IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Wakely Gardens, BOURNEMOUTH, BH11 9HA

This ordinary looking road is marked on the map as a 'Byway open to all traffic' and is numbered E29 on Bournemouth Borough Council's definitive map of public rights of way. I don't know why this particular stretch of road should be labelled as such: maybe it was a historical route when this was heathland, and the modern road network incorporated it. This suggestion is perhaps supported by the historical 1:25,000 maps, which date from when Durdells Avenue (ahead) was the first built-up road as the construction of the estate started. On this map, Westdown Road was the only offshoot of Durdells Avenue, beyond which it was still fields. The definitive map seems to show the right of way as extending towards us only as far as roughly alongside where we are standing now - that's about two thirds of the length of the road. See Image for the view along the road from the far end.

This ordinary looking road is marked on the map as a 'Byway open to all traffic' and is numbered E29 on Bournemouth Borough Council's definitive map of public rights of way. I don't know why this particular stretch of road should be labelled as such: maybe it was a historical route when this was heathland, and the modern road network incorporated it. This suggestion is perhaps supported by the historical 1:25,000 maps, which date from when Durdells Avenue (where we are) was the first built-up road as the construction of the estate started. On this map, Westdown Road was the only offshoot of Durdells Avenue, beyond which it was still fields. The definitive map seems to show the right of way as extending only as far as number 9, the fourth house along - that's about two thirds of the length of the road. See Image] for a view towards us from about there.

The Catholic church serving northwest Bournemouth stands here in Durdells Avenue. The associated primary school is along a driveway just out of picture to the right.

The Catholic church serving the northern suburbs of Bournemouth poses a striking silhouette as we look along Durdells Avenue late on a perfect summer's evening.

This public footpath to Wimborne Road soon leaves behind its suburban characteristics and takes on a more rural feel - see Image] for the next photo down the path.

This public footpath has three different characters along its length: the bottom section is thickly covered by trees (Image]), the top section is typical suburban, running between two council houses (Image), while this middle part has heavy undergrowth on either side.

Looking along Durdells Avenue from its northern end, past this George VI-reign postbox.

Looking along this short road on the northern fringe of the large 1950s West Howe housing estate. The houses are typical council semis and in recent years energy has been garnered from the installation of photovoltaic cells on their roofs. The sign is of a design that became prevalent in Bournemouth around 1990 and was in use for most of that decade. Many are starting to look a bit shabby now, and the blue border is faded on this one. This is photo no.129 of a series of 453 in my coronavirus lockdown walking project: See https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/My-2020-Coronavirus-Lockdown-walking-project for the complete set of photos.

The northern end of this public footpath from Wakely Road goes through quite thick cover of trees - it is not really dusk yet, but it is a gloomy evening anyway so it's no surprise that the street-light thinks it's dark enough to come on. See Image for the view at the bottom of the path, and Image for the less covered path behind us.

Looking across the main Wimborne Road, where a short path crosses the grass verge, leading up to the public footpath to Wakely Road. See Image for the view towards us as the path emerges, along with links to further pictures.