Old Harry Rocks, Dorset

16/12/2006

Fat Bear went down to Bournemouth for a training course for a week (11/12 - 15/12). I went to meet him after work on Friday. It took me 3 hours to get to Bournemouth from Brighton by train and arrived at 21:15. We went to dinner straight away and had Italian.

Next morning, we went shopping in Bournemouth city centre. There was quite a big shopping area. Before Fat Bear came to Bournemouth, his colleagues said to him Sandbanks is a very beautiful place and is a must go. So when we check-out in the morning, he asked the receptionist for direction and was told if we had more time, we must go across to the other side with the toll ferry. Apparently lots of movies filmed there.

On the Toll Ferry

On the Toll Ferry

Took about 5 minutes to cross to the other side, we drove for about 10 minutes and saw a very beautiful white chalk coast line on our left. We continue to drive and reached Swanage town. We parked big mouth boy and explored the town on foot. We had lunch in a local family run cafe and tried some nice local made ice-cream. We walked to a beach, looked at the breathtaking white chalk coast line and wondered how we could get there.

We collected big mouth boy and drove to the Middle Beach Tourist Centre and ask the staff for direction. They were very helpful, gave us a map and showed us the direction.

The lady at the tourist centre told us to park big mouth boy at the car park next to Bankes Arms Hotel then follow the signs and walk to the rocks. We took about 20 minutes to walk to the tip and saw all the beautiful, unique rock formations. Also there were a lot wild Brussels Sprouts. The Sun was going down so we started to walk back to our car.

We took the toll ferry back to Sandbanks.

This trip to Old Harry Rocks was not planned and was well worth it. It was so beautiful and romantic.

Old Harry Rocks

Old Harry Rocks

Old Harry Rocks

View from Ferry Terminal

Waiting for toll ferry to take us back to Sandbanks

A little bit about Old Harry Rocks (quote from The National Trust)

The white rocks are made up of chalk which is almost entirely the remains of sea life. Millions of years ago the area was under the sea and joined to the Isle of Wight until sea levels rose. The area is now constantly under attack from erosion processes which creates caves and causes the land to slump as well as maintaining the brilliant white colour. In the 16th Century Studland Castle was situated on the headland but no evidence of and building remains. The name comes from a 17th Century Pirate, Harry Pay, who regularly attacked merchant ships leaving Poole Harbour. Old Harry's wife, a small stack, collapsed in 1896. The large stack in between is called St Lucas leap after a greyhound. Old Harry Rocks is part of the World Heritage Site, Jurassic Coast and is the youngest section in geological time.