Author Archives: Leigh Hatts

The whale nicknamed Gilbert who was seen in Poole Bay last week has been washed up on the beach near near Alum Chine. The blood stained body, now partly covered, is this morning lying on the sand. A diversion maybe … Continue reading →

Good to see Nick Clegg and his wife standing on the Bournemouth Coast Path today. He was enjoying the view from the West Cliff often used as a backdrop by television reporters. This weekend and next week you will see … Continue reading →

Bournemouth cliffs is  a good place to be just now with news of a whale swimming around Poole Bay. BBC South Today had a live report last night from Branksome Chine. It seems that the whale is about 30 foot … Continue reading →

Fiona Duncan in the Sunday Telegraph thought that the Chewton Glen was too expensive and so opted for Westover Hall. At £206 per night is too much for me. Walking should not be expensive. Cheaper at Ha’penny House nearby. See … Continue reading →

August Bank Holiday weekend comes at the very end of the month this year and on Sunday (30 August) Hordle Old Churchyard has its annual service. The church was pulled down in 1829 and moved inland due to the crumbling … Continue reading →

The clifftop and seafront at Bournemouth are likely to be crowded this weekend and certainly noisy. The air show starts today and crowds are expected to build up during the next four days when the displays are over the bay. … Continue reading →

A surprise in the ‘Discovering Poole’ art exhibition in Poole Museum is a painting Branksome Dene which I have never seen before. It is by James Duffield Harding and is dated 1858. A handy map beside the painting confirms that … Continue reading →

Good news for the Southbourne-Mudeford winter route. Tutton’s Well at Stanpit is to be further restored by Christchurch Council which is recognising its importance. The quay wall is to be rebuilt using the original Portland stones and an information board … Continue reading →

Natural England‘s Coastal Access report published at the end of last month did not get much press coverage so I have only just been catching up with it. The document is an audit of coastal paths and to me it’s rather … Continue reading →

The Grand Centenary Exhibition staged by Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society opens today in the church hall. Sadly it only runs until next Saturday 8 August which is far too short for such an interesting exhibition. The displays look back more … Continue reading →