I didn't travel during Ramzan (July 2014) and was feeling the quest for a short trip in August just after Eid. There is also the feeling that summer is just slipping away and I should make use of remaining days to the maximum as this is the best time for travel in UK. Mike, office colleague, told me about beautiful islands near Poole, Dorset. So I started searching for attractions near Poole harbor and found the images of Brownsea Island. The very first thing came to my mind when I saw the entrance of the Island was that of the movie Shutter Island. That's it! Journey planned! :) Going to an island should be a different experience anyway. Also, if I am lucky enough I might get to see red squirrel!!
On 9th August I left home early morning and went to Poole by train (via Reading->Basingstoke->Pool route). It took around 2h:25min overall from Bracknell. I walked to the Quay (which is about 15 minutes away from station) through the Poole town center. A small, but decent town. In the Quay, I saw many boats and Kioske's for different boats. And there was a yellow Kioske which arranged tickets for Brownsea Island Ferry Ltd. I bought a ticket (£10) and took a side seat in the open top ferry. It is a return ticket which includes taking a trip around other 6 islands in the Poole Harbour while returning from Brownsea island. Ferry started moving slowly at 1.00pm and the journey to Brownsea island started. We moved past many small boats and cruises and in 20 minutes we've reached the island. Last ferry from the island was at 4.50pm, so I got just over 3 hours to wander around.
The Brownsea Castle in the first three pictures is now leased to Jon Lewis Partnership and public don't have access to it. The fourth picture shows where we actually got down. It will lead you to reception.
Brownsea island is managed by National Trust, UK. Long time back, this area was a big hill and most of it's land was taken over by the sea after the ice age. At present this island boasts variety of wildlife species and it is home to rare red squirrel. The employees offered warm welcome and got myself a ticket for £6.60 (£6.00 without gift aid). They gave a route map which was very helpful. This map is very useful to know the view points, walking trails and woodland areas inside the island. Also this is at most useful when you got lost, as it happened to me once :-). If you want to explore the entire island, it would take around 3-4 hours depending on how fast you walk.
Started walking through the island and found a small bird view point. And moving on saw one tent and a group having food near by. Interesting thing was they were surrounded by couple of ducks, asking for food and they were quite happy with what they were given :). Then I saw a peacock fed by a family. I pulled the camera bag out and changed the lens quickly to get some pics.
Till now, I didn't feel like I'm inside an island as everything I saw was typically what I would see in a park (except for the peacock). Now that I got the map to check for directions, I quickly searched woodland, where you have more chances of seeing the red squirrel. And then it was just walking, walking and walking. It was good to get the feel of lost nature and I got to see some varieties of butterflies on the way. Now I was walking through heathland.
There were many view points on the way, and I got down to one of them and it was just beautiful experience. There were many families out there. Kids were digging holes and making different forms using the sand and some bricks on the beach. I spent about an hour there and clicked many pictures. As I was getting bit late and the last ferry from the island was at 4.50pm, I decided to go back to trails leading to woodlands. Some pictures from view point.
I was tired and wanted to go back and get the earliest ferry back to Poole. I opened the map again and searched for the route back and started walking. I saw a visitor center (there are couple of them inside the island and they are marked on the map) which gives more details about the current point and gives an idea about trails and view points.I followed it and thought was taking the same route I had taken while coming to the view point, but I was actually going in the opposite direction!! Then I saw a guide. He told me it will take around an hour to get to reception from there and he advised me to take that route and finish the expedition. So actually, I was going in the right direction, after all :) He had a look at the time and said, your last ferry is at 4.50pm, so you should walk fast and said,"You're young and fit man, you can do it!".
Even though It would be good to go back in the other direction which at least I remember, I was happy that, at least I'm exploring entire island. So I took the challenge and decided to take the route and finish off in an hour. And I've to say, it was the most scenic area in the whole island! :) The trip would've been just average or may be below average if I wouldn't have taken this trail. Brownsea Island is famous for Scouting which began in early 1900s. There is a monument for people who attended the first batch of scouting.
I got into the woodlands and I hardly seen any people. Just me and nature. I could hear whole lot of sounds (birds, sea) and it was bit scary, at times. When you are alone in such a place, you tend to think too much. But the whole setting was serene and beautiful that I started taking lot of pictures and it calmed my mind. It was really a beautiful place, and I always dreamed of being in such place. I was in a hurry, so didn't spend much time, just took pictures and moved on. Suddenly I saw something moving behind woods and heath. I couldn't recognize at first, but then realized it was a peacock family. I took couple of pictures. A couple joined me in clicking pictures who came from opposite direction.
Now only thing I didn't see was the red squirrel. I thought may be I'm unlucky. God was so kind to me, from somewhere one red squirrel came and stood just in front of me. It posed as if it came only to pose for me :) And it then vanished in seconds!!
There is nature reserve on the way, near to reception where you can watch variety of birds at a very small extra cost, but I had to hurry to reception. Quickly I reached reception and then got in to gift shop through which you exit the island. I looked at the watch and it was 4.48pm!! And I saw the ferry is ready to leave. I got into the ferry, and we said goodbye to Brownsea island! And I saw the guide who gave me route details, in the ferry. And with a smile, he said, You made it on time!! :)
The return journey to Poole was around 45 minutes as it would take you through other islands of Poole harbor. A tiring day came to close when I finally landed in the Quay. I went to a restaurant and had chicken biriyani (Indian/Bangladeshi restaurant) and went straight to train station. A day well spent!
On 9th August I left home early morning and went to Poole by train (via Reading->Basingstoke->Pool route). It took around 2h:25min overall from Bracknell. I walked to the Quay (which is about 15 minutes away from station) through the Poole town center. A small, but decent town. In the Quay, I saw many boats and Kioske's for different boats. And there was a yellow Kioske which arranged tickets for Brownsea Island Ferry Ltd. I bought a ticket (£10) and took a side seat in the open top ferry. It is a return ticket which includes taking a trip around other 6 islands in the Poole Harbour while returning from Brownsea island. Ferry started moving slowly at 1.00pm and the journey to Brownsea island started. We moved past many small boats and cruises and in 20 minutes we've reached the island. Last ferry from the island was at 4.50pm, so I got just over 3 hours to wander around.
Brownsea island is managed by National Trust, UK. Long time back, this area was a big hill and most of it's land was taken over by the sea after the ice age. At present this island boasts variety of wildlife species and it is home to rare red squirrel. The employees offered warm welcome and got myself a ticket for £6.60 (£6.00 without gift aid). They gave a route map which was very helpful. This map is very useful to know the view points, walking trails and woodland areas inside the island. Also this is at most useful when you got lost, as it happened to me once :-). If you want to explore the entire island, it would take around 3-4 hours depending on how fast you walk.
Started walking through the island and found a small bird view point. And moving on saw one tent and a group having food near by. Interesting thing was they were surrounded by couple of ducks, asking for food and they were quite happy with what they were given :). Then I saw a peacock fed by a family. I pulled the camera bag out and changed the lens quickly to get some pics.
There were many view points on the way, and I got down to one of them and it was just beautiful experience. There were many families out there. Kids were digging holes and making different forms using the sand and some bricks on the beach. I spent about an hour there and clicked many pictures. As I was getting bit late and the last ferry from the island was at 4.50pm, I decided to go back to trails leading to woodlands. Some pictures from view point.
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| On the left, rocks were there, and water was leaking from them. It seemd to me that it was aftemath of lava eruption :) |
I was tired and wanted to go back and get the earliest ferry back to Poole. I opened the map again and searched for the route back and started walking. I saw a visitor center (there are couple of them inside the island and they are marked on the map) which gives more details about the current point and gives an idea about trails and view points.I followed it and thought was taking the same route I had taken while coming to the view point, but I was actually going in the opposite direction!! Then I saw a guide. He told me it will take around an hour to get to reception from there and he advised me to take that route and finish the expedition. So actually, I was going in the right direction, after all :) He had a look at the time and said, your last ferry is at 4.50pm, so you should walk fast and said,"You're young and fit man, you can do it!".
Even though It would be good to go back in the other direction which at least I remember, I was happy that, at least I'm exploring entire island. So I took the challenge and decided to take the route and finish off in an hour. And I've to say, it was the most scenic area in the whole island! :) The trip would've been just average or may be below average if I wouldn't have taken this trail. Brownsea Island is famous for Scouting which began in early 1900s. There is a monument for people who attended the first batch of scouting.
I got into the woodlands and I hardly seen any people. Just me and nature. I could hear whole lot of sounds (birds, sea) and it was bit scary, at times. When you are alone in such a place, you tend to think too much. But the whole setting was serene and beautiful that I started taking lot of pictures and it calmed my mind. It was really a beautiful place, and I always dreamed of being in such place. I was in a hurry, so didn't spend much time, just took pictures and moved on. Suddenly I saw something moving behind woods and heath. I couldn't recognize at first, but then realized it was a peacock family. I took couple of pictures. A couple joined me in clicking pictures who came from opposite direction.
Now only thing I didn't see was the red squirrel. I thought may be I'm unlucky. God was so kind to me, from somewhere one red squirrel came and stood just in front of me. It posed as if it came only to pose for me :) And it then vanished in seconds!!
The return journey to Poole was around 45 minutes as it would take you through other islands of Poole harbor. A tiring day came to close when I finally landed in the Quay. I went to a restaurant and had chicken biriyani (Indian/Bangladeshi restaurant) and went straight to train station. A day well spent!
