One of the finest ways to take in the Isle of Purbeck is to walk its high chalk downs, where the views stretch for miles and the hedgerows in September are brimming with seasonal treats. From Ailwood Farm, you can step straight out onto the bridleway and climb up onto Ailwood Down before following the ridge along to Nine Barrow Down.

The Fruits of September

Early autumn is a rewarding time to walk here. The hedgerows along the bridleways are alive with berries and nuts. Blackberries still cling to the brambles, often sweetened by the last of the summer sun. Hawthorn trees hang heavy with red haws, while elderberries droop in dark, glossy clusters. You may even spot sloes, their purple skins hinting at the possibility of homemade sloe gin. Hazel bushes scatter their nuts along the path—look for the cracked shells left behind by squirrels. It’s a natural harvest festival, right at your feet.

Views from the Ridge

The ridge of Nine Barrow Down rewards you with panoramic views in every direction. To the south, Corfe Castle sits proudly in its gap in the hills, with the Purbeck hills unfolding towards Kimmeridge and the sea. On a clear day, the Isle of Wight hovers faintly across the Solent. Look north and you’ll see the heathlands stretching towards Wareham and Poole Harbour, glinting with water. It’s the sort of vista that makes you stop and simply breathe it all in. The things to out for over in Poole are the Sandbanks Ferry, the sails of the new spinnaker bridge and the vastness of this second largest natural harbour in the world, after Sydney. You will see the smaller islands of the harbour Long Island,  Green Island, Furzey Island and of course Brownsea.

Birds to Look For

Though many of the summer migrants have departed by September, there’s still plenty of birdlife to enjoy. Skylarks may rise from the grassy downland, singing as they climb. Kestrels hover in search of mice along the slopes, and you might spot a buzzard circling overhead. Listen for the calls of meadow pipits, and if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a wheatear on its southward journey. The hedgerows are alive with flocks of finches and the chatter of tits as they forage among the berries.

Who’s Already Gone?

By September, the landscape is a little quieter without some of the summer visitors. The swifts that screamed over Purbeck’s rooftops in July have already departed, heading for Africa. Cuckoos, too, slip away early in the season, usually by August. Many of the warblers that filled the hedges with song in spring—such as willow warblers, whitethroats, and garden warblers—are on their way south, while most swallows and house martins are gathering in restless flocks for their long journey. Their absence marks the turning of the season, and makes the sight of a lingering migrant, like a wheatear pausing on the ridge, feel extra special.

A Perfect September Walk

This is a walk to take at an easy pace—pausing to admire the castle view, to watch a bird of prey, or to taste a late blackberry. It’s not just exercise; it’s a way to tune into the changing season, to enjoy the last warmth of summer before autumn truly sets in. Best of all, you can begin and end it at Ailwood Farm Stay