Today is forecast to be the last of the record breaking May weather, tomorrow 25 degrees will plummet to 15 so it’s time to enjoy the high summer conditions while we can. Unlike many other beaches, notably Bournmouth and Durdle Door, Wittering has been closed. It’s now open on a
prepayment basis to control numbers to a manageable level which is eminently sensible. It was Time for us to make a visit, the first for several months.
We arrived there at 8:30 when only a few others, mainly dog walkers, were there. The beach, as can be seen, was nearly empty so it was a delight to walk along the strand line with the sea lapping a few feet away as it was close to high water. Further on the anchorage was fairly
empty with only five boats there, all well spread out. It’s still against the rules to stay on your boat overnight so they shouldn’t be there but it’s easy to understand the temptation to bend them a bit; must have been wonderful out there last night.
The dunes are well roped off with signs asking dog owners to keep them on leads when in the dunes; let’s hope this gives the ground nesting birds a chance to raise a family. There was very little flying
about, maybe the still conditions didn’t suit them.
On the edges of the salt marsh the lavenders were coming into flower. There was plenty of Thrift which is part of the family with it’s clusters of white flowers. The common sea-Lavender was growing strongly too, not yet out but there will be plenty shortly.
Needless to say that by the time we left a long queue to get in had built up, it was going to be a busy day baking on the beach!