Three Weeks Later

I thought I'd write a little follow up on what has been going on since I finished (minus a couple of bits to finish) the SWCP.

Firstly, the experience was definitely as amazing I was told to expect. As I was also expecting, it was quite tough at times, especially when the weather wasn't great. But on the last day, the exhilaration I felt was almost matched by the sadness it was over! If it hadn't been for the rubbish weather towards the end I think I would have found it even harder to finish and wanted to carry on and on. As it is, I would like to start planning another walk (probably a shorter one!) very soon.

It took a few days to adjust back to normal life, I found it weird being asked ("hassled") by friends and family about when I wanted to do things... just normal stuff like dinner or cinema or whatever, but I wasn't used to having to decide things with other people in mind... Rudy didn't seem to care whatever we did. When you're walking on the Path alone, all you think about is; finishing the day, eating, where are you going to sleep. As long as you've acheived those things, it's been a successful day! And those decisions only have to take into account one person, so it's very simple.

The simplicity of the idea of walking from one destination to another was liberating, sometimes I felt like I was living 200 years ago when people had to walk everywhere and that thought of using your own two legs to reach somewhere was empowering. You know you are eventually going to get there, so all you have to think about is enjoying the journey. No cars, computers or queues, it was bliss. Whenever I reached a town/city it would slightly freak me out and I couldn't wait to get back onto the proper path.

A massive positive impact on my particular walk was the charity element. It made me try and actively engage with people. (A lot of the time I didn't have to try as people constantly talked to me). Fellow walkers are nearly always friendly and interested in what others are doing, and the fact that I am (relatively!!) young, by myself, with a dog and a rucksack and a blue charity shirt on meant people were always stopping me. I would often be paused (especially at the beginning in the heat!) mid-hill & people would stop and chat, and by the time we finished I would sprint up the rest of the hill so buoyed up by someone's friendliness/kindness/generosity/ donation. I think in total I raised an extra £250 just from people's donations on the route, virtual strangers. Which is unbelievable. It would have been worth it just for that money raised.

I have now reached my £5,000 target and still have a few more donations to come in, which at the beginning, I could never have imagined reaching. So, again, a HUGE thanks to everyone who donated money, please be assured it is going to a extremely worthy cause.

I couldn't possibly talk about the walk without mentioning my constant, unwavering companion in life... no not Harry, but the little hound. I can only conclude Rudy is a dog of warrior credentials as she took it so easily in her stride, if I didn't love her so much I would have been quite annoyed. No dodgy paws, sprains, upset stomachs, accidents in B&Bs, the perfect companion in every way... and she never once complained. Every morning, (except when we happened to be in a big town when she did seem to sulk slightly), she was raring to go, however tough tough the previous day. This enthusiasm always motivated me, and seeing her scampering about, so excited to be in a new place yet again, never failed to make me smile. I can probably guarantee, a human companion would not have been so easy on the ear!

However, having a dog did make some things harder, such as booking B&Bs in the last couple of weeks, as it usually took a good few phonecalls and asking around before we located a dog-friendly one, and this was not always in the ideal location. Obviously this could have been avoided with better planning... Another thing about walking with a dog is that many of the tourist attractions or interesting things to do along the way had to be missed, unless I wanted to leave her tied up outside/in a tent- so not really an option. However, time and energy were factors anyway, so this was only really an issue on rest days.

Right, I've probably babbled enough, but suffice to say- an incredible adventure, I really miss being in the wilds of nature for eight hours a day... and the changing scenery around the coast was a joy to discover day after day.

I hope everyone's enjoyed the blog, I've certainly enjoyed writing it, and reading people's comments at the end of the day. Cheers. Vx

Day 52 Swanage to South Haven Point 7.5 miles THE END!!!

As a foursome we set off along the esplanade in Swanage in the drizzle to start the last day of the path.

We had to head up a hill towards Old Harry's Rock,  a striking rock stack on the end of Studland. Once on the top of the cliff the walking was easy, if a little damp and we soon made it around into Studland village.

From we had a bit of woodland walking before we reached the beach. We now had a final 2.5 mile walk along the sea to South Haven Point. This was a great way to end the walk, being as close to the sea as possible, and also to walk with Mum, Melze and Liddie. The beach was really nice, with soft sand and gorse bushes and then dunes behind.

A monument marked the end of SWCP, and we met Harry there and celebrated with champers!

It's been a long 7 weeks, but at the same time it's gone really quickly, I'll be back on the blog soon with some stiff about the aftermath.

Thanks everyone for all the support, donations, company on the way, free beds for the night etc etc I honestly would have struggled without it!!!

Vx


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Day 51 Kimmeridge Bay to Swanage approx 14.5 miles

We drive this morning to park up at the Bay, where the ranges finish and as such didn't get going until about 10am, knowing we had a long walk ahead of us. We could hear the guns firing and the noise was the backdrop for our day for miles.

We walked up past the Clavell tower, which appeared to be inhabited , amazingly, and this was confirmed when we saw a light on in the window when we returned later.

The way was across undulating hills, not too bad until Houns-tout Cliff, but made a lot harder by the slippery mud! Some places were a struggle to pass without getting a bootfull and it was very energy sapping. However it was beautiful and the mist started to clear giving us some great views.

We had to make a detour inland which ended up being to a very pretty village and back out to St. aldhelms head, where the dry stone walls had been rebuilt with some big slabs with nice inscriptions on them. A steep lot of steps had to be climbed before we reached the top.

Here we stopped for our sandwichs, and while we were sat on the bench Mum spotted a pod of dolphins in the sea below! It was amazing, as I had pretty much given up hope of seeing any with only 2 days to go. We saw them a couple more times along the path as well.

After this point the path was much easier, not as muddy and much flatter.

The scenery was really lovely, very moorlike with big boulders, some with fossils in them. We passed a quarry with cool looking caves in them.

It was pretty good going on the way to Durlston Head , apart from a slow bit at Dancing Ledge where it got very muddy again. Eventually we reached Anvil Point and walked around to Durlston Head, from which is it was into the outskirts of Swanage. We had to wander around the final headland of Peveril Point and into Swanage itself.

Here we waited for my cousin Lydia to come and meet us, and when she turned up my sister Melzie was with her which was a surprise!!! So we have a little party to walk with on the final day which will be great.

We've just had a great meal in the pub and a mini-celebration in the room in preparation for tomorrow, which is the last and shortest day!

Vx

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Day 50 Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove 14.5 miles

Today was actually a bit shorter and yesterday a bit longer because I had walked into Weymouth yesterday so by cutting a few miles off today's walk.

I walked down the beach to meet Mum, who had come join me for the last 3 days, near the aquarium. From here we walked along the remainder of the esplanade, and after some picking up some lunch from a shop, we went a bit inland to go up a grassy slope and down into Bowleaze Cove.

As we walked uphill from the cove it was immediately obvious it was going to be a muddy day. Weird as it doesn't feel like there has been much rain, but I think it has secretly rained overnight. Anyway it was quite tricky in places to squeeze around the edges of the paths to avoid going in the mud over our boots.

We walked along to reach Osmington Mills, where there was a great looking pub called the Smugglers Inn, unfortunately it was too early for lunch so we carried on up the hill behind the pub. Again very slippery and we struggled to keep our footing up the slope.

There were pretty tussocky grassy areas which we walked through to reach Ringstead where we stopped at a shack for a cuppa. After this we made our way through the small village, up towards the wonderfully names Burning Cliff, where there was a tiny wooden chapel. We didn't go inside as we didn't want to sully the hallowed floor with our muddy boots.

Up a slope towards White Nothe where there was a big building which used to be a fee coastguards cottages. Here there was a bit of shelter from the wind so we stopped to have lunch. I should mention, that although the walking was really beautiful today, we couldn't ser very far ahead at all, due to the damp mist, which didn't lift all day.

We walked along the top of the ridge, past a big concrete needle, down a steep hill to a dip called the Warren.

Here we could really see the white chalk of the cliffs for the first time which was great. It also marked the start of a rollercoaster of hills described, rather worryingly, as "monstrous" in the guide book. In the end they were too bad at all, not being too steep. And also providing great views of the cliffs, and eventually the iconic arch of Durdle Door.

We also saw a couple of Hobbys flying over the grassland, a lizard and a frog today which was cool.

After Durdle Door and the usual students and tourists, it was one more climb up and the descent down the cobbled path into Lulworth.

A great days walking with Mum!

Vx

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Day 49 Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge 11.25 miles

After a lovely night at Cowards Lake Farmhouse in Abbotsbury, where the owners Kevin & Irene very kindly let me stay free of charge, I set off down the hill to re-join the coast path.

Actually the path was nowhere near the coast for the first hour or so, I felt like I was on a walk at home with Rudy, through the fields.

It was really chilly this morning, it really felt like Autumn, but I determined to keep wearing my shorts until the end now!

There were some seriously boggy bits, one area all around the gate was deep mud, and I had to shimmy through some brambles, over a barbed wire fence and through a tree over a small stream, just to get to the otherside.

Eventually we met the lake behind Chesil Beach near the village of Langton Herring. From here the path followed the wobbly line of the lake, or Fleet, as its known.

It was quite a busy section of path, despite the mud, and I passed a couple of campsites, a rifle range, and a horse racing track, as well as lots of people going for a Sunday walk.

I had a bad hour though, firstly it dawned on me that on Tuesday when I am due to walk, with mum, from Lulworth to Swanage, we will not be able to walk through the Lulworth Ranges. I did know there was a range here, but I had sort of presumed that we would be able to get through or just detour around easily. This is not the case with this massive range. As well as a 13 miles detour, it is a really lovely section of path to miss. So I am a bit gutted, as it is down to my bad planning really, but it wasn't something I thought about 7 weeks ago when i started. Mum & I will set of on Tuesday morning from the east side of Kimmeridge Bay where the ranges finish and walk on to Swanage.

What makes it extra annoying is that I had already decided not to circuit the Island of Portland tomorrow, instead pressing on to Lulworth. This is down to my bad feet, as well as money & time constraints. I aim to come back and do the circuit within the next couple of weeks , when my feet are less troublesome.

So it feels as if my last dew days are a bit messy, but I just have to remember how much I have done already and not focus on the patchy last few days!

Oh back to my bad hour.... Whilst on thr phone to Mum discussing the walk, I fell on my arse in the wet mud!!! Shoes, socks and left side of shorts covered! They are currently attempting to dry on a rubbish radiator which needs bleeding. Yes I know about bleeding!

Anyhoo after the trip, which i should be grateful no one witnessed we soon reached Ferrybridge. I pushed on another couple of miles along a cycle path and then into Weymouth itself, where i got a bit lost but eventually found my way and the Esplanade and seafront where my digs are.

Vx



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Day 48 Seatown to Abbotsbury 12.5 miles

This morning after a slap up breakfast we made our way back to Seatown and managed to park the car for free thanks to the nice parking man.

A big steep hill to start the day on very full stomachs! Up Through a couple of fields full of cows and we were at the top. On our way down the other side we saw a mother and calf that had literally just been born, it was really sweet. From here we hit the beach. Then up and up again as we went over a hill to reach West Bay.

  Here we had to make our way around the harbour (very busy around here!) and decided to walk along the beach, under massive overhanging mud cliffs, to save our legs on the hill. As usual the beach turned out to be quite tough too, and we came inland at a caravan park.

From here there was a diversion inland to the village of Burton Bradstock to avoid a landslide on the coast.

From the village it was over a few fields (where I got bitten by a seemingly friendly cat!) and down to Burton Beach with the Hive beach cafe, which was heaving! Strange after seeing so many closed beach cafes in the last couple of weeks.

We stopped for a quick cake and drink before carrying on up the gentle hill beyond.

From here to Abbotsbury it was mainly flat along the back of the beach. The paths were easy but pretty boggy at times which slowed us down a bit.

We branched off inland just before Abbotsbury to contour around a hill, giving us a good view of the Swannery before winding back into the village, which is very pretty.

By chance we were just in time for the bus back to Chideock, the next being nearly 3 hrs later. So we popped back to get the car and have come back to Abbotsbury to have tea in the pub before Tab leaves me!

Vx

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Day 48 Seatown to Abbotsbury 12.5 miles

This morning after a slap up breakfast we made our way back to Seatown and managed to park the car for free thanks to the nice parking man.

A big steep hill to start the day on very full stomachs! Up Through a couple of fields full of cows and we were at the top. On our way down the other side we saw a mother and calf that had literally just been born, it was really sweet. From here we hit the beach. Then up and up again as we went over a hill to reach West Bay.

  Here we had to make our way around the harbour (very busy around here!) and decided to walk along the beach, under massive overhanging mud cliffs, to save our legs on the hill. As usual the beach turned out to be quite tough too, and we came inland at a caravan park.

From here there was a diversion inland to the village of Burton Bradstock to avoid a landslide on the coast.

From the village it was over a few fields (where I got bitten by a seemingly friendly cat!) and down to Burton Beach with the Hive beach cafe, which was heaving! Strange after seeing so many closed beach cafes in the last couple of weeks.

We stopped for a quick cake and drink before carrying on up the gentle hill beyond.

From here to Abbotsbury it was mainly flat along the back of the beach. The paths were easy but pretty boggy at times which slowed us down a bit.

We branched off inland just before Abbotsbury to contour around a hill, giving us a good view of the Swannery before winding back into the village, which is very pretty.

By chance we were just in time for the bus back to Chideock, the next being nearly 3 hrs later. So we popped back to get the car and have come back to Abbotsbury to have tea in the pub before Tab leaves me!

Vx

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