South West Coast Path 02/04/25

Day 13 Wed 2nd April

Bright sunshine and a strong east wind again today. Like yesterday, if you had the wind behind you it was tee shirt and shorts weather, if you were going the other way, windproofs and woolies.

Studland Bay

A short walk back to the beach and then all round beautiful Studland bay on the sand with lovely views back to Old Harry and less lovely ones to Bournemouth.

Old Harry

There is a National Trust sign that says 'Naturists may be seen beyond this point'. There was no sign of this rare creature in the biting easterly wind!

Strange animal warning

Arrived at the end of the South West Coast Path just in time to catch the chain ferry across to Poole.

SWCP sign

Bus, train and bus back to collect my car from Jackie's. Another journey completed.

The end

3.5 miles walked. No ascent!

South West Coast Path 01/04/25

Day 12. 1st April.

Very different weather this morning, overcast and a strong east wind making it feel really cold. Wooly hat and gloves until the clouds cleared and it started to warm up although the strong easterly wind remained.

Overcast morning

 I carried on walking along the road around the firing range until I was eventually able to get to a path leading back to the sea at Kimmeridge Bay where there was nothing but a useful public convenience.

Kimmeridge Bay

Back on the Coast Path and a good, relatively level, stretch above Kimmeridge Ledges which ended in a very steep climb to Houns-tot Cliff (strange name).

Looking back from Houns-tot

A short detour inland followed before climbing up to St Aldhelms head with it's Coastguard lookout and steep steps down to Winspit and even steeper steps up the other side.

St Aldhelms steps
(A much better picture than mine)

After the trial by steps the path becomes more reasonable all the way round to the lighthouse on Anvil Point past some interesting places names like 'Dancing Ledge' and 'Blackers Hole'

Coast to Anvil Point

I remember when I was at school, reading a book by J M Faulkner ( not sure how I remembered the authors name) called Moonfleet. It was a smuggling tale set on this part of the coast and at Tilly Whim Caves (actually an old quarry) there was an information board that mentioned the book.

Tilly Whim

Swanage seemed to be a pleasant place as I walked round the seafront and into the end of the town to access the path up to the chalk headland of Ballard Down.

Swanage beach

Old Harry, the rocks off Handfast point are quite spectacular chalk sea stacks but with the strong gusty wind getting close to the edge was not advisable!

Old Harry

A short walk to Studland and a nice bath in the hotel to clean up before finishing tomorrow.

21 miles walked. 950 meters ascent.

South West Coast Path 31/03/25

Day 11 Mon 31st Mar

Another perfect day, unbelievably good weather with excellent walking temperatures controlled by the breeze.

Old railway track to Ferrybridge 

Great views over Chesil Beach until it vanished in the haze as I walked down the hill to the path to Ferrybridge by the main road.

Ferrybridge 

It was then a short walk round Portland harbour, some of it on an old railway line, before reaching Nothe Fort.

Parkland at Nothe Fort

Down to Weymouth harbour where there is rowing ferry to cross to the town, I walked up to the bridge to get a better look at the harbour and the center.

Weymouth Harbour 

I was surprised that I only saw a relatively small section of 'amusements' and other tat but there are lots of upmarket beach 'huts'.

Weymouth promenade 

The promenade goes on for about 2.5 miles and it felt a lot longer before I got onto a path again.

Looking back to Weymouth 

The path continued in cliffy, countryside way until reaching the chalk cliffs after Burning Cliff.

Becoming Chalky 

The path changes into an extreme rollercoaster as it climbs and dives over the chalk downs with the sea vertically below.

Chalk cliffs 

Approaching Durdle Door I was amazed by the number of people there were on the beach and path, every nationality seemed to be represented as well.

Durdle Door

Lulworth Cove was also busy, I'm not sure where all the people came from on a Monday at the end of March?

Lulworth Cove 

I walked round the cove on the beach including clambering over a rockfall but when I climbed up to the cliff path I discovered that the Lulworth firing range is shut every week denying access to the Coast  Path so, as I had no alternative, I had to go inland and walk around it.

Lulworth Cove

l thought it would be relatively easy to find a camp spot but all the keep out danger of death signs on both sides of the road were a bit off-putting so when I got to a locked carpark, with no camping sign, I thought it was the best option.

Keep Out

23 miles walked. 1000 meters ascent.