sat am - the ferry service has resumed just in case anyone didn't see the cancellation notice

Lovely walk. Intend going. Happy to share taxi from Swanage or Corfe Castle.

I was recently reminded that non-swimmers could take a train an hour later and have a good chance of catching up with earlier swimmers along the beach front at some point before the ferry.....

Seems that trains from Wareham are only at 18.20 and 21.30 this Sunday. Bournemouth has trains at 19.40 and 19.59 then last train at 22.06.

That is not what the National Rail Planner app is showing me: trains at 18.20, 19.20, 20.30 and 21.30.

8 (?) on this walk, including one later starter (me) who met the others at lunch. After early cloud a lovely sunny day , albeit a bit breezy. The trains, so crowded earlier in the summer, were delightfully empty. Autumn has its advantages....

I wasn’t there, but I think all but one swam at Branksome. The sea is cooling a bit now - official temperature 17 degrees, “apparent temperature” 16 degrees, but is still the right side of bearable. One gets dressed quickly, though. Lunch was at our “usual” cafe on Sandbanks, which was run on biblical principles (she who orders last shall get her food first) and got in a bit of a pother over some orders, but basically served us quickly enough.

On to the chainlink ferry and Studland Bay. Unusual to see this at low tide. A further swim here amidst the parading naturist men, then on along the beach to the National Trust cafe, where your intrepid reporter was allowed to get within sniffing distance of the tea and cakes before being told we were going to the Studland pub instead (luckily I had my reusable US trucker’s mug with me and could get a takeaway).

Said pub was nice - a lovely garden. We then managed to pass Old Harry’s Rocks without anyone (he knows who he is) dicing with death on narrow bits of cliff. Walking over Ballard Down one felt, as always, that it was a pity to have to rush this to get bus and train home. Then I remembered that I didn’t as I was staying the night. So was another of the group and we had a nice Italian meal. Walking back along the dark beach later the stars were lovely. The London-bound crowd missed all this and had to console themselves with ample “provisions” on the train journey home.

Just to expand, there were actually 10 on the walk -- 9 off the specified train and 1 from the later train. Six of the first 9 swam at Branksome, 1 had a snack and 2 continued with the walk (later catching the 18:20 train). I think most agreed that disregarding SWC tradition by skipping the NT café in Studland Bay for the Bankes Arms about 20 minutes further along was a successful experiment....nice selection of ales, fresh ciders, gins, tea and puddings.....all with a gorgeous view across the bay....definitely a keeper....Those of us returning to London just managed to catch the 18:25 bus armed with provisions to connect with the 19:20 train for a very convivial journey back to London.....I was not sure how this walk would work on a Sunday...but, with an early start, does just fine...plenty of time for swims, lunch, afternoon drinks....with a reasonable return time....

I am told that it is quite feasible to catch the 9.35 train if not planning on swimming.

16 on this walk, 13 on the specified train, three an hour later. The weather was sunny all day despite clouds building inland. A marked chill in the early morning and a slightly cool breeze in the afternoon signaled that autumn is on its way, however, and that expeditions like me this one will soon be a distant memory.

The gorgeous clear blue sea was also a tad colder than it really ought to be at this time of year - 17 degrees officially but on our first swim it felt more like 16. Despite this, nine of the group swam, most of them twice. Four who did not swim at all formed a separate party though we met them again on the train home.

After our first swim on Branksome beach we were treated to a display by the Red Arrows, part of the Bournemouth Air Show. We had a cafe lunch more notable for its fine seafront location than the quality of the food. Over in Studland Bay on the naturist beach we swam (in swimming costumes) surrounded by sundry naked middle-aged in statuesque poses - a bit like a living Antony Gormley installation.

After tea or worse in the National Trust cafe it was up onto Old Harry's Rocks where one of our party diced with death on a narrow rocky ridge while the rest of us tried not to look. In Swanage there was just time for a quick shop before the 19.05 bus. Then the long train ride back from Wareham to London, lubricated by wine and humus and falafels and stuff.

I'm coming and got my ticket

based on recent midweek experience with this train, on a sunny day it will be chock a block with families and cyclists going to the beaches and cliffs: standing room only from Woking onwards. Be prepared to dash to the platform the moment it is announced (likely to be 7), if you want to sit together. And don't expect the quiet coaches to be quiet, or the train to arrive on time...

Thanks Thomas you're quite right- my experience travelling to Weymouth with Basingstoke signal failure and hooligans on return journey. Couldn't have been worse so I'm prepared.

Hi. Will be boiling on Wednesday. Will there be any forest walking or will it be very exposed? New to group. Cheers.

For anyone who does not fancy a long trip to the seaside I'll be out giving my short Essex walk (Epping to Ongar, 8m, 2/10) a final check and you are welcome to join me. Epping is at the far eastern end of the Central Line. Bus back from Ongar to Epping tube - 25 mins)

Nice pub at Toot Hill (or is that nice toot at pub hill?...). 60% of walk is in woodland shade. See new walks directory for maps and walk instructions. Start walking from outside Epping tube station at 11am.

As advised below, I join these SWT trains at waterloo as soon as platform announced and travel on my own. Hooligans can be pain wherever.However, it is your destination which is over popular - anything going through Bournemouth is oversubscribed. Swimmers - why not enjoy gorgeous beaches on the Isle of Wight and a voyage to boot- either to Ryde from Portsmouth - may then Ryde, or bus to Bembridge and over Culver Down for more time swimming on the glorious acres of sands of Sandown, I am always puzzled buy enthusiasm about a load of old rocks at Eastbourne or Brighton. Alternativelr ferry Lymington to Yarmoutht circulaar taking advantage of the clever new coastal path over the landslip between beautiful for swimmers Colwell and Totland bays, or/and Freshwater later - also, so very much more interesting walking than the over popular Shell Bay etc

and you'll probably get a seat from Brockenhurst, if you travel back after the families from Bournemouth - what's the hurry on the wonderful Island- the George in Yarmouth is splendid

have fun away from the crowds

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinros/albums/with/72157671032404720

Yes, we did a SWC walking weekend on the Isle Of Wight just a couple of weeks ago.

The 9.35 doesn't stop at Clapham Junction. The earliest train you can get from Clapham Junction with the £16 return ticket is the 9.46, arriving at Branksome at 12.48

Or a faster train is the 10.27 arriving at Branksome 12.29 (change at Woking)

At Waterloo, if you go on to any at platform, and walk half way along, there is a connecting tunnel between them. If you wait in the tunnel, by the stairs up, you are already half way along the platform when it's announced... And there's no pinch point at the platform entrance

9

sun overcast

9 off the train, where did our 10th walker go? 4 ahead on a walk. 5 behind on swimfest which seemed to take the whole day necessitating a bus from Studland to Wareham. Drinks and local produce consumed on the train back. Great day out for the swimmers. That walking malarkey will never catch on.

Sorry to have missed the rest of you. I thought you'd all be way ahead and that it was unlikely I'd catch up so I did a variation taking in some of the heathland then a brief swim before getting the bus to Bournemouth.

Given that at long last we have two decent walks posted on the same weekend (Glynde and Branksome) is it possible to postpone either one or both to a different weekend as windgusts to 50 mph forecast for Saturday on both walks, even inland as far as Lewes. Could they also be posted on separate weekends so that we can do both of them. Don't want to miss either of them but don't want to get blown off my feet. Thanks!

Sorry, but changing walks at the last minute in response to weather forecasts does not work. Once you start down that road there is no end of it. The forecast for Saturday does look unfortunate: if you think conditions will make doing a walk unsafe, don't do it. All our walks are at your own risk and you should consult weather forecasts and use your own judgement. The weather may well be as bad as forecast - or it may not be. About eight times a year, I reckon, the forecast for Saturday looks bad. Often it then turns out not to be so bad on the day. I recall the Gerard's Cross to Cookham walk in early March. "Damaging gusts" were predicted for that and I wondered if it was a good idea to walk in woods where branches might get blown off trees. But in the event there was barely a breeze. In February it was indeed very windy for the Lewes Circular walk but a large group did it without incident. If winds are strong, what is the best walk to do anyway? One with trees nearby where branches could break off? Or one on open downland which may be exposed?

Also if walks are changed at the last minute some people may not notice the change, others may have already bought tickets. And walk posts take time to write, you know. I am busy. I don't have time to do another one just currently. I am a bit behind as it is.

So sorry if two summer walks have been picked and will be met with unsummery weather but that is just the luck of the draw, I afraid - at lleast as regards the first walk this week.

The comment from Anonymous had a point. Perhaps rather than swapping a walk, a fourth walk could be posted. The reason being, if the weather is bad, two walks mentioned before have less appeal, people will not come regardless (except a few who already got the tickets). If by posting another more suitable walk with weather in mind, more people who would otherwise do something else may be attracted to come. Just a thought. I do appreciate walk posters doing their best to suit. I would be happy just to come to one of the Sunday walks instead.

Sorry didn't mean to put my Comment amount two swimming walks on together on the walk post! Can you remove it. I meant it for the Forum.

I have made some suggestions for less windy option for the first walk. I might point out that there is also the third walk, which is well away from the coast and might be less windy.

The trouble with "a fourth walk could be posted" is that there is no end to this either. In any given week there is always an excuse to say the existing three options are no good and we need a fourth. Eg, "they all have early starts", "they are all too long", "it is a sunny weekend and no one has posted a swimming walk", "there is no train through Clapham Junction", "I don't like any of the existing options", "why aren't we making use of the SWT £16 offer" (or AN Other offer, there always seeming to be one or other train company offer extant) etc etc etc.

Posting a fourth walk at the last minute to make up for such deficiences just means one or more other walk posters has to go to all the trouble of researching and composing a walk post only to be pipped at the post at the last minute by AN Other with a better idea. If that is the case, then I will wait till Friday to do my walk posts for the following day, so as not to waste my time and effort. Then everyone will complain that they want to be able to plan their weekends.

This is a freak Saturday, weatherwise. They happen. It is unfortunate two coastal walks were picked for such a weekend, but when they were chosen, a few days ago, we were having a heatwave. The weather may or may not be as bad as forecast: see my previous comment. We will see. All walks are at your own risk, but my personal judgement (ie a judgement I am making for myself and no one else) is that it is worth giving a Glynde walk a try and adapting as necessary to conditions on the day. I know the area well and will bring a map. Train or bus disruption due to high winds is another matter: we will have to take that as it comes.

Walker is right. As far as our walks and the weather are concerned "that's the way the cookie crumbles" as Americans may (or may not!) say.

anyone feel like getting a bit later train as in the 10.05 or 10.35 ?

I'll be going (If the weather forecast remains good)but will get the train suggested since it's a long day.

THANK YOU so much for posting this walk/swimming location. I didn't want to leave!

Emma

18 on this walk, sunny with breezy cloud , a fine day though not particularly hot. After Branksome Chine, the group split into swimmers and non-swimmers. The Non majority will have to make their own report, but of the seven of us in the rearguard, six had a lovely swim in the crystal-clear and current-free waters (out around the buoy for two of us), even though sea temperaures were a bit below where they should be.

We had lunch at the Shell Bay Cafe (a fish restaurant: fine views of Poole Harbour). Along the water line at Studland there were alarming numbers of dead jellyfish, which caused one of the party to retreat to swim in safer waters. We also lost another of the group on the busy beach (hope this was not our fault). Four us then had another beautiful but rather cold swim (encountering no jellyfish, I am happy to say), and warmed up over tea and ice creams.

By this time it was 5.30pm and we had to walk more briskly over the glorious final section past Old Harry Rocks and over Ballard Down to get to Swanage by 7.30pm. Despite finding the town en fete (some kind of festival) we managed to secure a taxi to Wareham and had nice oriental takeaways from food stalls while waiting for it. A long ride home then ensued on the stop-everywhere 8.42 train, ameliorated by red wine, chocolates and rather too much houmous.