LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

South West Coastal Path No. 74              Total: 604 miles

Time Taken:     Cycle:      Distance:   Enjoyment:    Weather:  
   5 hours              n/a       9.5 miles         95%          Sunny and slight rain
Nature: Wild Flowers, Skylarks, & Butterflies. 

Temp:     Cloud:     Rain:    Visibility:    Conditions:     
  15oC       60%     10%      Good         Very good underfoot           

Points of Interest:
Portuneswell            Chiswell Beach         Abbotsbury
West Cliffs                 Portland                    Blacknor Cliffs
Church Ope Cove	  Yeolands Quarry     Victoria Square 

General:
Used buses No4 & No1 from Preston to Victoria Square, Chiswell. 
Walked the edge of Chesil Beach stones, along Chiswell Lane to 
the promenade. Missed a coastal path sign, but soon found thw 
cliff path to Tout Quarries after asking a local couple while they 
were enjoying the sunshine and a cup of coffee at a café.  As I 
gained more height (and puffed) the views got better and better. 
Broadening out but hazy on the horizon. Lots og quarry type noises 
for the first couple of miles due to three large diggers helping to 
reinforce the huge Chesil beach pile of stones. Huge metal grids 
are being installed into the beach to help stabilise the stones. 
Stonemason monument at the top of the cliff so it's no surprise the 
path immediately enters the Tout Quarry. Quick diversion into the 
quarry before continuing the path. To my surprise the path was 
soon officially blocked with a fence and a notice demanding the 
walker use the diversion to avoid a dangerous risk of injury due to 
rock falls. The rocks in the vicinity were and may be still slowly 
titling. If the rocks don't stabilise the oath will eventually be blocked
 or fall away. More excellent views towards Abbotsbury and the 
West Cliffs of Portland. After successfully negotiating the diversion
 with care I continued with my trust walking stick towards Blacknor
 Cliffs and to my further surprise I came across another diversion, 
just before Blacknor. Followed the second diversion with care 
because of the steep slopes in places. On this diversion I passed
 sculptor paradise with all sorts of difference stone pieces in a 
large area. I sat on a stone armchair for a couple of minutes before
 proceeding back to the path.  Just before Blacknor I could smell 
burning and to my surprise I came across charred banks of burnt 
grass and wild flowers. No signs of any flames or smoke so I 
continued through a huge stone archway to Mutton Cove. Here the 
path was wide and open with lots of small tracks all going North/
South. Stopped for refreshments with legs hanging over cliff. 
Continued past military type installation before reaching the first 
tower. This one a lockout station. Continued across the broad 
expanse of grassland  towards the red and white lighthouse. Magic 
walk from the cliff tops down to Portland Bill while listening to 
skylarks frantically trying to divert me away from their nests. Lots 
of cars and sightseers at lighthouse. Good Photos of sailing boats 
passing. Quickly moved to east coast of Portland and passed lots 
of beach huts close to the low cliffs and a third tower. As I passed 
some of the huts I noticed a few fisherman and the low cliffs 
showing a good example of the many layers of different rocks in 
the area. Also passed an old rusty crane which probably loaded 
Portland Stone onto boats when the sea swell allowed. Soon 
reached more disused quarries along the coasts before God Nore. 
Great exploring country. I found another bay, for safety the coastal 
path followed the road for a while. From the road the oath zig 
zagged down to a low level close to the sea before church off cove, 
with the rugged path constantly changing height and direction being 
replaced with tarmacked path between concrete paths. Until this 
point I have been following the waymarkers and a blue arrow recently 
sprayed on the ground. At Church Ope Cove the two direction 
indicators parted. At first I followed the arrows but returned to the 
marker stones and finger posts on or near the cliff top. Unfortunately, 
there wasn't enough signs before HMP institution and around 
Yeolands Quarry. Another third diversion by the prison which was 
easy to follow. As path diverted inland after the prison I watch a ferry 
on its way to the channel isles. The signs were good at first but got 
lost and came to a dead end. Luckily I was only a mound of soil away 
from the official path so I gave a sign of relief. The quarry was actively 
producing gritstone as you can imagine very noisy. Skirted around the 
impressive HM Prison, The Verne, with steep steps between the 
ramparts to Merchants Railway. Good views across the rooftops of 
Fortunes Well and the surrounding area. The slowly descending 
railway circled the steep sides of The Verne and much steeper 
descent straight down the hillside to the docks, passing the houses 
and luxury apartment blocks. Turned left at the road back to Victoria 
Square to catch Bus No1. 
What a fantastically interesting and varied walk. 
Highly recommended.
 

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