The High Chalk Cliffs of the Jurassic Coast

Day Forty Eight - Weymouth to Arish Mell 23.6 km (14.7 miles).
Time on route 7:45hrs, walking time 6:35hrs.

Saturday 23 March 2019

I'd been putting off this leg for months as it was logistically complex.  Unlike usual days when I could manage some sort of bus/train combination this part of Dorset eluded anything so simple.  The MOD ranges don't help but the buses also tend to only week days (maybe it's a pre-tourist season thing).  Anyway, I managed to solve this courtesy of a super helpful AirBnB host who provided lifts.

So my friend and I drove to Langton Matravers Friday evening and on Saturday morning made our way back to Weymouth for kick off.

What a lovely mosaic :-)

We had low cloud, drizzle and strong winds for a good chunk of the morning - but certainly nothing compared to the storms of previous weeks.

After a stretch by the sea wall, and the uninspiring holiday village of Bowleaze, we climbed up onto the cliffs west of Osmington.   Already the Isle of Portland was a dim and misty memory.

A short dip into moss clad woodlands,

before descending into Osmington Mills for coffee then back out and up onto the secluded coast.  Or, rather, that's what the guide book said.  We seemed to be sharing the path with a lot of runners, an awful lot.  In fact a whole 10k/half marathan/full marathon and ultra marathon lot of runners.  We had met the Lulworth Cove Trail Running event.  

We stopped by the beacon for lunch and watched the runners puff past.

The afternoon saw the mist start to lift delivering wonderful views.

There is an awful lot (an awful lot) of ascending and descending along this stretch of the path.  Once recovered from a stiff climb up, and rewarded with glorious views, the path would dive down 50/100 m towards the next cove.

We never quite hit the beach though, being kept at least 20 m above the sand at any point.  

As expected for the Jurassic coast, the geology was awesome.  Bats Head is a lonely chalk outcrop.

Shortly followed by the famous Durdle Door.  

We were actually able to access the beach here so strolled down to take some decent photos.  

[editor's note - this is not mine but my friend's - JC is a far better photographer than me].

We climbed up out and wandered towards the tourist spot of Lulworth Cove.  On route I spotted a close by friend so had to whizz up and have the obligatory hug.  TP3585, Hambury Tout.

After cold Coke in Lulworth, we passed Stair Hole and marvelled at the forces that had created such vertical strata.  

After walking around Lulworth Cove

then back up onto the cliffs and into the first firing range.  The ranges are closed at weekends so there was no problem with access.  We planned to come off path just past Mupe Rocks but hadn't quite factored in a last minute treat from the path in the guise of Bindon Hill - a 140 m ascent/descent on weary legs.  Poof.

We stopped at Arish Mell and walked up to East Lulworth where our lovely AirBnB host collected us and drove us back to the accommodation.  A tough day on the legs but at least we didn't have to run it.