Last week I went out for a walk, the first time in ages. I've been itching to go out, not so much because of the lockdown, but because I want to see the bluebells. They don't hang around for long every year.
Weston Woods
Although being a local, I've never been to Weston Woods before. It's very near town but once you're in the woods, it feels like you're in the country side. A circular walk around the woods is about 5km, I didn't walk the full route, just cut straight through the hilltop towards the seafront. There's a main footpath with the woodlands on either side. My main objective was the bluebell hunt. Whilst I didn't manage to find a carpet full of bluebells, I did see these small pockets scattered around. Being in lockdown, I was content and grateful that I had achieved my objective.
Despite the lockdown, there were quite a few groups of families walking their dogs and taking their children out for exercise. The playground was cordoned off but I can imagine how this would be filled with children's laughter and joy in normal times.
The Weston Woods dates back to the Iron Age and towards the end of the hill is the remains of the Worlebury Hillfort. This is the site, if I didn't know I would have thought this is an old quarry site. There were many little bumpy hills, rocks piled up, with a carpet of natural habitat seeping through the cracks, like a beautiful wallpaper decorating the home.
My rating: 9/10
Prince Consort Gardens
After I came out of the woods and into town, the Prince Consort Gardens was ahead of me. The buildings behind the garden used to be the business school of the local college. I studied here for three years and never once came into the garden. As a student, the last thing you want to do it is to hang around college after classes. The buildings have been converted to flats with a stunning sea view to match. In addition to the sea view, the Birnbeck Pier stands strong, despite being in a derelict state. More about that in a minute. I walked down the cliff towards the sea, passing by a shelter that backs into the cliff. Part of the shelter was locked up, it wretched of urine as I peeped inside.
My rating: 9/10
Birnbeck Pier Cafe/Shop
The Birnbeck Pier opened in 1867 and is situated on Birnbeck Island, a 1.2 hectare limestone island a few hundred metres away from the mainland. It's the only pier in the the country that links an island to the mainland, and has been closed since 1994 due to safety concerns. The private owner wanted to turn it into a property development project, but didn't do the necessary works to make it safe causing it to continue to fall to disrepair. The latest news is that the local council will buy it from the private owner, so this piece of local heritage can be saved.
Birnbeck Pier can be seen from the top of Weston Woods, from the Prince Consort Gardens, and from the muddy beach for which the town is famous for. The only place you can't see it, is from the pier itself. Hopefully one day, I will be able to access the pier.
My rating: 10/10
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