David and Jo's Adventures: Westbay to Weymouth via Portland

Wed 23rd Sept 2015

Went to Bridport in the morning to get new map (for the last section of the path!) and provisions before setting off at 12.30 on the path to Abbotsbury. Again a crumbling cliff path before descending to a long flat stretch along side a shingle beach. Sometimes had to walk on the shingle which was hard work. Made good progress and arrived in Abbotsbury around 5pm a very picturesque village. Had a meal in The Swan Inn before heading up to St Catherine's Chapel for a great view and found a wild camp spot nearby just as it was getting dark about 7pm.

Thurs

A couple of showers during the night but woke to a glorious day. The path headed inland in the morning which made a nice change. Thomas Hardy country now with vast patchworks of green fields (far from the madding crowd). Couldn't believe the amount of pheasants around - there must have been 50 in the field we camped in this morning! Finally descended back to the coast behind the world heritage 29km long and 15m high Chesil Beach. Stopped at Moonfleet Manor for coffee (dates back to the 1600's). Had our picnic lunch an hour further on before the final length of the day to Ferrybridge, which was very muddy in places. Had to now cross the long causeway to The Isle of Portland where tomorrow we have to walk all around the island and back over the causeway to Weymouth. Had a meal in the lovely Cove Inn and tried to find a B&B as we we not sure if we would find a wild camp spot on the island. A guy called Andy gave us a couple of addresses and even came back to the pub to say he had spoken to his wife and we could use their spare room for the night! (Wonderful people we are meeting) by then though we had already sorted the Beach House B&B around the corner. The pub was taken over by the Aussies when the 2012 Olympics was on, as the sailing was off Portland Harbour. It was the best B&B we have been in so far £75.

Fri

What's the worst thing we could loose, apart from each other, on this adventure- yes r u right! Our tent poles!!! Must have fallen out of David's backpack between Abbotsbury and Ferrybridge!!! Bugger!!!! Good job we are staying at Westbay tonight (going back to see Sheila as she is now back from France). Another good day for walking and set off around the unique Isle of Portland. Lots off old and current Portland stone quarries. Had a few diversions around cliff falls. There is a large young offenders prison here and the old Verne adult prison is now an immigration centre. We covered the miles in good time and had lunch at the marina before having to return along the causeway and then onto the lovely harbour at Weymouth. Here we got the bus back to Westbay. Absolutely worn out as we had walked about 35miles 56kms in the last 2and a half days! Great evening catching up with David & Sheila and again with Louise Heath & Molly.