I had a walk in the Purbecks yesterday, ended up just over 20K (12.5
mile). I parked at the small (6 car) car park at Acton, just to the
West of Langton Matravers and started walking about 8:00am.
I walked North across open fields with views of Swanage in the
distance. At the campsite at SY988795, it wasn't clear where the path
went, but a bit of searching revealed the remnants of a waypoint on
the back of a fencepost. Worse was to come, first an overgrown stile
through a hedge (10 mins with secateurs got me through) then a live
electric fence with no crossing point (Leki pole got me across this).
I crossed the Swanage to Corfe railway at New Buildings and joined the
path up Brenscombe Hill at Ailwood Farm. I was heating up by this time
so took my zip off legs off hoping for no more nettles.
From Brenscombe Hill there was a good view to the West of Corfe Castle
and Ridgeway Hill beyond. At the top, I turned East along the ridge
eventually descending to the South of Nine Barrow Down. Something made
me look up, and there was a horse standing on top of the cliff
watching me.
I crossed under the railway at New Barn, and just as I did a Steam
Train went across and I just got the camera out in time. After a few
hundred metres of the A351 I entered a rather strange wild area. In
places there were 2m wide grassy paths, but they soon degenerated into
impassable undergrowth. None of these paths were marked on the map, so
I just had to aim in a general direction, and eventually came out into
an open field. From here I soon arrived at Langtom Matravers and found
myself in a school playing field. There was nobody about so I sat on a
bench and had some lunch.
Just to the South of Langton Matravers, I came across Tom's Field
campsite (www.tomsfieldcamping.co.uk), which I remembered had a shop
which sold ice cream - and it was open. It looks a nice quiet
campsite, and they have a walkers barn open all year. From here I went
East a few hundred metres to pick up the path to Spyway Barn as I
wanted to look at the parking marked on the map - it is National Trust
and holds about 20 cars. Spyway Barn is open on one end and has
various visitor displays about the history and wildlife of the area.
At the top of the cliff above Dancing Ledge I turned East and followed
the upper path until I came to a stone seat just above the mile posts
where I finished the rest of my lunch. A bit further on I found a way
down to the lower coast path and turned West along it eventually
coming to Dancing Ledge a popular climbing spot. There were a few
climbers just leaving, and I stopped here to finish the last of my
flask of tea. The SWCP was surprisingly empty, I had only come across
a handfull of people all day in fact.
I had intended to continue to Seacombe Cliff and up my favorite valley
on the permissive path to Eastington Farm, but I decided I had done
enough and so headed North via Sea Spray, the Priests Way and back to
Acton by 4:00pm.
There are some photos posted here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16032997@N00/sets/623176/
John