Advance notice, Multi event weekend Sep 7/8/9 Swanage area.

[Dorsetmike]

Swanage Folk Festival http://www.swanageff.co.uk/ groups on stage and in pubs, dancing in the streets (Morris, Clog, Appalachian, Border etc) plenty of colour and movement; Shots from 2007 at
https://picasaweb.google.com/107343264059948197611/Swanage090907

Swanage Railway Steam gala, http://swanagerailway.co.uk/index.htm

Classic car show, at Harmans cross, about 3 - 4 miles west of Swanage, by the railway.
https://picasaweb.google.com/107343264059948197611/Swanagecarpix

Corfe Castle ruins (also served by the railway)

If staying overnight in Wareham, Poole or Bournemouth, park at Norden park and ride and get a day or weekend ticket on the train.

If you have a Classic car there is a field for tents and caravans, used to cost £3.50 for the weekend, Friday through Sunday, not sure if it still applies but entering a Classic car used to get you free railway all weekend for 2. Good beer tent and usually some sort of band (Yetties used to be frequent performers)

(If all else fails send the OH into Bournemouth or Poole shopping)

A little further away Brownsea Island, (about 10 miles) red squirrels, sea birds and waders, about same distance to Arne nature reserve.

I will update details as/when they come available. Could you post to indicate if you might be interested or PM me with any queries

 

[teddy]

Looks like a great event Mike. Wish I could make it

teddy

 

[JHC]

Mike, It would be hard to choose just one to go to, the web sites are extremely well done and your Folk festival pics 'Picasa' are prolific thank the lord for digital cameras. Love the TF always wanted one but had to make do with a BGT

 

[Dorsetmike]

My main point here is that all the main events are close enough together to do the lot in one day or take the whole weekend.

Typical agenda for me, drive 15 miles to the park and ride, get day or weekend ticket, get on train, get off at Harman's Cross, walk over the bridge and into the Car show, usually some steam road vehicles as well as classic cars and motor cycles, spend an hour or two, or even longer, go back to the train, continue to Swanage, walk down to the sea front, about 1/4 mile/half K (ish.) folk dancers performing at a number of street venues; singers/musicians in some of the pubs, evening more dancing and music at various venues, pubs and halls, Swanage is a small seaside town, most of the venues will be within about half a mile. Catch last train back to park and ride, drive home.

Can repeat the following day, probably some different cars arrived at the car show, dancers and singers will be in different places at different times, catch the ones you missed or want to see again.

Unfortunately the last sea going Paddle steamer, SS Waverley, won't be in the area until the 12th Sep, some years it does arrive before the Festival weekend, making an extra experience (if that floats your boat ... sorry!)

Loads of fish and chip shops and other eateries and pubs.

 

[Dorsetmike]

Sorry colin, the BGT was not a real MG, the TF was the last true MG, by the time the MGA,B and C came out it was just badge engineering all under British Motor co or British Leyland same bits went into Austin Morris, Wolseley, Vanden Plas etc.

 

[JHC]

Mike my pocket was not full so a compromise had to be made.
Yep MG had a chequered history right up to the Nanjing (death) take over but then this is the story of the British motor industry, in fact the world manufacturing scene has been transformed by globalisation with the only winner the developing countries with cheap labour, but wait there is more…. my old Z3 was made in the USA???? Ha Ha