New Year

I started the new year off gently by going for a stroll from Quarr Abbey to Binstead and back with a friend. It was a glorious winter afternoon, cold but dry and bright, and we caught up on all the news as we walked. Lovely. We stopped off at Holy Cross church in Binstead on the way back; this is an old church that I have walked past many times but never been in. It has a beautiful wooden 'boat' ceiling, which has Norman style wooden arches overlaying it. The stone pulpit is in just the right spot to survey the congregation and keep an eye on wayward choristers! The church was, unsurprisingly, very tranquil. Worth a visit.

Afterwards we stopped for a hot drink and cake at the Abbey cafe before wandering up to admire the pigs and then toddling off home.

Quarr to Ryde

A quick walk on a bright but chilly February afternoon to get back in gear for walking. The teenager has signed up for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and has chosen walking for her activity. As we have been spectacularly inactive lately we decided to start with something simple and headed for Quarr Abbey after stopping for lunch at Bluebell's Cafe (always delicious!).

We began the walk by stopping to admire the pigs, as is traditional, then strolled through the woods to the ruins of the medieval abbey and on to the main path towards Ryde. This took us to Binstead Church, and then the path cut through the golf course and up to the main road. We turned back at this point and returned to Quarr.

This was, as ever, a lovely walk. There were signs of spring everywhere with catkins on the trees, snowdrops in the verges, and blackbirds and robins twittering in the trees. Lots of families were out enjoying the sunshine, and everybody we met appeared to be in a good mood.

Quarr Abbey

Holy Cross church, Binstead

Quarr Abbey again

As it was a glorious spring afternoon the teenager and I  decided to get some air and headed off to Quarr Abbey near Binstead. We pottered about and admired the pigs and piglets, popped into the art exhibition, admired the updated shop (rosaries in all shapes and sizes), and looked round the exhibition about the Abbey's history. Next we strolled past the Abbey itself, and down to the woodland walk where we ambled in the shade, pausing at the wildlife shelter to see if we could spot any squirrels. No luck, sadly. If ever I get a large garden, or garden of any size, I would like a shelter like that to wile away sunny afternoons in. The path meandered on past log piles, and trees sprouting new growth, and came out opposite a paddock with some newly shorn sheep. We paused again and watched a pair of buzzards circling in the sky above, then strolled down the green lane between banks of hogweed and cow parsley, field maple, dogwood and wild grasses, spotting bees on the flowers.

The lane came out opposite a stone cottage by fields containing the ruined remains of the medieval Abbey, and more sheep. Another lane led on towards Binstead in one direction, so we pottered that way passing beneath a huge weeping willow and uphill to a gate. We turned around then and followed the lane back to the car and home. If I lived in Binstead or Wootton I think I would come to Quarr all the time; it is such a peaceful place with magnificent wildlife and beautiful surroundings. Glorious - I can see why the monks settled here.

Quarr Abbey

Wild Rose

Quarr Abbey and Ryde

I decided to go for a stroll, alone, and sort my head out a bit. I parked at Quarr Abbey, walked past the piggery (gorgeous pigs!), and into the Art Exhibition. This was a show of pottery and paintings from local artists. All rather pleasant but nothing that made me go 'Wow!'. I continued on, past the tea gardens, and followed the path to the ruins of the mediaeval abbey. I paused for a few minutes then continued along the path towards Binstead; the lane passed through a wooded area with lovely houses on one side and every so often there were tiles embedded in the road surface with poems engraved on them. Unusual, but lovely.

 

I followed the coastal path, and after a little while there was a side path leading down to the shore. I followed it, getting quite muddy in the process, and eventually came down some wooden steps to the shingled Binstead Hard. The tide was high so there wasn't much beach, but I was able to sit on a patch by a fallen, but still living, birch tree and eat my sausage sandwiches. Bliss. There was nobody else about. I returned to the main coastal path, followed it a bit further, along Ladies Walk, and turned left at a bridge. This semi-paved footpath came out at another beach, sandy this time, with a boatyard and the remains of a pier or jetty.

 

Back to Ladies Walk and I  followed the path past Ryde Golf Course until it came out near the main road. The coastal path turned left here and went down into Ryde along the back streets. I wandered along and was amazed at some of the architecture; there was a large stone archway with a stag on top and lions to either side, clearly the remains of an entrance to a large house, but now surrounded by bungalows. I walked on until I reached the esplanade then turned round and walked back to Quarr.

 

A lovely walk, and one to do again!

 

Distance: c. 5.5 miles

Footpaths: R45, R46, R48, R94

 

Quarr Abbey pig

View of the Abbey ruins

Derelict jetty near Binstead.