When I started this series I had no idea that it would take so long! I thought I’d probably break it down into 4 or 5 posts, and already this is part 9!! Not that it matters. There’s no hurry. I ended part 8 at the police station, which means of course that this part starts right there. Outside is an old police lamp that was the first shot on the roll, while just across the road, is the sign marker above, helpfully pointing the way forward.
A couple of sections so far have been all, but a few steps, totally on what would have been once the track bed of the railway. This is one of those sections where the exact opposite is true, apart from the last few yards, this is a section of “joining bits together”. Interesting none the less. The first stretch is very straight so you may be forgiven for thinking this is where the train once went – nope! It’s a nice enough walk though and it follows “Uddens Water” a small stream that runs parallel to the track. It also means I get another shot of ferns!
This area is plantation, mostly monoculture pine. I’m pleased to say that slowly that seems to be changing a bit, and when I get as far as Bedborough Farm, I discover that there is quite a substantial Solar Farm.
Before long a turn to the south, over a pretty bridge takes me towards the A31, an artery road in these parts. For a short time the path runs parallel just in the woods, then a footbridge carries the walker over the road and then I’m in an area known as Stapehill.
Incidentally this part of the main road is a couple hundred yards from where I visit the Pilford Heritage Show every year! A short length of the walk is now on the road, not the busy one above but the almost deserted and very quiet Uddens Drive. Then it’s a turn to the right and for the first time onto actual track bed. The Castleman Trail squeezes between the Barn Nursery School and the back of the Wimborne Garden Centre.
Above is the only tiny fragment of railway left, an almost gone cement hut, hidden in the undergrowth. Then the path meets a gate, turns sharp left, and back to the main road.
From the bus stop on the main road, one can see where the train once ran. If you were to climb over the gate and walk straight on (above) you would walk under the row of trees on the right of the image below. If you look closely you can make out the slightly raised bed. To the left of the horse is a white blob, that’s traffic on the infamous Canford Bottom roundabout – more about that next time.
Chatter: Pentax Spotmatic SP, with the 50mm and mostly 35mm Takumar’s, on the old movie Ilford FP4 stock, I’m bulk loading my way through. Processed in Ilford ID11, 1+3.2, for 20 mins at 20°.
S.H.O.U.T. 