South West Coast Path - Saturday 29 June

Away at 8am with all the signs of a warm day to come. The trail continued along the promenade at Swanage. Quite a few people around including joggers and others setting up beach stalls and also a display by the Royal Corps of Signals. Through New Swanage along residential roads where the trail came inland a little before returning to a cliff top path. The path was clear and well used. Had I wanted to, I would have found pitches for a wild camp at Ballard Down, The Foreland and along the straight stretch towards Studland from Old Harry Rocks. I would have had to have carried water from Swanage though but that wouldn't have been a problem.

Looking back to Swanage

Old Harry Rocks

Old Harry Rocks

At Old Harry Rocks, I was met by arrangement by John Yale and Brian & Jill Toalster, who had walked down from South Haven Point. We then walked together to Joe's Café at Studland where we stopped for refreshments before walking along the beach around Studland Bay. It being a weekend, there were lots of people around. We averted our eyes as we went along the shoreline of the naturist beach. Then it was but a short distance to the ferry at South Haven Point and, for me, the end of this little odyssey and the end of the South West Coast Path which I started in 2001. Thanks John, Brian & Jill for taking the trouble to share your company with me.

At Joe's Cafe

At South Haven Point