Without doubt the most beautiful walk to-date. The walk from Hythe to Boscombe takes you through the New Forest via the Solent Walk. It was truly inspiring. Almost inspiring enough to dull the shooting pains wreaking havoc in almost every bone, muscle and tendon in our bodies. Along the way we pass the Montagu Inn in Beaulieu. The concierge is busy negotiating with a couple of wild donkeys that are clearly trying to book themselves a twin room for the night. We both make a mental note to check the door policy reference wild donkeys before booking any future accommodation.

We reach Lymington and throw in the towel, we’ve walked at least 12 miles but there is a bus baring the worlds “Bournemouth”. We can’t resist and spend the next 30 minutes melting on the top of the bus.

Boscombe pier is tatty. It serves little purpose, perhaps a result of being within eyesight of Bournemouth pier. We get the statutory photo taken and head off for a well-earned beer (pier2pier rules forbid the drinking of alcohol before the first pier of the day has been ticked off!)
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Stupidest Question: Do you navigate by the sun? (asked by a cyclist we hailed down in order to determine the way to Lymington)

Heroes: Fiona and John (Bullet Baxter) Langride for clapping and cheering our passage towards Boscombe Pier.

Villains: East End Inn. They charge us £6.50 for two bottles of water

Bournemouth pier is fun flavoured. It smells of deckchairs and penny falls. What’s more, John Inman is in a show at the end of it. But unlike John, Bournemouth pier is not free and charges adult strollers twenty new pence each.
During the day Jason bought two hats and by the end of the day neither were in his possession. We hear that the profligate hat spend of pier2pier staff is being investigated by the Charities Commission.
Earlier we tried to buy an ice cream whilst pointing at the picture at the front of the kiosk only to be told that it is out of stock. This is what Britain’s seaside does best

Hero: Captain Peacock

Villians: Wasps around the bins