Strolling down from Chideock, wide skies, holiday makers and dog walkers accompanied us as we climbed and descended the steep rolling cliffs to Thorncombe beacon, passing a patchwork of farms, caravan sites, crumbling sandstone escarpments, and serene seas; 360’ panoramic views including the sandstone cliffs at West Bay made famous by Broadchurch and Chesil beach.
Sluggish still, after a late start, we headed into West Bay for coffee and cake. Assuming we were in for an easy afternoon, as we passed a sign for mobility scooters half way up the rather steep cliff, we happily descended down through more caravan sites and a spectacular golf course to Burton Bradstock and a passing microlight.
Excitedly we reached level Chesil beach; a tombolo 17 miles of 4000-7000 year old pebbles and shingle joined to land at both ends. However after a couple of miles shambling across the pebbly shingle, thirsty, hot and bothered we sort solace in an iced drink in West Bexington; walking uphill to find it after a tourist’s kind tip. Walking on shingle pebbles it transpires is a really hard, using different muscles!
Fortunately the shingle eventually became a firmer track morphing into a welcome tarmac road. The path then turned inland passing wet lands and hay fields. Skirting St Catherine’s chapel we heard the swans before we saw them! Turning uphill we left the path heading for quaint picturesque Abbotsbury and a delicious cream tea courtesy of our lovely BnB hosts.
Official SW Coast path: 12miles
Official running total: 562miles
If you would like support our walk for Alzheimer’s the two charity just giving pages are
And
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Thank you
Paula
PS We stayed at Wheelrights BnB Abbotsbury on 21 June; www.wheelwrights.co.uk
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