Good weather, interesting company, friendly hotel and beautiful views are all ingredients for a lovely short break and that’s exactly what we got for our Kibworth Walking Group Spring holiday.

 

Our very friendly driver Martin was prompt for our pick ups in Kibworth and Lutterworth.  Suitcases and boot bags loaded, and 36 members all accounted for, we set off on our journey towards Bournemouth.  We had a quick pit stop in Cherwell for a mid-morning coffee break and then we had a wonderful two hour relaxing break in Salisbury for lunch.  The weather was already looking promising.

 

The staff at our hotel in Bournemouth were very welcoming and we quickly settled into our rooms.  We enjoyed our breakfasts and dinners each day and we spent our evenings around the bar, playing bingo, dancing to lively music and playing games such as Scrabble which was very popular.  Our hotel was in a prominent position on West Cliff where you could enjoy magnificent views down over the beach and lovely walks along the promenade.

 

For our first walking day we had a linear walk from Studlands for both groups of walkers.  Our coach driver Dean navigated some slightly narrow roads admirably to reach our start point.  Both groups headed to Old Harry Rocks, iconic chalk sea stacks and pillars (including the Pinnacle stack at Handfast Point).  The views were spectacular.  The longer walkers continued towards Corfe Castle over the Purbeck Way and stopped for lunch at the Swanage Obelisk, a Grade 11 listed monument. The shorter walkers headed on the South West coastal path towards Swanage and enjoyed some amazing views along the way.

 

Unfortunately our planned walks for our second walking day had to be abandoned due to some local flooding which made a path or two impassable.  However, two more walks were plotted and the longer walkers were dropped off by our friendly coach driver Sid in Langton Matravers.  Their route took them down to Dancing Ledge, along the King Charles 111 England coast path towards Swanage, passing the Anvil Point lighthouse.  The revised shorter walk started in Swanage and headed in the direction of Peveril Point, passing Durlston Head, Durlston Castle and the lighthouse.  The group headed up through Durlston Country Park in the direction of the start point in Swanage where both groups met and some members enjoyed a welcome cuppa and ice creams.  

 

Wednesday was our free day, we had plenty on offer to keep us busy.  There was a ferry trip to Brownsea Island to catch sight of a red squirrel or two, a relaxing ride in the sun on the open top bus taking in local areas, a walk along to Sandbanks and further on into Poole.  Some members enjoyed a train trip and bus journeys to Christchurch and local destinations.  It was just a glorious day to be out enjoying the sea air and finding lovely little eating places for long leisurely lunches.

 

Alas, our four days went by far too quickly and we thanked all the staff at the hotel as we boarded our coach and our friendly driver Philip whisked us home to Leicestershire.