The South West Coastal Path Chronicles: Renscombe to Swanage

Date: 7th September 2021

Distance: 9.17 miles

Time: 03:25:34

Ascent: 1129 feet

Total SWCP so far: 638.43 miles

Route

Progress (kind of!)

Profile

Martin and Marina's Bit

The wheels fell off a teeny bit at this point in our adventure! I'll start with the moral of the story. And it's this.

READ THE GUIDEBOOK!!!!

We were supposed to have walked from Lulworth Cove to Rensombe today but we discovered late on the day before that the route runs right past a military training ground called Lulworth Ranges and that because live firing takes place, the south west coastal path is closed mid-week and some weekends! So you really need to check the schedule and plan to walk this section when the chance of being hit by a machine gun bullet is at least fairly low.

The schedule is here by the way: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lulworth-firing-notice

So, last night we had to do some rapid replanning. Instead of Lulworth Cove to Renscombe (12 miles), we decided to split what would have been our final 16 mile stage taking us right up to the very end of the SWCP into two eight mile sections and do the first of them today. We'll return one last weekend to walk the skipped Lulworth Ranges section and then our final 8 miles to the end.

It having been somewhat toasty the day before, we were up at 5:30 and made an early start. It was still warm when we started and unquestionably hot by the end. It was also hilly enough. Don't be fooled by the stats. With the tough day we'd had the day before, the legs were very much feeling the hills today.

Derek and Lesley's Bit

So I can hear you thinking, They have missed a bit, there cheating!

No we are purists & do not want to walk inland around the M.O.D Firing range which has closed the path, so we should have planned better, well yes maybe but our new rushed plan will give us a nice short section to finish the walk on only Eight miles so will have plenty of energy to have the end of trail party! (well maybe not)

To avoid the heat today we made an early start another hilly section but still with some wonderful sights finishing with a walk along the shore, with the fishermen maintaining their boats, Back to the car & a drive to Wales for us as we are going on holiday, A walking holiday!