Here is a map that Adze generated from all the data (about 70Mb) that my GPS collected each day as I walked the South West Coast Path, Adze displays each day walked as a different colour.

Adze gives the following data: Total distance 1102.98km, duration 307 hours, distance climbed 47.6 km, max gradient 48 degrees, maximum elevation 486.56 metres.

I would love to make the map zoomable, if any map techies are out there know how to do it or are willing to write a plugin, can you please get in touch with me As it is, clicking the map should download a  kml file that hopefully will display in Google Earth.

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One advantage of the Chiltern Lodge is that they do breakfast from 7.45 so you can escape get away early. So I was out on the road just after 8am. With it been an easy day, the guide said 16 miles to the end and ‘only’ 1768feet of ascent. I decided to do the decent thing and return to where I left the trail last night. As you can see from the gps trail it added a considerable amount to the day, that’s how good I am

It was a good decision, as you pass some interesting memorials and stone benches. Since this area is famous for the Purbeck marble. and also in the development of UK radar in the early days of the second world war.

I quickly reached Durlston Park with a total surprise in the huge globe carved from stone in 1891, very surprised it didn’t feature in the coast Path Guide since it’s directly visible from the trail. I’m always astounded with carving, how do you create a perfect globe shape? Durlston is now a Jurassic Gateway centre, I can’t help thinking that a walkway carved with millenia over yards, with human’s scrunched into the final 1/4mm is a bit beyond the average kid. The one that does it for me is that the 100 foot high white cliffs are just dead creatures ( densely-packed shells of the freshwater snail Viviparus).

So onto Swanage and the very clever Trompe L’Oeil on a harbour building, the little museum was quite good too with it’s Titanic exhibition and film on the stone industry. But no time to hang about, I can smell the end.

Past the monument to Alfred The Great’s great battle with the Danes in 877AD, pausing for the best ice cream yet! honey & stem ginger then on through more private chalets to reach the Old Harry rocks with their precipitous edges, Finally dropping down to the beach which had to have the very best National Trust sign ever! Oh, what fun I could have had if Sally, Liz & Chester had been there to pose naked behind the sign.

And finally rounding the corner on the beach, just missing the huge Condor Ferry boat, the end marker came into view

So that is it! 676 miles walked in 222 hours moving time over 40 days. and 1.5 million steps walked. Full round up in the next post.

A tip for other walkers at the end, book your train ticket from Bournemouth station not Poole as I did. You can catch the bus just off the ferry that takes you directly to Bournemouth station It’s the same line as Poole anyway!

Photos of the final day here, trip spreadsheet here and Everytrail below.

Worth Matravers to South Haven Point on The South West Coast Path at EveryTrail

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What a day! Probably one of the toughest on the whole trail! I thought folks were kidding me when they said it was going to be tough.

I did in total 24 miles with about a mile of vertical ascent! the 6 miles through the Lulworth ranges were simply amazing in terms of ascent / descent  (38 degree inclines) if the squaddies are running up and down those hills with 60Kg backpacks then boy are they fit

Fitbit had me down as burning 6216 cals today, although they didn’t tell the lady at the Chiltern Lodge who produced a 500 cal meal. Good job the Compass and Square do a good range of pasties and stout type beers.

The scenery as always is stunning the weather overcast with an occasional glimpse of sun with low cloud on the top, so the views are not the best.

Tomorrow I’m only left with 15 or so miles plus a couple to get back on the trail so should easily make it to my train home which leaves at 5.55pm

Fascinating to see the hordes of folks ascending the hill from Lulworth Cove just to see the Durdle Door rock formation. Plus huge groups of walkers going from Lulworth Cove to Osmington.

The stats are here pictures here and Everytrail below:-

Weymouth to Worth Matravers on The South West Coast Path at EveryTrail

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Today was a slackpacking day I left the Osprey Hornet 46 rucsac at Fosters and ventured out with my Sea to Summit daybag. I hopped onto a bus to take me to Ferry Bridge so I could walk along the old railway line by the road to Portland Bill. The Portland end has been totally revamped for the Olympics.

Seeing a diving type super store, I suddenly remembered it’s Jesus Green time again and I’ve been trying to find some neoprene swimming gloves for ages. In I popped and soon came out with a pair of T-Flex 2mm gloves from O’Three.

In Fortuneswell I came across two guys expertly descalloping scalops, fascinating to see skilled folks at work Then it was the 300 foot climb onto the top followed by a pleasant walk along the cliff edges, I came across the best outdoor chsir come throne yet, and it was pretty comfortable. Really must remember to bring a small tripod next time, it’s so hard balancing the camera on piles of stones.

I soon arrived at the end of the island with it’s three lighthouses and conglomeration of old sheds scattered at random. the Lobster Pot cafe did a mean crab sandwich Out at sea there was a Navy cruiser lurking on the horizon no doubt the source of the clattering helicopter that was circling around all day.

Everywhere there are small quarries with the scattered remnants of stone blocks obviously left overs. Plus lots of derricks used to lift the blocks onto barges etc. All very fascinating for a machinery lover

I took the preferred route for North East Portland as mentioned on Page 123 of the guide, which was excellent along an old jetty, rail line, prisons and the huge ramp that the stones were slid down into the harbour. On the ramp I met a fellow walker, Lee who thought he had already visited this blog

A really good day and would make a lovely15 mile walk for The Cambridge Rambling Club.

My photos are here and statistics here. Everytrail is below:

Around Portland Bill on The South West Coast Path at EveryTrail

Tomorrow is the penultimate day with a tough stretch of 20+ miles to Worth Matravers.

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Not such a coastal walk today as the route takes you behind the vast shingle bank of Chesil Beach and Europe’s largest lagoon The Fleet.

After a pleasant breakfast (with fresh fruit )and homemade marmalade. I departed from The Peache’s. The route takes you past The Swannery then a meander through rolling fields, some of which reminded me why I don’t eat cows or drink their milk. The mess these animals make and the way they congregate need stiles is disgusting.

After this I came across the first red flags of the trip with a group of soldiers popping away at Tidmoor Point which meant a diversion quickly followed by a walk around the razor wire at Wyke Regis HQ and yet another campsite where you can relax to the sound of guns firing.

I reached Ferry Bridge after 10 or so miles and then debated with myself about walking around Portland Bill. However, I spotted The Crab House Cafe offering very large and juicy fresh oysters at £1.58 each from The Fleet Lagoon and so that settled the matter. Even though it meant sitting out in the freezing cold wind as they were full inside. Yes, the wind and rain showers  have returned. However, I must remember a lunch time pint kills me for the afternoon.

So it seemed ages to get to the Fosters Guest House at the other side of Weymouth especially since the coast path follows quite a tortuous route past the old harbour etc. Oh and I got to see my first ‘official’ Olympic T shirts at £23 each.

Tomorrow I will get the bus back to Ferry Bridge and do the circular tour of Portland Bill. Then it will be a couple of days to the end, so i will probably finish on Sunday.

The photos are here, statistics here and Everytrail below

Abbotsbury to Weymouth on The South west Coast Path at EveryTrail

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Woke up once again to sunshine & clear blue skies. I had a pleasant breakfast but I’m beginning to miss my fruit and kippers which seemed to have disappeared of the menu since leaving North Devon and St Ives.

There have been a large number of landslides on the first part of the walk. I thought I would  explore the first one to see if there was a way through to Charmouth, As you can see from the GPS I nearly made it!, just defeated by a huge swamp. I would have thought a track could be cleared in a matter of days, the regular walkers would soon flatten it down. However, I guess we will have to wait a few years. So back I returned to face the long diversion along a road and through a golf course telling me to beware of flying balls, well it is mainly a man’s sport.

The roller coaster continued today although it started to flatten out at the end when you have to walk alongside the gravel Chesil Beach. Once again there are some huge caravan parks despoiling the coastline. I was amazed that touring caravans are like £13,000, that’s a hell of a lot of nights in a b&b. The caravan parks reminded me of the vast plastic greenhouses we saw when Sally and I walked The Lycian Way.

A lot of day walkers today, but no one particularly interesting one guy who was thinking about doing long walks, but I doubt if he will . plus the usual number of dog walkers, it now seems you need two dogs. Everyone is kinda friendly here a lot more so than Cambridge where virtually no one says good morning to you.

After wading through the stream at Burton Bradstock. I decided to walk the next couple of miles in bare feet, very easy it was too. It’s going to be quite tempting to do a lot more of it! certainly better than wearing out rubbish Scarpa Boots, and no that issue is still not resolved.

The final few miles to Abbotsbury seemed to take ages. However as Mike had fixed me up at Peach’s B&B time didn’t matter Peach’s  is very pleasant and I managed to get onto their WiFi, which is just as well as T-Mobile doesn’t dain to serve this area. Then it was off to The Ilchester Arms for a great non-fish spread and listening to the locals going on about all the machinations the Navy are going through in these parts for the upcoming Olympics at Weymouth.

Tomorrow I will be in Weymouth, if the weather is as good as today I might walk around Portland Bill first

Today’s pictures are here statistics here and Everytrail below:

Lyme Regis to Abbotsbury on the South West Coast Path at EveryTrail

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