Dorset Day 6 - Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers

Monday 24th June 2024

The first section of the walk is along the coast but adjacent to a live firing range and it's very often closed to walkers, sometimes even on weekends. We had to check the MOD plans on their GOV.UK website to see if we could walk that small section of the coast path. It appeared to me, that every weekday in June was being used for firing, so it was the very long diversion for us. To be fair, we had prepared ourselves for the longer route and if it turned out that we could go along the coast, then great. But as it was, the gates were closed and as we walked around the firing range we could indeed hear the rat-tat-tat of the artillery being fired.

It was great to re-join the main path at Kimmeridge Bay and for a while we were happy to be enjoying the coastal views again, only to be thwarted by yet another diversion as we neared the area of St Aldhelm's. This one was again poorly signposted and just directed us towards Kingston, where we had to find our own route to Worth Matravers. This made the whole day a 24 mile walk, which made for three tired walkers.

The day finished on a good note though, as we enjoyed an hour or two in the Square & Compass at Worth Matravers, sitting in the sun, drinking lovely beer and learning all about the geology of the Dorset Coast from a lovely couple called Lee & Hannah.

Then it was onto Corfe Castle by taxi and more Euro's to watch.

The information contained in the material on this Website is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.

Distance: 24.2 miles

Duration: 9:00 hours

Ascent: 3255 ft

Difficulty: Tough

Accompanied By: Davy & Rob

Weather: Hot & Sunny

3D outline of route

Parking

Leaving The Castle Inn at West Lulworth.

Following signs for the 'Purbeck Way' instead of the 'Coast Path' as we start the very long diversion.

Generally easy walking on this diversion though with quite a bit of tarmac to trod down quiet country lanes too.

Keeping the red flag flying - I'm not sure if they are ever taken down ? It was about now that we started to hear the regular thud-thud-thud of ordnance being fired.

No view of the sea for a few hours as we gradually worked our way round the massive firing range area.

Not really a diversion sign, but it will do.

Now that's much better, spirits are raised as the sea finally comes into view as we stroll down towards Steeple and Kimmeridge.

A welcome ice cream stop at Kimmeridge was just what we needed.

Kimmeridge Bay.

Lots of colourful flora turn the coastline into a mass of yellow, mauve and white as we make our way along Kimmeridge Ledges.

Nice views back along the bit of coastline that we haven't been able to walk today

Another climb in the sun as we stop for a breather and look back at this stunning coastline.

St Aldhelm's Head - A decision was to be made as to where we cut inland and head towards Worth Matravers.

We had three possible options, but as we would soon find out, that choice was taken out of our hands.

Bit more of a jungle that a coast path for a while.

Nearby, we came across a group of young girls doing a DofE exercise and one of them had had a particular reaction to the flora. Her uncovered legs were red raw and she was in considerable discomfort.

Fortunately I had a brand new tube of cream that was specifically for bites/nettle stings etc and this seemed to help. We left her and her friends as they started off the other way and we watched them disappear into the distance.

There really needs to be some attention paid to all this overgrowth.

The steep climb up to the top of Houns-Tout Cliff, where another un-welcome surprise awaited us.

A 3 mile inland diversion following existing Public Rights of Way has been put in place due to a coastal landslip which has affected the coast path at Houns-Tout cliff. This was the only sign we saw, the signage is woeful and we had to basically find our way to Worth Matravers by ourselves. As with many Dorset diversions, there's been plenty of time to do this properly, but as with the condition of the path itself, it just gets left.

Quaint little Kingston as we ground out the last few miles of todays walk (or should I say diversion)

Pub on the signpost - That's a welcome sight!

Although this day had been tough - and had I known what was in store, I would have planned it differently - but it did end well.

Meeting Lee & Hannah in the Square & Compass at Worth Matravers was really nice and they gave us a geology lesson about the Dorset and other counties coastlines answering all our daft questions. I guess from now on we will be able to identify different periods (Jurassic, Cretaceous etc.) without just making it up. On the other hand, we will have probably forgotten most of it by the morning after anyway.

Never mind - it was great, sitting in the sun enjoying the beer, chatting - it put us all back in a good mood.

Our stopover for the night was in Corfe Castle