The Narrative
   The mercury sat at 18°C as I set off, though the bright sunshine bypassed a light WNW breeze to make it feel a balmier 20°C. Skirting the golf course towards the cliffs, I found the local jackdaws out in force, reclaiming the pristine greens alongside a supporting cast of rooks, crows, and wood pigeons.     Near the boundary fence, a brilliant clump of blue Greater Periwinkle added a flash of colour, matched by the frantic fluttering of comma and small white butterflies amongst the wayside shrubs.      One sprawling corner of brambles and green alkanet had been completely overtaken by a spectacular canopy of wild dog roses, whilst scattered poppies nodded in agreement along the path.
   Reaching the cliff tops near the boating pool, the canine parade commenced. First came a brown Cockapoo with its owner, swiftly followed by a vibrant patch of yellow bush lupins sharing soil with purple mallow and green alkanet—a veritable Garden of Eden for local sparrows, bees, and butterflies. Further along, a lively black-and-white mongrel bounded past to retrieve a ball, earning its young owner a polite nod and smile. From the vantage point of the cliffs, I paused to photograph the expansive low tide below, capturing a few playful spaniels, a golden retriever, and a scattering of gulls feeding on the sand.

   Turning back, I left the golf course behind—the jackdaws still holding their parliament—and noted a pair of feral pigeons holding court on a nearby rooftop. The final stretch offered a grand finale of local foot traffic: a young lady commanding a large Alsatian, more pigeons colonising the leisure centre roof, and a muzzled, stately white poodle escorting two youngsters. After a brief glimpse of a solitary small blue butterfly dancing through the shrubs, a lazy, laconic, and beautifully melodious blackbird song provided the perfect soundtrack to bring the morning’s trek to a beautiful conclusion.
Clean Stats
Distance: 3.13 miles
Duration: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Google Fit: 31 heart points

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.