Swanage – June 14th
Jun 20th, 2019 by rallyadmin
After a great breakfast and being fawned over by Alan, owner of the Rookery, it’s in the car. We’re off to Corfe Castle.
It’s not far to Corfe but the Skoda’s GPS has a real sense of humor and since it’s set up for the most direct route, it insists on sending us down one lane roads that wouldn’t be roads at all if they weren’t paved. The occasional run in with a car in the opposite direction makes for some interesting driving, rather, squeezing by and backing up.
We get to Corfe and find the parking area which has another coin operated ticket kiosk. We’ve quickly learned that you need to travel with a pocketful of coins to buy the inevitable parking tag that needs to be displayed on the dash or on the nifty plastic clip that Skoda has built on to the Octavia’s windshield. Only rarely do the ticket kiosks take credit cards so coins are the only option to avoid the possible £50 to £70 parking fines.
A short walk to the castle entrance, pay for the tickets and through the outside gate. The castle is built on a steep hill and it’s a beautiful, blue sky day with a brisk breeze.
The castle was originally built in the early 12th century for King Henry I, William the Conqueror’s son. It is in ruins now after being demolished by the Parliamentarians during the English civil war. For more information https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle/features/1000-years-of-history-at-corfe-castle.
It’s serious hike about the site. Up through the second gate to the Keep and the battlements. Because of it’s position and location, the castle, though sieged twice and attack more times, was never taken in battle. It was captured during the civil war, however, when some officers of the defenders, betrayed the defenders and allowed the Parliamentarians to enter through a gate on the backside of the castle walls.
Later, because Corfe Castle was a symbol of defiance for the Royalists, the Parliamentarians orders the castle destroyed. What we see now are the remains of the demolition. But for all their attempts to topple the Keep, it still stands after defying all attempts to destroy it.
Back down the hill and out of the castle. Lunch at the Tea Room just outside the castle gate. And back to the car.
Along the way to the car park, we find a trail that leads to a hill the actually overlooks the castle. It’s not a long hike but the last part is a strenuous climb up the steep hill. At the top, views command the surrounding area and, below us along the road to Corfe is the steam train that runs through Corfe.
We didn’t know about the train. Had we known, we probably would have taken the train rather than drive the potential rally stage to the castle. Maybe next time. (Or maybe next time, a rally car!)
We off again. This time to Old Harry Rocks. Old Harry Rocks are some chalk stack and arches that have been erorded by the sea not far from Swanage. It’s a short drive but by the time we get there the rain has replaced the blue skies and the wind had upped from brisk to strong.
Park the car again. (More coinage!) Hike down the steep path to the cliffs overlooking the sea and the stacks. It’s quite an amazing view and the wind is actually a bit less fierce closer to the sea than at the top of the cliffs.
We take our pictures. Talyn tries to do some sketches but the wind is too strong. He has to settle for taking some photos with is phone for later use.
Back up the steep path to the car and back to the Rookery. It’s been a good day with beautiful stops and truly variable weather. Tomorrow on to Seaton.
Obi-wan
