Brockenhurst, Newforest, England

June 2018.

To find a middle ground between my restless itchy feet and inability to take days off work, I set off on a short weekend trip to Brockenhurst, a village in the Newforest. This is in the county of Hampshire on the south coast part of England. It was just under a 2 hours drive from Burgess Hill on an early Saturday morning. We hit the road without any initial plan or prep. I have realised that often, these sort of trips are the best ones.

We rolled into the first campsite that we found - Hollands Woods. It was located just on edge of the forest with a vast stretch of grassland where wild horses and ponies were wandering around, completely  undisturbed of human presence. It was a whole different feel to be out there in the open in your tent with ponies pottering around without bothering you or getting bothered. It was just the pet dogs that bugged the horses a bit. They would jump every time the dogs barked. You could see foals with their mothers playing in the grassland and the wide variety of ponies was quite impressive.

After pitching our tent, we walked into the Brockenhurst town. Our campsite was on the outskirts and it took about 15minutes to walk into the village. It's a small village with the usual shops to be found i.e the village butcher, the village baker, the village market. The simplicity in the names of these shops starting with 'village...' made us smirk. There were a few touristy cafés and tearooms as well and we had a very good meal at one of the cafés the next day after our big walk.

We did a 15km walk around Brockenhurst through the forest. We followed a very detailed description that we found in the below link while googling - Newforestsexplorersguide

We found our way through cutesy cottages, an old 16th century Parish church, vast stretches of farm lands, shady woods with tall deciduous trees, many foxtrot flowers, unique mushrooms, a little pig farm and a dairy, rugged hilly lanes, wiggly streams, a shallow river called the Lymington river (it's more like a stream. We crossed the river on foot which was a bit of fun)and finally completing the circuit by walking back into the village. The weather was just perfect, mildly sunny but not hot at all.

We also drove down to the Lymington dock. We walked around the many ferries and boats docked there, musing over the different designs and prices of these boats. From the ferry point here, you could see the Isle of Wight sticking up across The Solent and whilst we were there, we saw the Isle of Wight ferry arrive at the dock. Though this area smells of blue sea, the actual essence of the Newforest lies in the wild rugged greenery inland where we camped.

I loved this short quick visit to the Newforest right in the middle of nowhere surrounded by wild ponies and thick woods. Whilst we chose to do the longest and apparently the best walk we could find around this area, there are many short and interesting walks that you can do around Brockenhurst. There are deer trails, more forests and woods, ancient churches and pretty villages. So many places to go but never enough time! 

My Home in Sussex, England

From 2015 till date

The Church and the Cemetery where the Woolgars sleep!

I have been writing about all my trips and travels recently and then few days back, I realised my current life is nothing but a big vacation - a true travel story. And the place I live now is no less beautiful than any renowned exotic place, if you have the right senses to discover, that is. So, today, I am going to pen down my experience of this place where I live at the moment and how it has helped me grow.

My little abode.

I don’t know which one is dearer - the home that builds you or the home you build. Burgess Hill is where I have built my own home or rather rented. (Wonder – if my life is for rent; Courtesy Dido :)) Burgess Hill is a town in West Sussex of England and Sussex is simply beautiful. 

Bachelor's Farm - I love the names in England.

I live in a little flat by the Burgess Hill station. My makeshift bed lies by the glass wall that has a glass door to the balcony. I had made a little garden in the balcony. My garden contains some herbs, strawberries and house plants. My room overlooks the rolling hills of the South Downs that beckons me every sunny morning.

My herby collection.

I wake up to the sound of chirpy magpie in the Ash tree by my room and the morning light flooding through the glass wall. After my morning routine of exercise and a cup of honey-n-lime, I like to sit in the orange ragged couch by the balcony and have my breakfast there. From there, I can see the back of the apartment. There is a little path at the backyard that takes you to a farm called Bachelor's farm in about 15 minutes of walk.

The canopy that leads to the Bachelor's Farm.

The path is full of trees and flowers - daffodils, blackberries and others that I don’t know the names of. Lots of birds keep chirping all along the way - I can spot Robin, Magpie, sparrow and often a few squirrels running up and down the tree branches. They also visit the balcony in my flat. A black fluffy cat often lurks around the corners on the same path.

In front of the Duck Pond.

There is a small pond on the way where many ducks, mainly mallards and blackbirds, heron gather to party. The lazy willow trees keep hanging all around the pond forming a cosy canopy. The path opens up to the Bachelors farm which welcomes you with the tempting view of the Clayton Hill in the distance sitting pretty on the South Downs. Climbing on to the far end of the bachelor’s farm you would reach a water tank that can also be spotted from the top of the hills.

Ah.. the rolling South Downs!

You see brown rabbits with white bottoms playing in the bushes, black, white and brown horses strolling in the enclosure by the farm, not to forget the long grass (almost touching my neck) swaying in the breeze and the little buttercups and daises that adorn the fields' green carpet.You can cross a little bridge on top of the railway tracks beside the farm and enter another farm land. This one is more rolling and gives you a direct view of the Wolstonbury Hill on the South Downs.

Wolstonbury Hill

The Clayton and Wolstonbury are my most visited hills on the South Downs. I admit I’m a bit biased towards Wolstonbury though. I climb the steep side of the Wolstonbury hill through a woody path and climb a few steps and in few minutes, I’m on the top of the hill looking over the fields and the farms, rolling hills of the downs and you can see as far as the tall pole of the Brighton eye along which the doughnut car moves up and down. There are two particular trees on the top of the Wolstonbury hill, one of which permanently lean to one side, funnily making a shape of a wolf pouncing on its prey, the prey being the other tree much smaller than the first one. My friend and I call it the wolf and the hill, Wolftonbury.

Cherry Blossoms on a sunny Spring afternoon!

Once you start climbing down the other side of the hill, it unfolds a smooth curved green valley (almost like a sleeping elephant back) lined up by trees and little woods. I call this the rabbit valley – my most favourite valley on the downs.

White-bottomed Brown Rabbit!

Lambs and Sheep - gamboling all the way!

You have to climb down through some steep steps running through the woods and get to this valley where I have seen loads of brown rabbits with white bottoms, especially at dusk. Inside these woods, the smell of wild garlic fills your senses in a warm spring afternoon. You could go all around this valley and then cross the road to get on to the other hill i.e. the Clayton.

On their afternoon stroll in the hilly Country side.

Clayton is quite well known because of the Jack and Jill windmills on the top. You can walk up the gradual slope by the horse stables or you can take the steep side of the hill to get to the top. This is where I had my first kite flying session. From here, you get the perfect wolfy view of the Wolstonbury hill.

Path climbing down the Wolstonbury. Cherry Blossoms so carefully laid out!

Whilst Clayton sees more people and cars and gives you a jolly feeling, Wolstonbury is more wild and peaceful, in my mind. Wolftonbury, Jack & Jill and rabbit valley always bring a smile on my face, they have a special place in my heart for all sorts of right reasons.

Cute Mushroom!

From top of the Clayton, I make my way along the top of the hills and crossing many gorses and a little pond and many sheep and many farms, I come to Ditchling Beacon. This place is quite popular as you can see lots of people on their bikes, walking their dogs, crowding near the single ice cream truck or just pottering around in general. From the calm and lovely Wolstonbury to the humming Clayton to the bustling Ditchling beacon, the changing scenes and sceneries form a choreography inside my head.

On the way to Ditchling Beacon.

I continue my dance crossing the Ditchling and make my way to the Black cap. Black cap is a little crowd of trees forming a cap on the top of the otherwise rolling hill. Again like many other names, the name black cap tickles my imagination.

One of the many moods!

This is where I feel at home the most – on top the green rolling hills with a light breeze and no one around but peace and raw nature (and not much people thankfully). I sit here on top of these hills and empty my mind. I lay on the grass with no care in the world. I take out one or two snacks from my bag. I have a bite, have a drink, read my book, lay idle on the grass, sing at the top of my voice when no one’s around and when there is a pin drop silence, I listen to the wind, soak in the warmth, creep on the rabbits, chase the butterflies and talk to the sheep and the horses in my secret funny voice. I feel free.

Such a gorgeous spread! - On the south downs

As much as I love the hills, I love the blue sea and noisy waves as well. Even though Brighton is the popular tourist town by the sea, I prefer the quaint and charming Shoreham, the tiny coffee shack in the beach of Rotting dean, the rugged green cliffs by the sea in Birling Gap and the winding river of Cuckmere Haven.

The quintessential English white cliffs by the Sea! - View from Birling Gap.

I love the yummy French patisserie in Shoreham where a little bird, a pied wagtail whom we call Charlie, visits every time we sit there for a bite (the choices are plenty and ever tempting). I love the river Adur that restlessly goes high and low with the tide, water flowing in and out; I also love the old weird house boats, the many sailors in the sea, the bacon smell of the cooked breakfast in Karats cafe. Speaking of bacon, the BLT (bacon lettuce tomato) sandwich in the tiny shack in Rotting dean is the least pretentious and tastiest sandwich ever. (I almost feel guilty qualifying that BLT as the tastiest because my friend makes a sandwich with seeded baguette, avocado, tomato and roasted chicken which is, in a word, suuupeerbbb!)

Seven Sisters in the distance!

I love the walk in the beach near Rotting Dean with the white cliffs overhanging with little pigeon nests and the occasional huge wave splashes on stormy days. The cliff walks of Birling Gap, Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters are my occasional treats.

Devil's Dyke! - Yep, that's the name of this one!
Did I say, I'm in love with the way English name their places, pubs everything!?

How can I not love this place? I can taste freedom here. This place has made me grow into a much better person.

The rolling green hills, the charming blue sea, the narrow winding rivers, the pretty quaint towns, the tiny little coffee shacks, the green lush farms, the flowery woods, chirpy birds, fidgety squirrels, nervous rabbits, the pretty countryside and most importantly, the modesty in everything! – This is my home away from my home.

At the back of my apartment - Wynnstay!

Midlands Summertime - Nottinghamshire & DerbyShire, England

May 2018.

After a lot of hesitation, we finally decided to rest my feeble knees that i had twisted in the Amalfi  hike and canned the lake District plan for the week. Instead, we drove to Nottinghamshire with an intent of walking around the countryside of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

After a 4hour drive through the busy M25 and M1 across the middle of the country, we reached Nottinghamshire at around 2o clock in the afternoon. After a brief chitchat and coffee, we strolled up to the Bramcote Park which is just a few minutes walk from my friend's place. Bramcote Park is pretty with the rhododendrons crowding every bridleway at this time of the year. We walked around the park among the long trees and the Rhodies ( as they are fondly referred to here) bushes , across the fields, passed the sun clock on the ground and up to the Hemlock stone on the other side of the park. The Hemlock stone has many myths around the origin of the rock. It looks like a solitary barren rock in the middle of nowhere.

The next day we woke up to heavy rain and dark cloud and decided to make a day out of it indoors, so ended up playing a little piano, watching TV shows, playing a bit of darts, and finally cooking Prawn Malai for everyone's dinner. Once the rain eased down a bit, got all the cooking ingredients for the dinner and then went for a walk in the Wollaton Park. This is again a big green area with stretches of open fields, lots of trees of different kinds and a sixteenth century castle and most importantly, it's a home to many deer. We saw a herd of baby deer with white spots on their bodies in the field. It was fun. We went inside the castle which has been made into a museum and admired the many stuffed animals that adorned the walls.  

The following day turned out to be a bright sunny one, perfect for a hiking trip to Derbyshire. We drove to Chatsworth and climbed up the hill behind the Chatsworth house. We climbed a few uneven steps and eventually reached a folly. We were then met with a small waterfall whilst walking through the woods. A bit of cold splashy fun there! We walked all around the landscaped gardens on the hills and saw many heathers and brackens on the moorland before making our way down to the Chatsworth garden centre for some coffee and slices of lemon drizzle and coffee walnut cake. 

Heathers, Bracken, Moors - reminds me of Jane Austen :) This area is different from my very beloved South Downs. It is more rugged and wild. I love the English countryside and I cant stress it enough. It is not just the nature that appeals to my heart but it casts some sort of poetic spell on me.

The next day was also equally promising and we found ourselves a nearby countryside walk , commonly known as The Coffin Walk. It was a easier walk compared to the hill climb of the day before. We made our way through farm lands and cutesy villages, passing by the river Derwent. We learnt about the three major rivers that run through this area- Derwent, Trent and Sawley. There's also Erewash. The names intrigue me. There is a certain charm in the way things are named in this country, I feel. My friend's dad was talking about a restaurant named 'The frustrated chef', not to mention the many interesting pub names I often come across.

We found ourselves in a relaxed lazy mood the day after. After watching an interesting documentary on the 'Origin of humans' on the BBC, we lazily made our way to visit my friend's brother and admire his new self-made garden. We then went for a brisk walk by the Trent Lock and the Erewash canal. It is a short 3Km walk each way but its quite pretty with the house boats lined up in the canal and the chirpy birds by the trees alongside. In the evening, we spent some cosy homely time watching comedy shows and discussing countries and culture. As the day rolled into the night, we packed our bags for an early morning departure the next day.

It was a nice relaxing week in a cozy homely atmosphere with a few doses of nature and lots of food. The best part was the garden in my friend's house. I spent some quality time there reading book on the swing chair, having coffee and muffins, watching the tiny tadpoles swimming in the pond, admiring the poppies and just absorbing the serenity of the place. Reminds me of my own childhood home in a way.