I got off the bus at Corfe Castle – it was a bit difficult to see where I had to get off for where I was headed – the Corfe Castle Camping and Caravanning Club site, on a road out of Corfe, about a mile or so. I took my pack up the busy-ish tiny road in the heat, and saw an entry to path and wondered if it went to the campsite…I didn’t risk it and stayed on the fairly busy road. I eventually found the signed turn off via a track and got to the camp site, totally knackered and half expecting to be told to bog off, we’re full…. But actually I was met by a lovely woman who said the magic words ‘we always have space for backpackers’. After being treat like a pariah in places like Durdle Door,Holiday Park this was magic to hear. The ethos of the campsite – and I guess the club is to always keep to it’s roots and be pro-walker and pro-backpacker and not let the massive motorhomes and caravans edge the campers out. I am really tempted to become a member because of this – sadly it was the only Camping and Caravanning Club site in the area. Although I’ve just read on their site they are reverting back to being private which is a shame – that means there will be no club sites in the area? I instantly fell in love with the place, and the man and woman who ran the place were brilliant. They were also serious about COVID-19 and deep-cleaned the toilets and showerblock every morning, and insisted on masks and didn’t have any truck with this anti-mask nonsense. Compared to some of the places where I felt the facilities were a little unclean and maybe risky, this place I felt safe. Very much the opposite of the campsite in Nuts in May! Highly recommended. So I pitched my tent next to a motorhome and next to a small tree, and went walking to Corfe Castle. There’s a path at the back of the site that connects to the footpath to Cocknowle and Knowle Hill on one direction and West Hill and Corfe Castle on the other. This would have been a far better way to arrive, if I’d known about it! The view of Corfe Castle and the stone NT sign was so beautiful I stopped in my tracks on the track and drew it there and then. I kind of got into the habit at this point of drawing rather than taking photos, there aren’t as many of towards end of the trip as there are at the beginning! I got less snap-happy and more down to business. And my business here was that castle… You see what actually provoked this specific trip was someone posting a photo of Corfe Castle on the Grayson Perry Art Club Facebook page – like this it was along a track, with the castle in the distance. When I saw that I just wanted to visit again but this time draw and paint the castle. I then remembered my walk from Studland to Swanage and Durlston Castle – and wanting to continue that walk but having to turn back. So the two joined forces. And now I was here at the genesis of this trip. I did take a few photos though – this is as I walked closer and past the castle to the National Trust tea room – I wanted some food! I was hungry after my bus ride and tent erection (get your mind out of the gutter!).