Egypt4u

Mondays arrival and Tuesdays excursions.

Our trip to Dorset was just a short break. It could have been 3 nights in Paris or Barcelona but we decided to remain in our green and pleasant land. On reflection it would have been cheaper to go to Paris or Barcelona but they will save for next time. I have always wanted to see the swans at Abbotsbury Swannery so my pin found Abbotsbury on the map when we were deciding where to stay. One of just a few hostelries in Abbotsbury is The Ilchester Arms, a licensed premises since 1786 and former coaching house, now grade 2 listed. We reserved a room and arrived last Monday at exactly the time predicted by SatNav Sally.

Our room, with the white door, was in the converted stable block and after unpacking we found our way to the terrace for a pimms; well it was Wimbledon.


The Inn has 8 letting rooms and very extensive bar accommodation inside, and beer garden outside. Very friendly and efficient staff made our stay comfortable. All are welcome, Kids, Dogs and Wellies


The last census recorded a village population of 481 and although small, its main road was narrow and busy with through traffic but I can't imagine where they were going because it was a bit 'back of beyond'. No I didn't remove the aerials H just to prove that they DO have electricity.


The Swannery was just half a mile away and the Sub Tropical Gardens a mile in the opposite direction so that was our plan for Tuesday.


I should add that I do have some mobility problems so we will not be climbing any cliffs or hills just to get a vantage point for pictures. I DO however use my blue badge whenever it will help to reduce walking distances. The first occasion was on arrival at The Swannery when we learned that there was a quarter mile walk to the feeding point. Fortunately we were able to drive down to a small blue badge car park. Feeding time was 12 noon (and 4pm) so we timed our arrival well ahead. There are around 700 swans there, but at the end of July they will round up ALL of them for an accurate count of adults and cygnets. At that time the pens have a kind of moult and cannot fly.

As feeding time approaches the swans gather before the keepers arrive. That is the cue for the Canada geese to swim across in formation to get a share, much to the annoyance of some of the cobs.


Feeding Time


A couple of pics away from the main flock.


I remember Horus mentioned that when he was at Stonehenge a local gave him a tip to get closer to the stones. We met a man at the Swannery collecting for Lifeboats and, apart from the fact that he used to be a brewer at Shepherd Neame brewery just a few miles from us, he gave us a tip of where to drive to get some good views of Chesil Beach and the Swannery. Can't beat local knowledge.

Typical Dorset countryside, and the Swannery from a high vantage point with Chesil Beach beyond.


In early afternoon we made our way, the couple of miles to the Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens. The gardens cover 30 acres and as their name implies, contain a very wide variety of trees and plants from warmer climes that thrive at this south coast location. The gardens are really lovely and in some respects reminiscent of Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. In particular the bamboo which we also found in abundance at the Swannery.

The gardens celebrate 250 years since their foundation in 1765.




The verandah of the tea room is very colonial with hints of 'The Raj'


Another little bit of local knowledge, mainly from Mrs G's sharp eye for a small sign, led us when we left the gardens down a small road to a car park right at the base of Chesil Beach. A board walk lead up to the top of the beach to reveal a fairly wild sea so much in contrast to the placid West Fleet lagoons that the swans occupy on the landward side of the raised beach.

On top of Chesil Beach, and a wild sea compared to the placid lagoons where the swans live, the other side of the beach.


Not far back to the hotel where we had dinner that evening and all three evenings of our stay.

Lovely pictures Grandad we of course had to miss out the Swannery because of little Annie, but she loved the Sub Tropical Gardens especially the ponds with the big carp in them, I have some pictures of her trying to catch a greedy duck that arrived whenever food was on offer, I will post mine after you have completed your second report. Those waves on Chesil Beach are a lot higher than when we were there, in fact by comparrison it was quite calm.

WOWWWW Grandad - lovely photos!!

Your lodging looked lovely too. The word "quaint" kept coming to mind when I was looking at them.

As for the Canadian geese - well they definitely do seem to 'move in' and then remain. Opportunists the lot.

I particularly love your photo of the swan through the tree branches. That is a wonderful shot and really shows the majesty of the swan quite well.

I haven't been to Dorset for many years, but I loved Compton Acres in Poole. Wonderful gardens.

Lovely pics Grandad around a quaint village

I don't think I've ever seen so many swans together

Thanks for your comments folks.

Yes Kiya the swans are an amazing sight. I have lots of pictures of them but here is another one in which I like the brilliant white plumage.

I will spoil it now and tell you all what Grandad left out
The Swans were originally kept as food for eating by the monks who founded the place

If swan is as greasy as goose I don't think I'm missing much BUT if it was known here that you're eating swan I think every animal rights person in the country would be out in force!

They are protected here LLL, its only the foreign immigrants that are eating them They are actually a royal bird and belong to the queen.

I will spoil it now and tell you all what Grandad left out
The Swans were originally kept as food for eating by the monks who founded the place

True H, it takes so long resizing and uploading pictures that I forgot the history of how they came there in the first place, but thanks for making that point. Just to expand a little on that there are records of swans being there back to 1393 and swans were probably there before that date. Of the 600 -700 swans at the Swannery, there are around 150 breeding pairs who nest within the one hectare site.

I know what you mean about uploading the images Grandad, it can be awfully time consuming.

Grandad, makes me wish I could visit. The photos are lovely, the swans are so clean and white. Like your old Inn, I used to book them when I was competing with my horse, a good nights sleep in a crooked room over the bar, the smell of breakfast in the morning ... ummmm. Swans are paired for life, when our female died the male wouldnt walk, had to carry him out to the pond every morning, he did paddle in the water . . . . strange. And yes Horus, we had goddam aliens coming in at night to steal animals. I had 2 alsations, didnt feed them till the morning .

I believe swans are a protected bird here too. Eagles are definitely really protected and even if you find a dead one you're not allowed to touch a feather. Interestingly even the First Nations people who LOVE their feathers have to ask permission to take the feathers off a dead one.

I love the expression First Nations people, it shows respect.

I had a lot of geese at one time, but free range pigs (to eliminate the creeping thistle) and breeding geese don't mix - the pigs eat the eggs pronto.

I just kept my original pair and finally George was by himself. At this time I guess he was about 14/15 years old - we had a fox's den as well but they didn't bother him. Every morning after he had been fed he would walk the couple of hundred yards to the river, coming back for his evening feed.

Suddenly he had company - three swans decided to join us. He had a wonderful time swimming up and down and mutually grooming. It used to make me laugh, the tall elegant swans and the short fat gander. The "extra" swan only stayed a year or so leaving a threesome, which still did their patrols together. When I moved I took him to a friends rescue farm where he had a new mate. He was 26 years old when I last saw him and going strong. I'm sure he thought he was slumming and he was a swan really.

Lovely story MD, it would make a nice childrens book

You know Horus you've given me an idea!

Years ago I wanted to write a children's story about "Socks" the cat who lived with her babies in the Al Hussein Mosque in Cairo. She was a famously clever and much loved animal.

Hmmm maybe short stories of animal and bird characters I have known? I'll give it a whirl. Thank you.

Mad Dilys wrote:You know Horus you've given me an idea!

Years ago I wanted to write a children's story about "Socks" the cat who lived with her babies in the Al Hussein Mosque in Cairo. She was a famously clever and much loved animal.

Hmmm maybe short stories of animal and bird characters I have known? I'll give it a whirl. Thank you.

You have already filled your winter months MD, what with the family records for your grandson and now a series of childrens books. But I always think the best stories are those that come from REAL events so go for it.

Could be another J K Rowling and she didn't do too bad

Go for it MD I often think that maybe I am a supressed author, I am sure that I have a book in there somewhere

Of course you have Horus, you could just edit your very interesting and beautifully illustrated posts into a book - piece of cake.

Great idea MD! Have you ever read any of James Heriot's book? My father loved them - but same idea: novels based on his career as a Vet.

I'm voting Horus write a coffee table book full of his wonderful photos with descriptions!