Worth Matravers Walk
More of a hike than a walk really! Started at the main car park in Worth Matravers village and headed down to Winspit, the scene of several episodes of Doctor Who and Blakes 7. A very flat shelf of rock is surrounded by an old Purbeck stone quarry with caves inhabited by bats. Some interesting stacks of balancing rocks here.
Rock stacks at Winspit, Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8
A view from one of the cave entrances.
Winspit Quarry, Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24mm f4
From Winspit it was a mile or so along the South West Coast Path to St. Aldhelm’s Head (also known as St. Alban’s Head), lots of erosion on the cliff top with the path rather close to the edge in places! Fortunately the National Coastwatch Institution Coastguard Lookout had an open day serving very welcome tea and home made cake. Fully refreshed it was time for the steep descent down countless steps and then the similar ascent up Emmetts Hill on the other side.
Killer steps at St Aldhelm's Head, Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8
View over Chapmans Pool from the top of Emmetts Hill.
Chapmans Pool, Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8
A bit further along the coast path is the Royal Marines Association Memorial.
Royal Marines Association Memorial, iPhone 4S
The hoped for sunset fizzled out during the rather slippery descent to Chapmans Pool, a filthy beach this with loads of rubbish washed up. Lots of evidence of fossil hunting too with many broken rocks, not sure how you would carry them back up though!
Chapmans Pool, Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8
All in all a very enjoyable day but tired legs at the end of it!
Tags: chapmans, dorset, head, jurassic, purbeck, st albans, st aldhems, winspit
