Brownsea Island and Isle of Purbeck

We drove about one hour east to the Poole Harbour area to visit Brownsea Island, and Studland and Old Harry's Rocks on the so called Isle of Purbeck peninsula.

We had excellent views over the heathlands, Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island..

..as we drove to Shell Bay...

...to get the chain ferry...

..to Sandbank...

..and then another ferry to Brownsea..

Brownsea is now owned by the National Trust, and one of its main attractions is red squirrels, which are quite rare in England. We strolled right around the island..

..walking along the beach..

..along the cliffs..

..and through the woods..

..looking for red squirrels, not expecting much, but then, an extended sighting of one in the trees, running across the ground, and gathering nuts from a hollow tree.

We also saw one of the island's Sika deer

An oddity was oak trees with erange fruit. A little Googling found this was in fact acorns infected with a parasite

We then went back on the ferries and drove to Studland.

We had lunch there at the Banks Inn..

..where they were having a beer festival with over 150 different real ales.

We thought about staying and trying them all, but decided we didn't have time! so instead we did a circular walk around the headland, passing Old Harry's Rocks..

..other chalk stacks..

..and then heading inland up along a ridge line

There were excellent views both ways, Swanage to the south..

..and Studland through to Brownsea, Poole and Bournemouth to the north.

We got a little anxious about our route when confronted by these signs..

..but got directions and headed back to the car through farmlands, with good views of the Isle of White in the distance.

The drive home took us past Corfe Castle ruins

We got home about 7:30 pm, enough time for G&T's and nibbles in the evening sunshine..

..and views of a lovely sunset

..