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PURBECK HILLS HOLIDAY SEPTEMBER 2020

Stoke Lodge Ramblers

Full details of all aspects of the holiday

ALAN GARNER SECRET HILLS WALKING

October 2019– DRAFT ONE

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INTRODUCTION

The following proposal gives details of a walking holiday, specifically arranged for Stoke

Lodge Ramblers.

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, Swanage

DATE OF WALKING HOLIDAY

The date set is Sunday September 27 2020. Three nights stay- Sunday/Monday and Tuesday-

with the option to add Wednesday night and Thursday day. Should clients wish to stay on

then this can be arranged

NUMBERS ON THE HOLIDAY

It is anticipated that there will be approximately 30 to 35 members.

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 20 rooms for your group, at no

financial commitment. There are 2 single rooms and a number of smaller twin rooms that

would suit sole occupancy, but with sole occupancy supplement. One room – single,

complimentary, and the SLT 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.

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 10 - 11 miles,

Walk two will be 6 - 7 miles.

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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 and two walking is moderate, some climbing and descents, but all within the

moderate walking description. Walk three will be mainly on flat ground with some slight ups

and downs.

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Suggested walks

The Purbeck Hills are one of the finest landscape features in Dorset. 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 Lulworth Cove 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 buildings 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,

Sunday afternoon: walk along the clifftops to the curious chalk formations of Old Harry

Rocks and look across to the vast sands of the Studland Bay nature reserve. Enjoy afternoon

drinks at the historic Banks Arms pub.

Monday: travel to Worth Matravers, visit secluded quarries and smugglers dens along the

dramatic windswept cliffs of Winspit and Dancing Ledge. Lunch in the unspoilt village of

Worth Matravers. After lunch take the Purbeck Way inland and take tea close to the iconic

landmark of Corfe Castle.

Tuesday: 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 Jurassic coast. In the afternoon take a loop

around the unspoilt heaths of the military range past a fossilised forest and secluded

smugglers cove to finish back at Lulworth Cove for a cuppa.

Wednesday (if staying three nights): a half day walk- taking in Studland Bay and heath

finishing at 1pm.

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.

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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. 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.

Evening entertainment

On this walking break, the following evening entertainment will be provided by Secret Hills

Walking.

Sunday 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 £110, three nightly charge is £330.

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 Ramblers 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..

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.