Leader: Roy Carter

BBN GO TO THE SEASIDE

Wow, what a wonderful walking weekend … well 4 nights actually. This year we were treated to an extra day to enjoy 5 great walks, with lots of miles along the amazing, if somewhat undulating, Dorset Jurassic coastline.

15 BBNers arrived by train or car at, what proved to be, the excellent Royal Hotel on the sea front in Weymouth. The hotel was well run by Alpha, a travel company specialising in seniors coach holidays. We were not stereotypical clients! Functional clean rooms, quality breakfasts and dinners and …err… different but great fun evening entertainment, was provided at competitive prices.

As always, the holiday was organised by Roy who, not only dealt with all the bookings and admin, but offered 5 exceptional walks ensuring we saw the very best of what this beautiful part of the country has to offer. This year he was ably assisted by John, who provided much local experience and knowledge and led two of the walks. We were all presented with our own ‘must have’ Roy’s walks booklet including practical info, walk details, maps and interesting related facts.

Wednesday afternoon broke us in gently with an interesting 8 mile town circuit taking in the River Wey, Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth Old Port and the picturesque harbour.

The following full day’s walk included an almost forgotten experience. After many dry weeks we actually got wet…twice! Rain dances all around (non-naked!). After a train ride to Dorchester we walked 14ish miles back on a route that visited Maiden Castle, an interesting Iron Age hillfort, and the 98m high, Osmington ‘not so white’ horse cut into the hillside depicting George III on horseback.

Every evening we enjoyed a yummy ‘à la carte’ 3 course meal and pre and post meal ‘rehydration’ sessions in the hotel bar and local hostelries.

Day 3 was really exceptional. After a coastal top double-decker bus ride to Lulworth Cove we explored its unique, world renowned geological landforms. Roy is a geologist by profession and imparted his invaluable knowledge, using the simple vocabulary we required. Sarah added her helpful comparison of the Lulworth Crumple to a block of Viennetta ice cream!

A very steep ascent took us to Durdle Door, England’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. More coastal climbs and some flatter relief slightly inland brought us back to yesterday’s Osmington, where we returned to Weymouth by bus.

The last full day’s foray, after another bus ride this time to Portesham, was mostly on the West Dorset Ridgeway. When reaching Admiral Hardy’s monument it was a pleasant surprise to discover it was a rare open day, meaning we were able to climb the 120 dark steep winding steps to the top. With clear blue skies, the long range views were ample reward for our efforts. Enjoying well earned refreshments at a pub in Abbotsbury we decided whether to follow John straight back to Portesham on a disused railway track or to first visit Abbotsbury Abbey, a site of worship for over 500 years.

Those who chose, for various reasons, to leave after breakfast on Sunday missed a last day’s absolute delight. John led us clockwise around the Isle of Portland. We saw the two island prisons, one home to Gary Glitter, on our way to Portland Bill. Views of Chesil Beach from the west coast on our return exceeded all expectations. Portland Stone was extracted, by the original, pre railway, method of chipping it out the cliffs and either lowering it, with pulleys down the steep cliff faces, to the waiting ship on the island’s west side or rolling it down the less steep east side. We ended our journey and very special 5 days at the Tout Quarry Sculptures (Antony Gormley Still Falling) and the Olympic Rings. 

Ok, that’s the report of the WW (Wonderful Walking) part of our holiday but it offered so much more, We were a group of friends who enjoyed lots of laughs, a trip together on the Weymouth Big Wheel and, on the final night, taking the Royal Hotel Weymouth dance floor by storm. Remembering the old days, we danced around a handbag to 1960/70 songs and BBN briefly represented Boys Behaving Naughty when they started to throw their hotel keys (jokingly) into the ring. No takers!

Thanks must also go to Deb, Roy D, Tom and Sarah for pictures. 

Last big thanks to John (enjoy your truffles and red wine)  and Roy (enjoy your posh  afternoon cream tea with Rachel). 

To our new members and anyone else reading this, you are most welcome to join us next year, if you can burn that candle at both ends.

It really was great fun.

Dee Brockway

Itinerary