SWCP: Abbotsbury to Weymouth

 Set off as the church bell was ringing 9 in the morning.  All around was a riot of birdsong. Blue sky was appearing and there was a soft breeze. A steep climb just south of the village, up to St Catharine’s chapel. Stunning 360-degree views stretching all along the coast, including Chesil beach.

Shortly after the chapel, I came to the swannery. It’s cygnet time so it would have made a nice visit, but it wasn’t open yet. However, later in the day I watched a pair of swans lift slightly above the water and beat their way majestically across the Fleet.

Dew on the cow parsley

The number and variety of birds all along the way was astonishing. Skylarks singing loudly way up above practically the whole length of the walk. My trusty phone app also identified garden warblers, blackcaps, chiffchaffs, wrens, chaffinches and nuthatches alongside the more usual pheasants, wood pigeons, robins, thrushes and blackbirds. 

These were the first cows I’ve seen over the past days who’ve been standing up. I thought this might mean it wasn’t going to rain after all, but that was a bit optimistic.

The path follows the edge of the Fleet, the freshwater lagoon created by the shingle bank of Chesil beach. A good opportunity to cool my feet and have my sandwich. I’ve seen people swimming in the sea here without wetsuits - must be rather bracing! 

There was a lot of this sort of mud today, and the ground was tussocky and uneven for almost the whole route, so it was quite hard going. There was also less of a view to spur me on and distract me. 

Errr....OK!

My hips, knee and feet were getting sore and I wanted to get the 3 o’clock bus back to Abbotsbury rather than waiting for the next one at 5pm so I left the path at Chickerell. I hadn’t brought any water with me today and there hadn’t been any places to buy any along the route, so I was delighted to find that I was actually very near to civilisation and particularly this shop. I had some time waiting at the bus stop in the rain, feeling cold and on tenterhooks in case the bus rushed past or didn’t turn up. The driver went like a maniac and despite the speed, the journey felt long - I was mildly agog that I’d walked all that way. Home for a hot shower, a cuppa and later on, a ready meal curry and lots of TV. God knows how I’ll ever get my boots clean.

Salvation