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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOODDerek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or discriptions please e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com | |||||
SOUTH WEST COASTAL PATH CHICKERELL to FORTUNESWELL Sunday 18th May 2014 ...............Walk No. 1043 | |||||
South West Coastal Path No. 73 Total: 604 miles Time Taken: Cycle: Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: 4.5 hours n/a 8 miles 85% Fine and Sunny Nature: Wild flowers, Skylarks, Iris Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: 20oC 2% 0% Good Very Good Underfoot General: Caught buses Nos 4 & 8 from Osmington caravan site to Chickerell via King's statue in centre of Weymouth. Alighted bus No 8 on B3157 Chickerell Road near East Street. Discovered a 3 metre high metal fox type creature standing in garden of house on main road near East Fleet Lane. No footpath, so cautiously proceeded to and down East Fleet Lane, past the Lodge, to East Fleet cottages, on Butter Street. Good view of cottages and surrounding fir trees in the sunshine. Just past the cottages we were surprised to find a small lone church, which we visited with delight. Over the small stream bridge to Butterstreet Cove, part of East Fleet tidal waters. We stopped for lunch and sat on a couple of large stones on the shore of the lake, by East Fleet caravan and camping site. To our surprise four canoes appeared on the horizon and headed our way. Amazingly they beached right by us and handled their canoes onto the roof of a Landrover over the other side of the hedge from us. to Chickerell Hive Point where a young family was enjoying the sunshine by the old battered landing stage and some rowing boats used to cross The Fleet to Chesil Beach. Probably for fishing, but who knows? Around the bay from the Point to the rifle range, where, luckily the coastal path was open and the range closed as it was a Sunday. There was no flag flying at the kissing gate by the decrepit lookout century box. This section of the walk around the firing range peninsular was the muddiest of the walk. So, beware if you are walking this section of the coastal path during a wet period. Ann spotted an unusual spider's web in the hedge, or was it a silk jacket to protect an unborn moth or butterfly? Have a look at the photo and you decide. At Tidmoor Point another old landing stage in very poor condition had seen much better days. Around Tidmoor Cove, where it is wise to stick to the well trodden path because it was very wet in the area, due to the local stream. As we rounded Lynch Cove the human activity increased significantly, mainly due to the dog walkers from the Littlesea Holiday Park. Over the low cliff after the holiday park to a high security fence on the south-east side of the depot which we later discovered were owned by dog walkers, probably from Wyke Regis area of Weymouth. At this point the distance between the mainland and Chesil Beach is the shortest, resulting in a strong current between tides. This is probably the reason for the strange old wire constructions in the water, possibly for fish farming so the tides could help feed the fish and reduce fish diseases. Around the bay and slopes by Martleaves Farm, Ann got lost in the tall reeds, well nearly, among the lovely yellow iris plants, the banks of beautiful meadow flowers and horses. We saw cart horses and a Shetland pony. The last leg of Fleet Water, was to pass Chesil Beach Holiday Village, where many residents were enjoying the sunshine on their verandas. When we reached 'The Ferry Bridge' public house we could not resist refreshments, Ann settled down in the family area and I continued the level walk alongside Chesil Beach to Victoria Square in Chiswell, passing a beautiful huge area of pink clover on the eastern side of Chesil Beach. Good views of Portland West Cliff as Chiswell is approached, the perfect advertisement for the next section of the South West Coastal Path. A perfect end to a good day's walking in the sunshine, I returned to Ann in 'The Ferry Bridge' public house with the help of bus No 1. Click Here to Go to Previous 'SWCP - Walk 1026' Click Here to Go to Next 'SWCP - Walk 1044' Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage | |||||
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