The Enid Blyton Society

Some great views of Dorset as Julia Bradbury walks from Poole Harbour to Old Harry Rocks - and Enid had ample mention, regards her golf course and inspiration.

Yes, we've just been watching that programme, too. I've visited that golf course, and went into the club house to see the photo of Enid and her husband on that very course.

We walked across the golf course quite a few years ago, and went to the aggle stone. Beautiful area, and the gorse smelled like almonds, as Enid would say!!

I've just watched it as well. Great to see the old familiar sites of Purbeck. Walked all over this part of Dorset, inc the route Julia Bradbury took. I never tire of this particular area. Just seeing it on tv has given me a urge to get the next train down there!

We watched it as well as we have walked to Old Harry rocks back in 2012. Nice to hear Enid mentioned.

We walked to Old Harry Rocks too - from the car park - but its still quite a distance! That was maybe about 2005.

Yes, we didn't walk the distance that Julia Bradbury did. It was a lovely summer evening and there were plenty of other walkers enjoying a stroll.

I've done Julia Bradbury's walk once or twice most years in spring or summer, usually starting from Bournemouth to walk along the seafront from the pier to the Sandbanks ferry (around one and a half hours)and then on along JB's route via the beach to Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down. It's around 10 minutes walk from the Ferry across Shell Bay to the point at the North end of Studland Beach, 40 along the beach to where Julia left the sand by the car park and WW2 bunker, and 30-35 minutes from there to Old Harry - and by the bunker is the small 'police house' thatched cottage whose 1950s resident is supposed to be the original for 'PC Plod'. This end of the beach is now receding fast due to erosion in winter storms, and there's been controversy over the authorities possibly abandoning the beach huts. The walk West from Studland inland to the Agglestone is usually kept for another occasion - it's a major detour West from the direct route.
The programme did not have time for the Swanage end of the walk, about 20 minutes down the steep hill into Swanage and onto the beach - which is more difficult when it has been raining as it gets muddy. There is an added Enid connection at this end: the path passes the huge Edwardian 'Grand Hotel' on the cliff edge, where Enid stayed after she gave up holidays at the Grosvenor in Swanage centre in the 1950s. I suspect given the similarity of their situation that this inspired Enid's 'Holiday House', and possibly the cliff-edge location of Craggy Tops .

A pity they didn't pan the camera around a little more when JB was on the golf course & shown us Addlestone cottage where Enid based the F5 in a "Mystery to solve"! Here's a photo I took of the cottage a few years ago, as seen from the GC. The cleaner part of the cottage is an extension, well after Enid's time!

Nice pic, number 6. It's a pity they didn't go into the clubhouse too, and show the picture of Enid and her hubby on the golf course.

I was just happy (and slightly amazed!) that they even mentioned Enid Blyton. When I first went to Dorset around 2002 it was as if the area was ashamed of the connection to her. Her name was never mentioned in guidebooks and there was certainly no 'Blyton trail' to follow as their is for Hardy. There was no mention that Enid ever holidayed there at all, so I'm happy people are acknowledging the fact at last!

Do you know, Julie, I've never been in the clubhouse & never seen the photo! I once tried to pop in for a drink at the halfway stage of a walk, but the guy in charge on reception said it was for members only. He obviously thought I was riff-raff...& he was probably right!!
I'm in Dorset this coming July, so I'll try again.

I walked to Old Harry Rocks in 1980 when I was seven!

We were staying at the Corrie Hotel in Swanage although I believe it's long since been demolished!

I was interested to hear about the Machu Picchu mountain walk on this week's programme! I thought 'I know that name!'

A woman Julia Bradbury spoke to was training for the machu picchu trek.

Machu Picchu is one of Britain's Best Walks??

(I guess next they'll be going to visit Stonehenge in Peru. )