded boat sheds.

Mudeford Spit/Sandbank and Beach: A bank of fine, soft sand the colour of demerara sugar leading off north from Hengistbury Head and almost closing off Christchurch Harbour. Gaily-painted beach huts all along it, notorious for the high prices they fetch (for instance £285,000 in 2018). Superb views over to the Isle of Wight and The Needles. The cafe sells light lunches to eat in or take out.

Hengistbury Head and Warren Hill: Seemingly robust at a distance but actually composed of crumbly sand and gravel. A third of its size in the C19 when quarrying began, which involved extracting the boulders of cemented ironstone called doggers which would normally fall out of the cliff and form a natural sea defence. The various habitats on the Head form an SSSI and provide a home for many plants, birds and insects, some of them rare and critically endangered such as the natterjack toad. As important for archaeology as geology and ecology with a long history of Palaeolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age habitation and use from hunter-gathering to burial to metallurgy and trade. Superb views again over to Purbeck, Old Harry, the Isle of Wight and The Needles (see if you can see the 'polar bear').

The route (please click on the link in red to see it):

Heading along the B-road into Christchurch we'll walk through the town centre to the Priory. We'll then split up and have an hour and a half to explore the town's attractions and possibly have lunch. Meeting up again at 13.00, we'll head out to Stanspit and cross its meadows and then reach Mudeford. We'll walk along the quay and pick up the ferry to Mudeford Beach. Alighting from the ferry we'll have an hour (or more if you want) to visit the cafe and swim in the sea. When we've had enough of that, we'll walk along Mudeford Spit and ascend Warren Hill over Hengistbury Head following the national trail. We'll then split off and join another national trail to walk along Christchurch Harbour and then the River Stour to cross Iford Bridge. We'll then be at the suburb of Tuckton and a traversal of this will bring us back to the station.

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is suitable for them to some extent. The morning portion of the walk is less suitable as it is in town and we are visiting places of interest. The afternoon portion is near-ideal as it is out of town and Mudeford Sandbank Beach is dog-friendly. Any dog off the lead at the beach must be under control and there are no dog waste bins there. Hot weather could be exhausting as there is no shade and little water in which dogs could cool down once we have left the beach.

Micro Events – IMPORTANT: Please read the following before you sign up to this event:

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who lives or is in a support bubble with someone showing symptoms, is asked not to attend. This is in line with the government’s coronavirus advice.
• All are required to practice social distancing – staying 2m (not 1m) apart at all times, including the lunch stop.
• Please join events within around one hour’s travel from your home, rather than travelling longer distances to get there.
• Unfortunately, there won’t be any planned pub / café stops en route or at the end, and please don’t share sweets or snacks with others – we’re sorry!
• Public transport use to the start point is discouraged, as this is a non-essential journey. No car sharing to the start point unfortunately either.
• Please bring your own hand sanitising gel for your own use throughout the day. Use of face coverings is at your own choice.
• Each person can only attend one OutdoorLads micro event a week. (Leaders to leave at least three days between events they lead.)
• On walks, one person to hold open gates and allow everyone to walk through – so minimising surfaces that multiple people touch. 
• Be aware that opportunities for toilet stops may be minimal if facilities are closed.
• Please, please cancel at your earliest opportunity if you are unable to attend or are unwell, so that we can allow others to take up these valuable event spaces.
• Much as it's difficult - no handshakes or hugs!

Micro Events Participation Statement

OutdoorLads draws your attention to the fact that travelling and being away from home increases the risk of receiving and transmitting Coronavirus, whilst it is present in the UK. You are likely to choose not to participate in OutdoorLads events whilst there is a risk of Coronavirus transmission. However, should you choose to participate in OutdoorLads events whilst the risk is present, you must be aware of and follow the law and government guidelines, both when travelling to and from events as well as when participating in events.

Please note that every person participating should be aware of (and accept) that those members perceived as ‘in charge’ or leading the event are not experts,  do not need to be experts, and are not regarded by OutdoorLads, or themselves as experts, but are amateurs with some experience in the event type and who are happy to impart their knowledge.  Any advice given should be considered with this in mind by the recipient.

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Please see our website for more information including an FAQ about our micro events.

(Images permitted for use under Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 2.0 except where indicated. Image credits: Beach Huts on Mudeford Spit by Mike Smith; Looking Down the Spit at Mudeford by John Goldsmith; Christchurch Priory by Paul Buckingham; Christchurch Priory nave by JackPeasePhotography (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY-2.0); Christchurch an upward view inside the priory by Chris Downer; Church Hatch, Christchurch, by Mike Searle; Place Mill, Town Quay, Christchurch by Mike Searle; Christchurch Old Court House tearoom by Michael Garlick; Christchurch Castle remains from the south by Mike Searle; Horses on Stanpit Marsh by Mike Smith; Beach Huts, Mudeford Sandbank by Paul Buckingham; The Run, Mudeford Dorset by Clive Perrin; Old Ironstone Quarry, Hengistbury Head by Pierre Terre; The Polar Bear: the West End of the Isle of Wight from Hengistbury Head by Jim Champion; Hengistbury Head, Solent Beach by Mike Faherty; River Stour at Tuckton by Mike Searle.)