PURBECK HILLS HOLIDAY SEPTEMBER 2021 Stoke Lodge Rambling Club

Full details of all aspects of the holiday ALAN GARNER SECRET HILLS WALKING December 2020– DRAFT ONE

1 INTRODUCTION

The following proposal gives details of a walking holiday, specifically arranged for Stoke Lodge Rambling Club. Whilst care has been taken to include all aspects of the holiday, the proposal remains in draft form, with potential to be revised. This draft will be used as the basis of agreement between your walking group, Secret Hills Walking and the The Pines Hotel,

DATE OF WALKING HOLIDAY

The date set is Sunday September 26 2020. Three nights stay- Sunday/Monday and Tuesday- with the option to add Wednesday night for those wanting to stay on. Should clients wish to stay on then this can be arranged

NUMBERS ON THE HOLIDAY

It is anticipated that there will be approximately the following

Between 20 and 25

DETAILS OF ACCOMMODATION

The holiday will use the Pines Hotel Swanage http://www.pineshotel.co.uk/

At the time of writing, the hotel have provisionally reserved 5 double rooms, 5 twin rooms and 5 rooms for single occupancy-15 rooms for your group, at no financial commitment.

One room – single, complimentary, and the SLR arrangement is to charge all and use the ‘free’ room money for disbursements.

An individual room extras bill will be set up at the start – for bar bills, extra at meals, wine etc.

DETAILS OF MEALS

Breakfast and dinner will be provided in a room to be agreed, for privacy. Evening dinner is three courses plus coffee. There are several choices of starters, main courses and sweets, including a vegetarian option. Sample menus are available

Lunch – is packed. An order will be taken during dinner each evening, and the lunches will be distributed after breakfast each day.

The public rooms of the hotel will be available to you.

Secure Car parking is at the back and side of the hotel.

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THE WALKS

Secret Hills Walking will organise walks as follows:

If you arrive in time and want to have a two and half hour walk late Sunday afternoon – say 2.00pm to 4.30pm -

There will be three walks arranged each day – two full days walk and a half day stroll and sightseeing walk. Walk one will be 8 10 miles, Walk three will be 3-5 miles, and will be followed by a visit to a local attraction. In addition Secret Hills Walking will plan an additional extra two miles as a loop to extend the walk for those able to do it.

Grades On walks one walking is moderate, some climbing and descents, but all within the moderate walking description. Walk three will be mainly on flat ground with some undulating sections as befits this area. . Suggested walks

The Purbeck Hills are one of the finest landscape features in . They extend from the much eroded chalk formations of Handfast Point in the east for some fifteen miles towards the blue waters and crumpled limestone cliffs of in the West. They form part of the Jurassic World Heritage coast, famed for its fossil record spanning three geological eras, with many fossilised sea creatures and dinosaur footprints still visible from the footpaths today. The picturesque Purbeck villages are still some of the last unspoilt survivors of the creeping urbanisation of the south, built from the same Purbeck stone that were used to create venerable building like Westminster Abbey. History is with us everywhere, from iron age forts and bronze age burial mounds to Norman churches, medieval castles and C18 pubs and villages. Purbeck is also home to rare species of flora and fauna that are only found in this part of the world.

The following walks descriptions are a basis of all the walks. Nearer the time we will publish each walk description,

Walk One routes

Sunday afternoon - walk along the clifftops to the curious chalk formations of and look across to the vast sands of the Studland Bay nature reserve. Enjoy afternoon drinks at the historic Banks Arms pub.

3 Monday –

Travel to , visit secluded quarries and smugglers dens along the dramatic windswept cliffs of and . Lunch in the unspoilt village of Worth Matravers. After take the Purbeck Way inland and take tea close to the iconic landmark of Corfe Castle.

Tuesday- a choice of Lulworth and

Travel to the world famous rock arch of Durdle Door, then hike to the blue waters of Lulworth Cove for lunch, along the cliffs of the . In the afternoon take a loop around the un spoilt heaths of the military range past a fossilised forest and secluded smugglers cove to finish back at Lulworth Cove for a cuppa.

OR to Corfe Taking in the WW2 village of Tyneham close to the army ranges, walking to and its bay, before finishing at Corfe Castle

Wednesday – if staying three nights

A half day walk- taking in Studland Bay and heath finishing at 1pm.

If guests opt to stay a fourth night – then there will be no walk arranged on Thursday

Walk two routes Sunday afternoon- A lovely walk through Swanage and out to Durston Head

Monday A walk around Corfe Castle and into surrounding countryside. Opportunity to visit castle. Opportunity to take steam train back to Swanage Tuesday We travel to Lulworth and walk the cliffs above the cove and Durdle Dor.

Wet Weather

Hopefully not – but the following will apply. We will arrange a shorter walk if it is felt that the weather is poor in the morning, and if the weather closes in during our walk. We reserve the right to strongly advise on weather matters, but the view of the group will be taken at all times. We have alternative afternoon walks planned if the weather is not conducive to walking in the morning.

Equipment needed on the walks

Walking boots or stout walking shoes are obligatory on the walks as terrain can be stony, and there is a Health and Safety risk unless approved walking footwear is worn.

4 Wet weather gear, a fleece or similar warm garment, walking pole and flask if you prefer a warm drink to water.

We always advise that you carry 1.5 litres of water.

Personal Accident Cover

We strongly advise that each member of the party is covered by Personal Accident Cover and has personal cancellation insurance

Evening entertainment On this walking break, the following evening entertainment will be provided by Secret Hills Walking. Friday evening – Secret Hills Walking will arrange for a local speaker who will talk about the local area, its history etc. A fee of £50 is charged by the speaker Other evenings- Secret Hills leaders can provide additional entertainment – quizzes etc as needed

Financial Arrangements

A summary of the costs is appended and agreed between the group and Secret Hills Walking

The nightly charge for this holiday is £128

Three nightly charge is £384

The above group rate covers Accommodation – en suite room – double/twin Free place Breakfast Evening Dinner.- three course plus coffee/tea Packed lunch Services of Secret Hills Walking guides Coach transport on two days Administration – arrangements for the hotel and liason between Stoke Lodge group leader and Secret Hills Walking.

Settlement

Full invoice to be paid two weeks prior to the date by bank transfer on presentation of Secret Hills Walking invoice Secret Hills Walking will undertake all financial transactions with the Pines Hotel . All extras bills will be settled by each group member prior to leaving the hotel.

Single supplement The hotel make a charge of £15per night for sole occupancy of a twin room..- after the 5 rooms have been used

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Cancellations, Additions and Substitutes.

Should a cancellation take place before the full amount is due, the deposit will be returned. Should a cancellation be enacted within one month of the start date of the holiday, then a negotiation between Secret Hills Walking and the hotel, will determine what needs to be paid as a cancellation fee. Additional places can be booked at any time – even a few days before the date. Substitutes are allowable at any time.

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