Well actually not what you’re thinking. A hazy sun looked to have a battle on its hands with the fairly complete carpet of cloud and as often in these parts, the Island was a tad on the misty side when viewed from the mainland. Not daunted, wife and I decided on a walk along the top of part of Hordle Cliffs between Milford on Sea and Barton on Sea. Well I say a walk, it was definitely on the sedate side and most certainly wasn’t what you’d call a yomp in your wildest dreams, but pleasant enough if your mobility is limited. By the time we had finished the sun was actually shining, so not sure what went wrong there, but it really was pleasant sitting a bench gazing out across to the Island.
In fact when we parked and got out, a large sign had informed us that the powers that be had been flexing their powers to the extent that the cliff top walk was being tarmacked over and was thus even more accessible to the disabled. Without I hope being rude, the majority socio-economic groupings in the area tend toward the more mature end of the spectrum age-wise, so although it isn’t the prettiest thing, it does enable the residents of the area to walk without fear of tripping. This counts as a Good Thing, and I wouldn’t have thought it exactly hindered council officer re-election chances either. I’m guessing that since it isn’t quite finished yet, when it is it will have a top coat with sand and pebbles pushed in to take away some of the unremitting blackness of it much like the stretch at the front of the Needles Eye cafe completed last year.
Not sure what will happen if we ever get a really hot few days on the trot, I think I would probably stay off the tarmac if I were you, unless you wish to stick to the same place on the path for a while. But for those who have difficulty walking or even those needing wheelchair access, this is a good place to go. There are benches along the side of the path throughout most of it’s length, and the car parks have spaces dedicated to the disabled. One even has a kiosk where you can buy fish and chips, although I can’t personally vouch for them one way or the other.