Weymouth to Lyme Regis - PLANNING

Weymouth to Lyme Regis

PLANNING


Rail
Woking to Weymouth: 1000, 1100, 1200 direct 2h 15mins
https://buytickets.southwesttrains.co.uk/journey/outbound

Axminister to Woking: 1406, 1506, 1606 direct 2h 9min (Coming home)

Lyme regis to axminster rail: X51 bus (13min) 5.9miles (coming home)
or
West bay to axminster rail: X53 bus (1h 5m) 5.9miles (coming home)

X53 goes both ways along coast so at any point can move inland under a mile (in some places under half mile) and get x53 to Weymouth or Lyme Regis or any other stop in between.


Camping
Weymouth camping and caravan park. Martleaves Farm, Dorset.  41 South Rd, Weymouth DT4 9NRhttp://www.pebblebank.co.uk/ ~ Weymouth
freshwater Beach
http://www.eypehouse.co.uk/camping.html ~ Eype, after West Beach


B&B (Dog friendly)
http://chesilbeachlodge.co.uk/
http://www.bridportarms.co.uk/index.asp  at westbay

Phone Reception
Good 02 coverage all along route, although I checked this last time and still ended up with black spot
http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker

Vets
bredyvets.co.uk   Sea Rd N, Bridport DT6 4RR  01308 456771

Pets at Home, Jubilee Retail Park, Jubilee Cl, Weymouth DT4 7BG  vets4pets.com  01305 767673

The distance from Weymouth (Clock Tower) to Lyme Regis is 46.9 miles [75.5km]

http://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walk-coast-path/distance-calculator/

Town	Distance from Weymouth (Clock Tower)
Weymouth (Ferrybridge via Portland loop))	3.5 miles [5.7km]
Portland Bill	11.0 miles [17.7km]
Weymouth (Ferrybridge)	16.6 miles [26.7km]
Abbotsbury (swannery)	27.5 miles [44.2km]
West Bexington	31.2 miles [50.2km]
West Bay	36.8 miles [59.2km]
Eype Mouth	37.9 miles [61.0km]
Seatown	39.8 miles [64.1km]
Charmouth	43.9 miles [70.6km]

Arnie Food

Taking less dry food this time as brought most of it back last time

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - Cash Donations

Cash Donations to be paid in

? Lookoutstation ~ £2
Roy & Katy? (rescued us from Kimmeridge, drove us to Lulworth and donated the money I offered them ~ £10
Juan - near Durdle Dor ~ £5
Mohammed Azar (Work) ~ £10

Total  £27

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - Picture Video of the Whole Trek

Here is 5 days in 26mins

Link to wild camps and possibles

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - day 5

Osminton Mills camp site to Weymouth

We made it Sunday 21st June about 3.30pm more detail to follow

I never got around to finishing this part of the blog until now.  The last stage to Weymouth was pretty uneventful and is lacking any major elevations. So just a bit of a climb out of Osminton Mills and then its down hill into Weymouth.

Had a massive brunch at the fantasy island fun park area and then the walk along the concrete prom into Weymouth was fairly boring.

Met up with my friend Ben Stonehill in Weymouth and he put us up for the night as he lives in Portland. Evening meal in a local pub and he drove us to the station in the morning.

Wife and kids were there to meet us when we arrived at Woking.

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - day 4

Lulwoth to Osminton mills

Juan donated five pounds

We woke in time to get down for breakfast at 0900. I had been instructed to bring arnie down as well as dogs get their own sausage for breakfast. It really is dog friendly.  It was a good breakfast but no beans  and I'm afraid a full English is not the same without beans, but then im being picky :-)

Having fed and watered ourselves we headed back to the room to pack.  I can tell arnie is stiff but no major issues I can see.  Maybe were back on for it.

I had been dragging my heels on leaving to give arnie maximum rest and finally the maids knocked on the door at 1130, (we should have vacated by 1100) chucked the final things in the backpack got arnie moving and headed down into lulworth. 

Gary and Arnies 69k trek - day 3 c

Look out Stn to Kimmeridge

Another sunny start to the day, this heat is killing us. We have a dilemma this morning as we are out of water. No way we can make kimmeridge without water so initially thought I'd have to backtrack 1.5 miles to Worth Matravers to get water. Luckily I decided to stop in at the look out station and beg some water there was a water bowl outside and arnie drank loads. In the meantime one of the guys said drop your pack and come in for a coffee. Gave me a giant bottle of water so was able to fill hydration pack. I made a donation of a fiver in their box as they saved us a lot of wasted walking....

 

Stopped and had very interest conversation with the lookout guys as they explained how they logged all boats passing , sail number, name if they could see it , number of people they could see and heading.  If a vessel doesn't make it's destination port then the look out station can report it's position and heading meaning they can reduce the search area. Finally left them at about 10ish I suppose, had a quick look at St Aldhelm chapel before continuing on along the cliff top path.

I guess it's near Emmetts hill or just before, that the dreaded steps start 150 down and 150 up, some steps are just more than a comfortable step, just to make it interesting. These hurt big time I could manage about 3 to 5 at at time and then had to stop for a rest, wait for the pain to subside and then carry on. Going down was actually worse, I think, as right ankle wouldn't take the weight when stepping down had to use just one leg all the way down. Every sinue was screaming by the time we reached the bottom and then it's up again another 150 steps. But at least I can alternate legs going up. Arnie just runs on 20 steps finds a shady spots, lays down and laughs at me struggling up the steps.

Finally made the top and we walked on up a gradual slope until we found a stone bench at the top of Chapman's pool.  I gave Arnie water and hand fed him as he wouldn't eat. Then made a ration x all day day breakfast. Probably the best tasting breakfast I've ever had in the most beautiful setting (Below).  A sobering fact though was the coast line disappearing away into the distance where Weymouth our destination lies.

From there the SWCP starts going down and cuts inland about 3/4s of a kilometer through some farmland and some very surly looking cows that didn't seem best pleased to see arnie. We then loop back towards hound tout cliff and another set of killer steps.

Not sure how I made it up these but arnie egging me on by whining from about 20 steps up got me up them somehow. Used a lot of water on both sets of steps so now we're running low again.

Can't really remember much else about this stretch so will update when I can look at pictures to refresh my memory.

We got to kimmeridge bay and its clavell tower around 1630 in the afternoon. There is another set of steep steps leading down into kimmeridge from clavell tower.  Finally reached the toilets at kimmeridge and we set down by the water tap . Arnie drank loads and I refilled hydration pack not knowing where we would camp that night. I made use of the toilet facilities and then knocked us up some food and made my 1st cup of coffee.


Hadn't been able to attempt a coffee due to lack of water anyway, using a ration self heater (these cost £1) fill a zip plastic bag up with 1 mug of water. Take the white heater bit out of ration heater and put water in to fill line (40ml) , put water in zip bag in ration bag, then slide the white heater bit down side, turn the top over a few times and agitate to ensure white heater bit gets soaked in water then put down leaning against something within 30secs heater will activate and start steaming , this heats the water in the zip bag and hey presto hot water for coffee ... OK it wasn't boiling but it was hot enough to make coffee to which I added a little miniature whiskey to celebrate the half way point.

I got chatting to a lady who had been board paddling to try and find out where I might be able to pitch a tent.  Was advised that I didnt stand a chance at Kimmeridge as it was patrolled.  I decided that the only real option was to go back on the cliff path.  That meant climbing a set of steps that i really wasn't looking forward too.  Got backpack on and tried to get Arnie up and he collapsed on me.  I try again with a bit of encouragement and he can barely walk and pulls straight back to the grass and lays down..... Oh Shite.

So I phone the wife and say "Ive got a problem" and as luck would have it she had been told about a dog friendly pub at West Lulworth call the castle our problem is do they have a room and how can we get there.

I was still talking to the Wife saying can you give the Castle a call and ask if I can put the tent up in their garden, Ill pay them, if the havnt got a room. An elderly couple came back and said "excuse me but we couldnt help overhearing your conversation, do you need a lift somewhere.  I was almost as done in as Arnie and I have to say I was nearly in tears over this turn of events so quickly accepted their kind offer.  As soon as Arnie realised there was a car boot on offer he somehow found the strenght to jump in the back, with a bit of help from me. Hmmm.

They took us all the way to the Castle at West Lulworth and wouldnt accept any petrol money, telling me to donate it to the charity, which I will do, thank you Kate and Roy (I hope ive got the ladies name right).

http://www.thecastleinn-lulworthcove.co.uk/

The pub is very dog friendly but Arnie was doing nothing apart from stretching out on the bed and sleeping.  I had a quick shower and headed downstairs to sample a few of the 50 ciders on offer.  Not too many though as still got to try and continue walk in morning, if Arnie can make it.

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - day 2

Neither of us wanted to get up this morning but finally did at about 0830. Arnie didn't want the tent down and kept wandering inside and laying down. Tiny bit of water left in bottle so arnie had that. Not enough water to make breakfast so we headed off to swanage.

It was getting tough due to lack of water and we lost the path a little as we entered swanage but using phone fed in that I wanted the nearest pub which found the bull and boat so headed there along the way stumbled across a small shop and bought 3l of water, arnie drank loads, Sun was really hot so arrived at bull and boat, ordered some food and decided to stay there for a couple of hrs to lose a bit of the midday Sun.  Got the solar panel at this point and set it charging the cell bank as it was really sunny it was poking out a decent charge.

Finally decided we needed to make some headway even though the sun was still burning.  Stopped off at the toilets at peveril point but the body wasn't interested. So we headed on towards durlston head, asked someone which way the coastal path went and continued on past tilly whim caves, you used to be able to go in but due to coastal erosion they are now shut.

I'm not sure what killed it so quickly but battery on phone died just before durlson.

I was really struggling today everything was hurting. The arthritic ankle was not helping I could manage about 20 paces then stop, take some photos and rest a bit while the pain ebbed away and then do the same again and again and again etc.

The scenary is stunning and we passed dancing ledge. So hot as well  luckily the sea brease kept cooling us a bit.

There are several old quarries along this stretch and I was looking for a place to camp got to seacombe quarry and wasn't sure where the path went. Asked a guy just leaving the quarry and he pointed me in the right direction and said that I'd be able to camp at winspit quarry about 1k further on.

I was really struggling with the weight of the backpack and was desperate to stop but had to carry on to find a camping spot. This last bit was torcherous more ups and downs, no camping spot at winispit so continued on eventually all the way to st aldhelms head.  There was one last climb up which I managed at snails pace, could barely put one foot in front of the other. Then found a spot just below lookout station. No phone signal but I could go no further.

Struggled to put tent up and arnie getting impatient actually climbed on top of the tent, when it was up, trying to get in it. Lol I could kneel down to put tent pegs in but then a real struggle to get up again.

Made sure arnie had water and then used the last to make a self heating chicken curry and rice really good these meal as you only need 40ml of water to make one and they do come out hot as long as you do it righ

Have to admit thoughts of quitting at this point did go through my head. I can't carry enough water for both of us through these sections. I've got a 3ltr hydration pack but at 1kg per Ltr that's the weight of 3 bags of sugar on its own.

Anyway as I drifted of to sleep I realised we had 2 options. 1. Try and beg water from the look out station, or 2 backtrack 1.5 miles to worth matravas.

All that aside it's beautiful here so quiet but could hear what I thought was thunder in the distance, which turned out to be artillery night firing on the ranges.

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - day 1 c

Parkstone Railstation to Old Harry Rocks  8 miles

Shaz dropped us at Woking and the train journey was uneventful. The walk to the ferry was hard getting the hips used to the weight.  Got there eventually after stopping on a few benches to take the weight off for a bit. After crossing on the ferry made a beeline for the shell bay sea food restaurant.

I took the pack off and thought I was going to float away very weird feeling. Just had scampi and chips as sitting outside with Arnie oh and a couple of pints of Devon cider, had to be done.  Damm it's hot wasn't expecting to need sun screen this soon.

We hike around shell bay next into Swanage and old Harry, so update later .....
 

 

The SWCP follows the line of shell bay and takes in the interesting sights of the naturist section . I bumped Into Barney from Wales and his lady friend Moira who did all the talking . They certainly helped pull me along the beach.

At the end of the beach the path bares right inland and uphill. I missed the turn left where the path goes of left into a wooded area and had to retrace my steps about 100yds. Then a little later the path was closed and we had to head inland to go round it.

I think it was at this point I missed the pub I was aiming for, well we walked past it, silly move as it left us without water, not good, but I begged half a bottle from some people having a BBQ to save us having to walk a mile and a half back to pub, we can get some more water at Swanage tomorrow that's not far away.

We loitered at the head where the rocks are for a bit and then decided we had to have water but as we started the mile walk back to pub I spotted some guys with a bbq so managed to get 1/2 bottle of water from them.
 

We then made camp for the night at 1930 in a wood just back along the path from the rocks. Had enough water to try out a self heating meal chicken curry and rice was actually good and hot, was expecting luke warm but it really heats up.

Woke up in the night could hear someone or something moving around the tent I banged the tent side to scare it off but didn't work. Then the zipper on the tent started opening and I start shouting who's there ... I've got a dog .. who's there....... Then I woke up ... I'd been having a nightmare, lol weird.

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - All Packed finally

Not quite sure how but got it all in the back pack.  Only problem is backpack is now 19kilos ffs one kilo heavier and Ive got 1k less water on board, lighter  bag and bed.  Im also 2 ground sheets missing as they didnt arrive, hoping to pick them up from millets in morning before getting on train thats going to put the weight upto 20kg.  Thats too heavy but I cant think what I can lose out of the pack.

Oh well suck it and see cant do too much about it now its too late and id better get some shut eye before Shaz picks me up in the morning.

Gary & Arnies 69k trek - A few pictures of the terrain we are taking on

To give people an idea of what terrain myself and Arnie the Dog will be walking over ive found some photos that others have taken. Links to their websites are above pictures and copyright is solely theirs.

Anyway its a bit hilly.  Click a picture and it'll take you to a bigger gallery.

http://www.bugbog.com/gallery/england_pictures/Kimmeridge-southwest-coast-path.html

The panorama over Kimmeridge, the 'Jurassic Coast' and Weymouth in the distance.

http://www.bugbog.com/gallery/england_pictures/Kimmeridge-southwest-coast-path.html

The southwest coast path below the viewpoint heading for Kimmeridge Bay.

Below photograph copyright Terry Bennett - http://www.devonanddorsetgroup.co.uk/twb/twb1011.html

One of the 'joys' of the South West Coast Path between Weymouth & Swanage is that, having just surmounted one seemingly impossible hillside, another lies visibly in wait!  Here, the path can be seen snaking its way up Bindon Hill, near Lulworth, at a gradient sometimes exceeding 50%

Below photograph copyright Terry Bennett - http://www.devonanddorsetgroup.co.uk/twb/twb1011.html

The views obtained from the top of these mini-mountains are, however, reward for the effort.  In the foreground is Worbarrow Bay and then successive headlands as far as St Aldhelm's Head

Below photograph copyright Terry Bennett - http://www.devonanddorsetgroup.co.uk/twb/twb1011.html

Arish Mell and Rings Hill

Below photograph copyright Terry Bennett - http://www.devonanddorsetgroup.co.uk/twb/twb1011.html

Worbarrow Tout and Bay

Below photograph copyright Terry Bennett - http://www.devonanddorsetgroup.co.uk/twb/twb1011.html

St Aldhelm's Head in the far distance

Below photograph copyright Terry Bennett - http://www.devonanddorsetgroup.co.uk/twb/twb1011.html

It is only possible to walk this section of the Coast Path when the Lulworth Camp Firing Ranges are closed.  Signage along the route is abundant.  In the far distance is Wareham Channel and Poole Harbour