A surprise in the post today a book focused on 50 walks around my home county of Dorset.
I guess from the AA?
However, Veuve Clicquot please feel free to adopted the same idea?
Book cover 50 walks.
Described as gentle strolls and longer hikes the 180 page compact book flits around the county from the Jurassic coastal cliffs in the South to the pure rural Hardy country in it’s centre.
A 9 miler in the Purbecks its longest around the south of Dorset at Worth Matravers. To a compact 3 miler around the Shaftesbury in the very north of the county.
Shaftesbury Gold Hill. The Hovis bread hill.
Each walk is rated with gradient symbols along with each walk’s distance.
50 Walks In Dorset From The AA
For me one of my favourites is around my home town area of Portland. Routing to and around Portland Bill.
Portland Bill lighthouse Portland, Dorset UK.
Starting at the Eight Kings pub in the village of Southwell.
Just over a 3 mile circuit. Which will take you along the Portland Stone cliffs of it’s East coast.
Passing numerous colourful beach huts. However, no hint of a beach!
Colourful plants with beach huts around Portland Bill.
And the iconic stone crane nearby too.
Then dropping down slowly to the stately red and white Portland Bill lighthouse.
And here a perfect place to stop for a break and take on refreshments. At the popular Lobster Pot restaurant.
Pulpit Rock, Portland Bill.
Heading back along the western side passing Pulpit Rock and then the Coast Watch Lookout and near to there a former lighthouse too.
Certainly on clear days you get great views from the lofty cliffs of the whole of Lyme Bay and almost down to Torquay in South Devon.
West cliff popular with Rock Climbers Portland on an AA guided walk.
This is a very popular area for rock climbers.
Southwell Park.
Passing the industrial looking Southwell Business Estate which was in fact once the Underwater Weapons Research Establishment. (AWRE) It was the place that Harry Houghton and Ethel Gee the Russian spies once worked in the late 1950’s.
Walking With Spies At Southwell Portland
Cutting back across the fields again to Southwell village and a return to the Eight Kings pub.
Whilst at the Bill the second lighthouse there is an RSPB Observatory. A noted twitchers place to spot migrating birds. Often heading to or from West Africa on their 3,000 mile flights.Although this walk is on my doorstep and number 50 in the book I rate it as very achievable for most walkers.
A former lighthouse now the RSPB Observatory.
Its diverse in terms of the views, wildlife and history of Portland and the County. And most interestingly the stone you see enroute is the same stone that built great chunks of London.
St Pauls Cathederal .
Buckingham Palace, St Pauls Cathedral, National Gallery and Regent Street etc.
Costing £13.99 the book is great value, with plenty of tips, information plus easy to follow maps of every walk.
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