It might be winter, but that's not going to stop me from going to the beach, no way! There's no better place to be on a cold, crisp, clear day and when you live in a county that is home to some of the best beaches in the country, it seems stupid not to take advantage of what's on my doorstep.
Don't believe me? Just look at this…
I love it! That picture was taken just last week, and the beach was just as beautiful today. The sun was glinting off the sea, there was hardly anyone around, I could enjoy the stunning views of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight. On days like today, there's nothing better than wrapping up warm and taking a stroll by the seaside.
And it's so easily accessible, even with a buggy. If I wanted to, I could walk from Poole to Bournemouth to Boscombe. I'm not likely to do that, I've only got little legs, but it's nice to have the option if I want to. And even better, there are plenty of places to stop on the way, whether it's a pub or a cafe you're after.
There's also something incredibly therapeutic about being by the sea. It calms me, it puts a spring in my step and a smile on my face. As well as putting colour in my cheeks and giving me a some exercise, of course.
So when people ask me what I love best about Dorset, I'll always say the beach.
I've lived in Dorset for 10 months now and I can honestly say that moving here was one of the best decisions I ever made.
My husband's from the area, so it wasn't totally alien to me, but what's amazed both of us is the fact that in the 18 years we've been together, there are so many parts of the county we have never visited. So now we're Poole residents and parents, we've become determined to get out and about and explore - not only will it leave us with a 'bank' of places to go, but it also means we have places to recommend to visitors.
So with that in mind, this weekend we decided to head to Arne, an RSPB nature reserve just outside Wareham. We packed a picnic, our walking boots and the rucksack baby carrier and off we went. As first-time visitors, we decided to walk the red route – a 90-minute trek (that's if you're walking normal pace, not with a 4yo in tow…). No sooner had we set off than we saw a peacock basking in a driveway (as you do) and much to my eldest's delight, a bunny rabbit in a hedgerow.
The walk takes you through some of Arne village, which was used as a decoy during the war to steer enemy bombers away from where the Royal Navy was manufacturing shell propellant near Poole Harbour. In fact, in one evening, the village was bombed by almost 300 explosions. Wowsers!
But it's after the village (which is picturesque, don't get me wrong), that the real beauty of Arne lies. Along fields and through woodland, over heathland and along the coast, it captures some of the stunning Dorset landscape at its best. And if you're a nature lover, you're in for a treat.
Home to many birds, animals and insects, part of the pleasure is seeing what you can
spot – and then reporting back to the RSPB staff so they can add your find to the 'spotted today' list. It's also a great way of keeping kids entertained! We were fortunate enough to see a buzzard in flight, several unidentified birds (I'm a Tweeter, not a twitcher!) and a herd of deer.
We picnicked on the beach, taking in the views of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and Long Island while feeling the sand under our feet. With the sun shining, a gentle breeze blowing and the waves lapping the shore, it made me realise just how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful county.
All in all, we were at Arne for 3 hours, which cost us the grand total of £4 in parking fees. It might have been our first visit, but it definitely won't be our last!
For more information about Arne, head to https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/
