Poor weather forecasts and scaffolding left just a hardy few going to Dorset for the late May weekend. Still, we made the best of it, although there was no climbing. (Bad finger.) Dick had to walk 3 days in a row. (Someone please help him.) Woodyhyde campsite was packed. Mainly families with children.
The first day’s walk took us uphill, along an overgrown bridle path onto the Purbeck Way, past the eerie Chapman’s Pool, then down and up steep flights of steps. It was almost too hot. At the top of the steps, a dusty white figure was concentrating hard on rebuilding a dry stone wall. She appeared almost ghostly, hardly real. Along the windy coast path to St.Adhelms Chapel and Head, where we stopped for lunch and a wistful look through the binoculars at the cliffs at Durlstone in the distance. Next, an inspection of the Winspit Quarry revealed many more routes than appear in the guidebook (none of which are less then 6A), complete with struggling climbers. Then up Winspit Bottom (no rude remarks please), to the ‘Square and Compass’ to sample a small drop of their cider selection before returning to the campsite, fortunately down hill all the way.
Saturday dawned grey and windier. Reinforcement(s) arrived in the guise of Jane. We decided to visit the Lulworth Ranges. These have been closed for firing on previous occasions. We had a look at Tyneham, a village whose inhabitants were evicted by the M.O.D. during the war and not allowed back afterwards. The church and schoolroom are intact and contain displays about the residents and their life in the ill-fated village. The remainder of the buildings are roofless. From there we walked to Worbarrow Tout and Bay. As spectacular a coastal view as you will find anywhere. A pity that it was not beach or swimming weather. The steep cliff path was then taken to the remains of Flowers Barrow, from where there were views over Poole Harbour and the tank training grounds on Povington Heath. After this, a visit to the tourist traps of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door nearly finished off the day, but it was too windy to sit comfortably around on the campsite, so a little local geo-caching was the perfect answer. A rather ferocious alsatian on a very thin chain upped the excitement of the activity no end.
A visit to Corfe finished the weekend off nicely. A close-up view of the castle ruins, a walk along West Hill (they also have an East Hill) to the Blue Pool. If you’ve always wondered, like me, what the Blue Pool is like, you will have to continue to wonder, as the £5.20 entry fee seemed rather steep, particularly as there is so much fantastic scenery to be had for free in Dorset. Back through pinewoods reminiscent of Scotland to Corfe for lunch at the Castle tearooms. The end.
Ruth