Day 83 Poole Harbour Trail to Poole Quay

We delay our start as the weather forecast predicts all rain for the day will be over by 11.00 so we aim to catch the 10.55 bus to Upton House Country Park where the walk for today will begin. We aren't sure exactly where we need to get off and Mr Grumpy driver doesn't seem inclined to be of much help, but another passenger gives us the nod and presses the Stop button for us. The walk begins with a stroll through the Country Park and down to the foreshore.

The trail in places has been diverted due to conservation measures and the protection of migrating birds, but we are soon on the edge of Poole Harbour itself. This is right at the very top end of the largest natural harbour in England and here it is mostly mud flats and rushes on the water's edge. We pause a while to watch feeding birds including Black Tailed Godwits, Crested Grebes and Little Egrets amongst others!

The walk is an amazing contrast - on one side the peace and natural world of the shoreline of Poole Harbour with all the wildlife of the mud flats; and, on the other, the busy traffic filled A350 into Poole where we eventually arrive.

We follow signs to the Old Town and Quay and the route takes us down a depressingly distressed High Street filled with Charity Shops, low price outlets and bookmakers. Even the Quay area looks and feels rundown and our lunch at the Jolly Sailor an experience we would rather forget!

Finally it is back through he town to buy a replacement waterproof jacket from Go Outdoors and the the bus back to Lychett Minster.

7.5 miles