9th- 11th October 2020
Attendees: Mark, Marion, Maggie, Alan, Claire, Andreea, Ade, Sue, Jill, Martin, Trudi, Martin and Simon
A weekend planned in January 2020 with the National Trust bunkhouse at Stonebarrow near Charmouth in Dorset was booked. Although it sleeps 8 with Covid-19 restrictions in place only 6 were allowed. However, this didn’t deter members of NMC, who found alternative accommodation in local B&B’s and a Pod on a campsite.
So on Saturday 9th October 13 members of the club gathered in Stonebarrow hill to start a circular walk heading inland to North Chideock, Colmer’s Hill, Doghouse Hill and Golden Cap, around 10 miles. After the Risk Assessment talk, everyone headed out on a fabulous sunny day. Social distancing was kept but it didn’t dampen the chat or enthusiasm of the group. It was so good that one of photos looks like a group of statues standing the a field (with Colmer’s Hill in the back ground)
To get to this spot, we went up “Hell’s laneâ€, a bridleway with deep ruts and uneven surface which ended with deep banks on each side. We had cyclists pass us, who were digging deep to stay on their bikes but eventually as the lane got steeper, they had to join us walkers on foot.
We then headed towards the coast and had our lunch at the top slopes of Doghouse hill looking east. A fabulous view:
After lunch we stuck to the coast heading west and down to sea level with a break to enjoy the lovely sunshine.
Golden cap was in our sights and we stuck to the coast a bit too much. We found ourselves on a path that disappeared through erosion and so we had a couple of barbed wire fences to navigate over.
View from Golden cap, east towards Seatown and the lower doghouse hill:
A view from Golden Cap looking west towards Charmouth and Lyme Regis in the distance. The end was in sight, back at Stone Barrow hill. A lovely walk enjoyed by all.
We then separated to our respective accommodation.
Sunday…
Two walks were planned with Andreea, Simon, Mark and Marion walking from Lyme Regis to Charmouth. The tides were in their favour and they had a productive walk spotting fossils on the beach.
Alan, Claire and Maggie did a 6-7mile coastal walk in a figure of eight from Burton Bradstock. A dip into the sea was tempting but getting out into the chilly wind made the decision – it was a no!!!
Lyme Regis from Charmouth hill:
A lovely weekend which was well appreciated by all, ice to get away in these strange times.