Around the Isle of Portland on The South West Coast Path

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.