Wonderful day today, our last before we leave for home tomorrow so even better that the weather so kindly rewarded us with another absolutely perfect blue sky day.
We decided to drive round the country roads to see where they took us. Past quite a few stone quarries which produce the lovely golden Purbeck stone from which many of the houses in the area are built. Then we came to Worth Matravers, a stone village with a duck pond, a little village tearoom, thatched cottages and an obviously very popular pub..
We carried on along the road from there until we came to carpark which was where the road stopped. We asked advice about the route to Chapmans Pool but were told the road to it was Really steep, even steeper probably than Durdle Door and we would be better just going straight across the field to the walk along the cliff top as the views from there were stunning. So we did and it was such a good decision. An absolutely delightful walk. Ok the farmer had just the next field along so it was a bit stinky and we were a bit careful where we
At the end of the fields we came to where the S W Coastal path went along the top of the headland. The alternative was to head down and down to the bottom of the hill and a couple did go that way but they were young and fit and the hill was super steep and too steep for us.
The path along the top was awesome. We very quickly had a view along the coast to the West. Down to Chapmans Pool, a very pretty little rounded bay and the further along we walked the more little bays came into view. Until we could see Weymouth on the horizon with Portland Bill and the cruise ships anchored outside the harbour. Stunning views and quite honestly the scenery was as good as lots we have seen on the continent and we have seen quite a lot.
Stopped to chat to others who were also enjoying the lovely view and the walk including a man resting with his two golden retrievers, Bert and Walter. We went as far as
the Royal Marines Commando Memorial and then turned, quite reluctantly really, to retrace our steps back to the carpark.
From there we went down to Swanage and parked above the pier. Past a rather impressive memorial to Prince Albert and down the hill where we paid our toll to get onto the pier then found a cafe for lunch.
A walk along the pier is essential at the seaside and Swanage really is a delightful quintessentially English seaside town.
We like it a lot. There was a group of swimmers going into the water off the pier and they swam round the harbour for a while giving me nice colourful foreground for my photos. There are some lovely apartments in the bay behind the pier which were especially attractive. It seems they were to form part of a marina but then they decided not to build the marina after all. Not a problem, they look lovely and positively Mediterranean in my photos.
Back then to Smart Arse and to the campsite for an hour before changing to go out to dinner. To the Greyhound in Corfe Castle where we say outside on the terrace overlooked again by the
castle but with a heater behind us. The weather may be glorious but it does get chilly at night. about the weather. It is after all mid September now and dark by 8pm.
