This is a busy time of year. In the Forest it is a prime time for conservation tasks so, along with lots of other volunteers, I’ve been doing my share of ride-clearing, pine-pulling, and hedge-laying. It’s also  taken time to get the programme of hotel walks sorted out for the coming year although I have to say, without exception, the hotel managers involved have been extremely helpful.

 

Details of the various breaks, dates and prices, can be found on the website under “Information on walks”. Just to explain a point that may puzzle people: the reason that for some walks we ask for a separation of payment to the hotel and payment to me is as follows:- I can’t handle credit cards but people like to use them because they have built-in security e.g. if you paid me by card and I vamoosed with all the dosh you could get your money back. So it makes sense to pay the deposit to the hotel (who can handle credit/debit cards).  In order to keep accounting simple it is then preferable for the balance outstanding to be paid to me on arrival at the hotel by cash (preferably) or by cheque made payable to me. I then sort out any other costs with the hotel and everyone is happy (No-it doesn’t include paying for your papers, phone calls and massive bar bill – that’s still your baby!).

 

The first walk breaks on our calendar are in Dartmoor from 10-13thApril. Frank, the hotel manager, has pointed out that scenes from War Horse were filmed on Dartmoor and has asked that I include this area on my routes. Well, you don’t argue with Frank and, besides, why not, so one of the walks will take in the farmhouse at Ditsworthy Warren. I’ve got two or three other quite exciting routes to consider (off to the Moor in a couple of weeks) so will finalise these soon. I have to keep options open because Dartmoor can be tricky in bad weather and, as I hope you appreciate, we don’t take chances – plus we want you to have a good time, not trudge about in mist and cold. I’m really looking forward to this break, I do love Dartmoor. And, for anyone who came last year the hotel has undergone a considerable refurbishment and is looking really swish now (I thought it was great last year!).

I’m very pleased to be working with Ruth Paul of Singlesport. She is a very professional and is committed to finding quality breaks for her clients and I’m up for that! We are both of the same minds when it comes to wanting to deliver an excellent service – and have fun at the same time. So we both have high hopes for the Forest Park break 4-6th May. The Forest should be pretty spectacular at that time of year and there may even be some early foals to be seen. I’ve got a lovely route in mind which includes a riverside walk and, of course, a super forest pub! And on Sunday we head to the Solent coast for a pleasant morning stroll before ending .... you’re right, at another pub! This break is available to anyone but don’t leave it too late to book as there is a limit on number of rooms available.

 

The same warning applies to the next break – the walks in the Purbecks, staying at the Wessex Hotel in Bournemouth 25-27thMay. As with the Forest Park weekend (well, actually, all our breaks),this is brilliant value but it depends on the hotel holding rooms for us. Understandably they can only hold a certain number and if we don’t take them and other people want them they will sell them, especially as they would then be at a higher price. So, don’t hang around, book now to avoid disappointment!!

I’ve tried to build everything into the price of £180pp so it includes a picnic lunch and fare for the steam train from Swanage as well as all hotel food and accommodation. I explored the possibility of including transport to and from the Dorset cost but it was too expensive. The Saturday walk will be along the ridge from Corfe to Ballard Down where we will stop for our picnic, enjoying the stunning panoramic views over Poole Harbour, the Solent Coast, IOW, and Jurassic coast. Then we descend to Swanage for a short break before boarding the steam train back to Corfe. Lovely! On Sunday we’ll return to the same area but head to the village of Kingston from where we will take a fabulous route down to the coast at Chapman’s Pool and then up onto Egmont Point before taking a grassy level path and woodland track back to Kingston – and a pub lunch (not included).

For safety reasons we reserve the right to change any of these routes.

That’s all the stuff on hotel breaks at the moment. I’ll be working with the other Fuzzackers on coming up with day walks and talks including the annual charity walk which will be in May sometime. We are also working with New Forest Platinum Cars, putting together a Thomas Hardy tour which will visit important places relating to Hardy’s life and also sites which are relevant to his books and poems. Sarah will be the lead Fuzzacker on this venture as she is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject.

All this and other ramblings can be the subject of another posting sometime.

But I’d just like to end this session with a sad little note.... just before Christmas I lost a good friend and fellow Volunteer Ranger, Derek Ledger. He was a top bloke, good humoured and friendly and also dedicated to the environment and wildlife. It’s unlikely that anyone reading this would have known Derek but it’s a place for me just to record my admiration for him and how much he is missed by me and all his other friends and colleagues.