After a rather small hotel breakfast we headed north east along the coastal path to Old Harry's rocks.
The sun was shining and we were hot. The walk to the rocks is about 2 miles from the hotel and takes you over the down. All the way there are glimpses of the white chalk cliffs. The now free standing chalk stacks are amazing so we spent a little time watching the sea crashing around them. After some water and a snack we made our way back via the bridleway instead of the coastal path, and the rejoined the coastal path and found our way to the beach. The coastal path has a flight of steps. On the way back we met a walker counting the steps for his wife. He was at 45. I had counted 99 going up, he had been told there were 94 or 96, but there are some slightly separated steps that some people may not have counted. I'd like to know what number he got to but probably never will. We also chatted with various dog owners to get our dog 'fix' for the day.
We arrived back at the hotel and had crab sandwiches at the beach cafe. They were very good, and much cheaper than the crab sandwiches in town. We also had a nap. Then it was off again into town for the guided walk about the history of Swanage. It started at the museum / heritage centre at 2:30, so we had time to look around the museum and have ice cream. About 10 of us followed the guide around Swanage town centre as he described the changes to the town from old photographs. The tour finished about 4:45pm. We needed refreshment and called in at the ---- tea rooms - where we were greeted by the statement "you know we close at 5". Nothing like customer service!
The sun was shining and we were hot. The walk to the rocks is about 2 miles from the hotel and takes you over the down. All the way there are glimpses of the white chalk cliffs. The now free standing chalk stacks are amazing so we spent a little time watching the sea crashing around them. After some water and a snack we made our way back via the bridleway instead of the coastal path, and the rejoined the coastal path and found our way to the beach. The coastal path has a flight of steps. On the way back we met a walker counting the steps for his wife. He was at 45. I had counted 99 going up, he had been told there were 94 or 96, but there are some slightly separated steps that some people may not have counted. I'd like to know what number he got to but probably never will. We also chatted with various dog owners to get our dog 'fix' for the day.
We arrived back at the hotel and had crab sandwiches at the beach cafe. They were very good, and much cheaper than the crab sandwiches in town. We also had a nap. Then it was off again into town for the guided walk about the history of Swanage. It started at the museum / heritage centre at 2:30, so we had time to look around the museum and have ice cream. About 10 of us followed the guide around Swanage town centre as he described the changes to the town from old photographs. The tour finished about 4:45pm. We needed refreshment and called in at the ---- tea rooms - where we were greeted by the statement "you know we close at 5". Nothing like customer service!
We then left for Dulston Castle along the coastal path - it was, of course, closed, as were the Tilly Whim caves - really a stone mine - but they have been closed since the 1970's due to rock falls. We watched jet black birds soaring over the cliff edge and decided they were probably jackdaws. We visited the giant globe - used to teach about the geology of our planet and also about our solar system. Then returned along the coastal path after deciding not to walk down a flight of decrepit steps and up the other side to get to the light house. There is a man in the lighthouse. He is wearing a light coloured trench coat which is trailing slightly in the wind, and a wide brimmed hat.
On our return to the town we ate at Gee ----, formerly The Quay Hole. The meal was hot and served quickly, and the food was very good. We returned to the hotel about 7:30 tired and relaxed from a long day's walking. We estimate about 10 miles.
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