Monday, 16 July 2012
It was a lovely morning as I left the Camp site and walked past California Farm and the stone Quarry back to the coast path. The sun shone brightly as I passed the Lighthouse along by Dancing Ledge toward Secombe Cliff.
Several old cliff top quarry works were evident
along this section of coast but the one pictured below seemed to have most
evidence of bygone years.
Two reasonable
steep decent and climbs and I approached St Aldhelm's head past the lookout
Station and a short rest while viewing St Aldhelm’s Chapel. A lovely old stone
Chapel obviously built to withstand the weather on such an exposed
point.
Approach to St Aldhelm's Lookout
Station
St Aldhelms Chapel
View west from St
Aldhelm's
It was while I was
in the Chapel and talking to other walkers that one lady mentioned the steps
that in previous years had left her almost incapacitated. I did think to myself
that she probably wasn't a
seasoned walker
like me.
While moving on from
St Aldhelm’s towards Chapman’s Pool pushing through the bushes and shrubs until
I reached an opening, I had a view that firstly told me 'now I completely
understand what she was saying' and secondly get the map out to see if there is
an alternative route. You guessed it, no there isn't.
Steps that sap every ounce of your being
Chapman's Pool from the East
Royal Marines Memorial
Chapmans Pool from the west
Chapman’s Pool gave me an ideal point to take on water and enjoy a juicy apple before setting off along Houns-tout Cliff towards Kimmeridge Ledges, a good cliff top walk providing wonderful views. A long day for an old’un who was happy to look down to Kimmeridge Bay.
However my faithful backup party consisting of my wife Vivienne were waiting for me in Lulworth. I had over estimated my abilty that day. There was no mobile signal in Kimmeridge bay so I took the quite a long walk up to the village. On finding a very nice village tea shop I decided that my walk that day would end there.
Still no signal I pondered the possibility of walking back to Swanage via the inland route when two fellow walkers I had chatted to previously came into the tea shop and enquired what were my plans next. On hearing my plight they offered to give me a lift back to Swanage which was most gratefully accepted. My attempts to contact my backup team proved useless as there was no signal in Lulworth either but true to form after 3 hours of sitting in the carpark my partner headed for higher ground to get a signal and managed to pick up one of the many text and voice messages I had attempted to send- I was forgiven so all was well.
