Route: Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve
Area: Dorset
Date of walk: 8th August 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2.7 miles
Weather: Sunny
On the last day of our short break in the South West there was just time to squeeze in a final walk, but I’d have to make an early start. Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve is a short distance away from our hotel in Mudeford and to save time I drove to the car park and by 6am I was walking across the field towards the marsh
I somehow managed to miss the path into the reserve and instead walked past the golf course to the bank of the River Avon, near the point where it flows into the River Stour. This was a fortunate mistake, as it was a lovely diversion
I retraced my steps to the point where I’d somehow missed the route across the marsh and back on course I followed the path through the reserve, enjoying a few wildlife sightings as I did so
I made it back to the hotel in time for breakfast, and on the long drive home back north there was still time for a visit to another animal park, one which is unlike any other I’ve seen…
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Dawn breaks in Stanpit
I walk along the edge of the golf course, with Christchurch Priory in the background
The Priory again as I approach the river
Looking across Stanpit Marsh to Hengistbury Head, where I’d walked the day before
Ponies grazing on the marsh
The River Avon
The Avon again - at this point I retraced my steps to follow the path which loops round the marshes
A couple of Little Egrets
Christchurch Harbour from the southern end of Grimbury Marsh
Lapwings
Christchurch Priory again
Curlew…
The information centre on the nature reserve
The path leading out of the reserve
Heron
And finally another curlew just before I get back to the start
Later that day, on the drive back home we stopped off to visit another animal reserve
Phoebe enjoys bird spotting too!
