South Coast Walking

Colin had to attend the LV= Special General Meeting in Bournemouth on Friday 10th December. A very early flight down to Southampton and then picked up a hire car at the airport as the plan was to enjoy a few days walking rather than just do up and down in a day.

The meeting wasn't due to start until midday and I was in the car by 8.30 am. Drove down to Lepe Country Park on the southern sea front. A fairly pleasant location and went for a short walk along the beach and on the inland path just a few metres in from the beach. A nice coffee and snack at The Lookout before the very pleasant onward drive to the office in Bournemouth. Overnight stop (for 2 nights) was the North Poole Premier Inn.

On Saturday the weather in the morning was OK with a forecast for wetter weather later in the day. The route to the sea went through Corfe Castle where I stopped for a short wander around. I was too early for the Castle or anywhere for morning coffee.

I drove onwards to Swanage and walked through town along the seafront and on to Peveril Point. On route enjoyed a nice coffee and croisant.

The Wellington Clock Tower in Swanage was an interest building. Original built at the southern approach to London Bridge it was moved and re-erected here in 1867. A lot of heavy stuff was moved in boats from London to Swanage as the boats taking stone to London needed ballast on the return journey for stability.

The onward walk went via Durlston Country Park and I stopped just short of Dancing Ledge taking the low path out and high path back. A nice lunch at Durlston Castle.

On Sunday the weather wasn't so good with heavy rain in the morning and I sat in the car for quite a while waiting for the rain to clear. It eventually improved allowing a shorter circuit which started at Renscombe Car Park near Worth Travers village and went to the coast at Purbeck Radar Memorial and then along the coast towards Chapman's Pool and completing a loop back to the car park.

After that a drive back to Southampton Airport and a fairly long wait for the flight home.