Arne

View over Middlebere Lake

A slightly unusual venture today: a walk around the RSPB nature reserve at Arne, near Wareham. We have just joined the RSPB and recently went on a very informative guided tour around part of the reserve, and I wanted to see the whole thing. In effect, I did two circular walks forming a figure-of-eight, both starting from the car park.

For the first, you walk across a grassy area to reach and walk across Coombe Heath to a chorus of birdsong. I was delighted to have a clear view of a willow warbler.

At the far side, lies the tidal Middlebere Lake, which is normally a good spot for wading birds. This is the view from inside the hide.

Unfortunately, the tide was out and there were few birds in sight. I did see a lone curlew in the distance. I returned to the grassy area by the car park via a pleasant woodland path and then took the "Long route" (way marked in red) around the rest of the reserve.

You start by walking further up the road and, surprisingly, you soon come upon St Nicholas's church, with its Early English lancet windows.

You pass the Arne farm and follow an enclosed path by fields which soon enters some delightful old woodland: Big Wood. I caught sight of what I think was a hen harrier perched on a branch. At the end of the trees begin to thin and Poole Harbour comes into view.

A little further on, there is a hide and again there was not very much in close view. A bit beyond the hide, a herd of Sika deer could be seen.

Soon you arrive at Shipstal Point and a bit further on there is a fine view of Long Island, with its sand spit pointing out and Brownsea Island behind it.

Heading on round the coastal path a few shelducks and oyster catchers could be spotted. There are fine views to the south, and Corfe Castle can be faintly seen to the right.

Finally, the path leads away from the water and through woodland beside a large field in which more Sika deer were grazing. I saw one which had escaped and was staggered when he literally leaped through the strands of barbed wire to return to the fold. They are obviously tougher than they look.

Map: Explorer OL15 (Purbeck and South Dorset). Not that you need it, except perhaps to find your way to the reserve from Wareham. Otherwise, the paths are very well marked.

Conditions: bright and sunny, about 15 degrees. Dry underfoot at last!

Distance: about 4 miles.

Rating: three and a half stars.

Sightings

Apart from the birds, the most exciting were sightings of the first butterflies of the year: altogether ten or more Brimstones on the heath and near Big Wood.