In 1588, the beacon on Beacon Hill in Corfe Mullen, near to where we live, was lit to give warning of the approach of the Spanish Armada. During the Napoleonic Wars this beacon on Lytchett Heath was again manned in case of invasion by the French.
Reading the newspapers or watching the television news these days might make you think it should be permanently lit.
The old clay pits here were used to extract white china clay for export. Even recent use as a landfill site, seen here, makes it difficult to spoil the Dorset landscape.
Mind you, when paths like this have to be negotiated to reach this far, it is not exactly as though hordes of tourists will ever find the place.
This is Lewis and me. Met him yesterday by chance when we were on one of our explorations in between a break in what passes for summer weather these days.
I had never met him before and am unlikely to meet him again; but we seem to buy or steal our shirts from the same source and it was worth a picture.
Exploration is a wonderful way of meeting people. We have probably met half of Dorset to say "Hello" to, or to halt awhile to say important things like: "bit brighter today!" so they can say: "perhaps summer is here at last!"
As you may see, by clicking on this picture, the weather wasn't much for taking photograhs, but you can probably just make out Poole and its harbour in spite of the clouds. And the heather and gorse are colourful.
I have included the next picture near to the end of our hike because, surprise, there are glimmers of sunshine through the trees.
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