Author Archives: Leigh Hatts

Chewton Glen hotel has come top of the Hoteliers’ Hotels Top 100 list. The verdict comes from The Caterer journalists and AA hotel inspectors who have put  Chewton Glen ahead of The Goring (3), The Dorchester (5), Gleneagles (8) and The Ritz (11) in … Continue reading →

Battle of the Somme Centenary: Those walking the coast path this weekend and staying at Milford-on-Sea might wish to know that on Friday there will be an early morning gathering on the village green. Friday 1 July 2016 is the … Continue reading →

Environment minister Rory Stewart MP has confirmed that beach huts at Highcliffe require consent from Natural England. The large huts are to be erected on the cliff face for George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces television programme according to Christchurch Council. Concrete … Continue reading →

Christchurch Council has secretly set aside almost £100,000 to build the controversial beach huts along the unspoilt SSSI designated cliffs at Highcliffe. The full story appears in today’s Bournemouth Daily Echo. The Council has suddenly confirmed the fears of protesters … Continue reading →

Kaiser Wilhelm, who who stayed at Highcliffe Castle in 1907 during the long uneasy build-up to the First World War, died 75 years ago today. On defeat he had been moved to Holland and his death there in exile came in … Continue reading →

A petition objecting to the building of 12 large overnight beach retreats on Highcliffe cliffs has been delivered to the Chrictchurch Civic Offices in Bridge Street. The objections presented on Tuesday morning were gathered by the Friends of Highcliffe Beaches … Continue reading →

This is Capability Brown’s tercentenary year  so the main summer exhibition at Highcliffe Castle is devoted to the famous landscape garden designer. He was responsible for the first garden at Highcliffe. Lord Bute, briefly Prime Minister, was living at Luton … Continue reading →

Eddie Marriott’s lovely depiction of the Wellington Tower is a feature of Purbeck Art Weeks at Swanage. The tower was built to honour the Duke of Wellington, hero of the Battle of Waterloo, and first stood next to Southwark Cathedral … Continue reading →

The Friends of Highcliffe Beaches and Cliffs has a website. Those worried about the proposed TV beach huts can sign petition on the site.

Enjoy the walk between Highcliffe Castle and Chewton Bunny now. By the autumn this lovely coast path cliff walk, starting at the bottom and then climbing to the top, will be pitted with very large ‘beach huts’. They will be … Continue reading →