Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2015 | Page 47

OUT & ABOUT

Taking the Monastery Walk
A

you can find a working place
utumn is a very special
Guest writer Mark Fox continues
of worship and learning. Much
time of year on the Island.
with his series looking at different has been done to open up the
The summer crowds have
monastery to visitors to make it
places of interest on the Island
departed and a certain quietness
a more welcoming place – but it
and gentleness returns. The
evenings begin to draw in and
This issue he looks at the Monastery still retains a sense of peace and
stillness. The great abbey church
the debate begins about when to
Walk, Binstead to Fishbourne
is definitely worth visiting.
turn the heating on or light the
Austere but commanding and
fire for the first time in several
beautiful.
months. You begin to think
On with the walk and up the
about where you stored the thick
farmhouse, which is still lived in.
hill, coming closer to Fishbourne. After
jumper and the heavy overcoat. It is the
It is worth stopping and looking at the
a while surrounded by trees and hedges
time of year when going for a long walk
sight the original monastic community
once again a beautiful view of the sea
along one of the very many routes we are of Cistercians chose to sight their new
opens up. This time looking across to
lucky enough to have on our doorstep
home. It is well positioned in a low-lying
the west.
comes into its own. After all there are few position on the coast, so easily accessed
After that it’s down hill all the way to
things finer than striding out on a crisp
by sea and thereby providing good
Fishbourne Lane. Turning right and on
autumn day and breathing in deeply –
communications to the mainland and
down the hill to the mouth of the Creek.
whether it’s a walk along the beach or
beyond – an important consideration
Despite the car ferry chugging in and
along a country path.
for what at that time would have been
out this still remains a beautiful place to
One of our firm family favourites is
an international organisation. There is a
sit and watch what’s going on. There is
the Monastery Walk, from Binstead to
freshwater stream running through what
Fishbourne. Starting at the Binstead end
was the centre of the buildings, providing the added benefit too of the welcoming
presence of the Fishbourne Inn before
by walking down Q Յ