What a glorious day! The coast path between Kimmeridge and Houns Tout cliff has been made safe and re-opened after the winter land slips. This 10 mile loop is one of my very favourites as it has spectacular views and some good climbs. Pete and I picked up Annie & Grae and we started walking from Kinsgston Matravers at about 12.30. We set off west to climb Swyre Head where there is a well preserved tumulus. Then along Smedmore Hill and through the wonderfully named 'Heaven's Gate' to drop down to the coast at Kimmeridge. This is the view west towards Kimmeridge Bay from Smedmore Hill. You can just about make out the Isle of Portland on the horizon. As we were walking down the hill (which cyclists can use as it is also a bridleway), a cyclist kept cycling up and down and back up the steepest part. Said he was in training. Just a tad too smug - was sorely tempted to prod him with my trekking pole....but thought better of it.
There are shale beds at Kimmeridge Bay and oil has been drilled there since the 1950's. From the beach there is a steep climb (a taste of things to come) up to Clavell Tower. The tower was built as a folly in 1831 by John Richards Clavell of Smedmore House. It is the setting for Thomas Hardy's novel Two on A Tower. Threatened by cliff erosion, it was in imminent danger of toppling into the sea. In 2006 it was carefully dismantled, each of its 16,732 stones photographed and numbered before being reassembled 25 meters inland. The £900K cost was met by the Landmark Trust who now own the tower and let it for 2 people to stay in....cool!
The walk turns back inland after a well earned rest on the big stone bench at the top of the climb. From there it's just another couple of miles back to the typical Purbeck village and the Scott Arms at Kingston Matravers. I had a pint of Jurrasic; Pete had a pint of something like Quad Drop - both were jolly good. We sat at a huge stone tablet in the garden which overlooks Corfe Castle and beyond to Poole Harbour. Super walk in the afternoon sunshine.