Walking the SWCP with Dystonia

Doing it for Dystonia (and also for ourselves!)

Lesley and her SWCP experience

So, finally the one with Dystonia has something to say. I would like to say that having Dystonia has made this path much more difficult. And to be honest at times it has. The spasms, pain, the problems with balance, fatigue and some days just feeling my legs would not work. However the SWCP will challenge the fittest and the most able of people. Walking the SWCP is more about a state of mind, than ability. I believe Ranulph Fiennes said ' take one plod at a time' which has been my mantra. So, thank you Ranulph you have kept me going! 

Walking the SWCP is the equivalent of 4 ascents and descents of Mount Everest. So, it is a huge achievement for anyone that completes this path. As we approach the final stages of our journey, you might wonder why I haven't spoken out before. This journey is not just about me, its about my husband and my two friends and the beautiful SWCP. They haven't dumped me on the way but equally I would like to complain that they flatly refused to carry me on a sedan chair. Don't understand why.

Lesley, 31st July 2021

"Oi! Where's my sedan chair?!" - Lesley. Many times.

Abbotsbury to West Bay

Date: 19th July 2021

Distance:  9.28 miles
Time: 3:26:33
Ascent: 512 feet

Total SWCP so far: 589.26 miles

Route

Progress

Profile

Martin and Marina's Bit

Once again the team was woken by night-owl Martin at 4:30 in the morning so that we could Beat the Heat and start our final walk of this trip nice and early. To simplify the transport logistics, we chose to walk east to west, the opposite to our usual direction and so started at Abbotsbury and finished at yesterday's destination, West Bay.

We started walking at 06:25 and even then it was warm. But the early morning light was amazing and we hardly saw any people until we were well progressed. If you can handle the early start, on hot days like this one, this is the way to do it.

The profile suggested a very easy day and in fact we only ascended 512 feet in total so from that point of view, our expectations were met. But what we didn't appreciate until we got there was that much of this section involves trudging through deeply pebbled beach. The pebbles are small and move under foot, making it very hard going. After what seemed an eternity of slow and exhausting trudging, Lesley admitted she would happily trade the pebbles for a nice big stepped hill to climb. None of us were arguing!

Amazingly, we arrived at our destination at 10:30 a.m. which must be some kind of record and gave us the chance to drive home on slightly less busy roads.

Job done. Next trip already planned. With only five more days of walking, we should have completed the entire South West Coastal Path!

Derek and Lesley's Bit

Westbay to Abbotsbury......

But it's not! We actually walk from Abbotsbury to West bay for logistics.

It's another hot day so the "knocker upper" has done his job again and we are again walking by 06.30

Did Marina spot a naked walker on the beach? Not sure as he was lucky too far away to tell.

The walking was hard going as a lot of it was along the beach on pebbles.

The temperature rose and so did we up a steep incline away from the sea onto the cliff top. The sea was like a mill pond not a ripple in sight.

Again finishing on a steep downhill into west bay where we met Katherine & Nigel a lovely couple who had started on the path at Minehead on the 21st June walking a half marathon a day raising money for Maggies.

They still looked fresh & we wished them well for their last 100 miles.

Martin and Marina's Photographs

Derek's Photographs

Lyme Regis to West Bay

Date: 18th July 2021

Distance:  10.71 miles
Time: 4:37:02
Ascent: 2498 feet

Total SWCP so far: 579.98 miles

Route




Progress

Profile

Martin and Marina's Bit

Someone who shall remain nameless (Lesley) suggested we get up early to avoid the high temperatures that had been forecast for this day (in the low thirties).

Someone who shall remain nameless (Martin) got up at 3:00 and woke "the team" at 04:30. Not that "team" is any way to describe us at that time of day. 

So we were up with the lark. Literally. And walking by 6:30. And it was so worth it! Much cooler, very few people, more wildlife, incredible light. Aside from the traumatic start to the day, walking early was a big hit.

Fairly early in the walk though, we found that the path and the road parallel to it was closed due to the cliff collapsing (some years ago we think). So this meant we had to take an inland detour before rejoining the original path a mile or less further on. The detour was well sign-posted though so that made it easy.

The views got better and better as we walked this part of the path but the real stars were the multitude of wildflowers in the meadows all along the way and the buzzy (sic) pollinators they attract. Incredible.

Derek and Lesley's Bit

A hot day is forecast so we make an early start, the "knocker upper" (Martin) wakes us up at 04.30.

We arrive at the starting point & are walking by 06.30 nice and cool to start a steep uphill section through some woods onto a golf course where the deer are still grazing.

It soon  heats up as we stride along the cliff path enjoying the  flora & fauna. 

Ending on a lovely down hill into west bay. 

Martin and Marina's Photographs

Derek's Photographs