Geoff, Brod and I went out for a lovely Bank Holiday Monday drive and walk, the weather was great.
We headed first of all to Athelhampton House, near Tolpuddle, where we looked around the house and the superb gardens. The gardens contains 12 giant magnificent yew pyramids set around a pool, and in the west garden there is an old circular dovecote
This is not a National Trust property, it has been in private ownership for over five hundred years.
A really lovely place, though a tad on the expensive side.
We had a meal then drove off towards Swanage, Brod looking out for steam trains as we drove along. We went through Swanage to Durlston Country Park, where we had tea and cake at the Lookout Cafe, which is perched high on the cliffs at Durlston Castle - a Victorian folly built in the 1880's here we took in the spectacular views of the Isle of Wight in the distance and Old Harry stack.
A took a short walk along the cliff, we saw loads of sea birds, the views were fantastic, we ended up by the lighthouse, which unfortunately had just closed, then the trek back up the hill to the car park.
A great day out all places recommended.
