If one wanted to show a foreigner England, perhaps the wisest course would be to take him to the final section of the Purbeck Hills, and stand him on their summit, a few miles to the east of Corfe – EM Forster.

On Ballard Down Above Studland pic.twitter.com/qBrG5tcxX0

— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) April 18, 2022

Ballard Down is the last in a line of chalk hills cutting across the Isle of Purbeck, each with its own special character. To the west are Ailwood Down and Nine Barrow Down where the summit is dotted with stone-age burial mounds.

Below, the great glittering sweep of Poole Harbour lies on one hand and the limestone uplands of south Purbeck on the other.

Seen from the west, the Wight is beautiful beyond all laws of beauty. It is as if a fragment of England floated forward to greet the foreigner – chalk of our chalk, turf of our turf, epitome of what will follow. – EM Forster

‘The reason fails, like a wave on the Swanage beach; the imagination swells, spreads, and deepens, until it becomes geographic and encircles England.’

Old Harry rocks – Easter day pic.twitter.com/UAE4qz1NHM

— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) April 18, 2022

Mornings so beautiful , even the police congregate to admire

 

And sea and sky merge behind the sails

I must go down to the sea again pic.twitter.com/MEOmtF20vh

— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) April 18, 2022