Portland is along the Dorset Coast. Mostly south but perhaps a bit west as well. Not Plymouth as I was originally thinking. Or not thinking as the case may be. My only excuse is that I was watching the broadcast map which clearly had Plymouth marked on the coast. It stuck in my mind. They both start with “P” right?
The Cruise Compass says the following “….windswept beaches, limestone arches, hidden coves…” Which makes me think cold, wet, windy & smugglers.
As it turns out, what I should have been thinking about was fossils and dinosaurs. This area is also known as the Jurassic Coast. Depending on which end of the 100 km you are standing the stone under your feet is from 56 million to 200+ million years old. There are fascinating coves, amazing rock formations, hills, windswept walks and fudge shops.
holes worn through by time and tide
plates shifts and strata visible
one of the bays
the cliffs
I have great pictures of Durdle Door, the cove, and thatched roofed cottages. (To be inserted when I have wifi )
the occasional dot is an idiot in a wet suit attempting cliff diving
the first stop at Corfe Castle –
most of the town is built from castle stone after the destruction
castle – entrance
what’s left of the main tower
cemetery out of town
classic English village
(no, not from Thomas Kincaid)
re-enactors taking a break and coming to the pastry shop
before going on to the coast –
We will skip the story of the three husbands who got separated from the group, failed to either listen or follow directions. End result is that we had to back to Durdle Door where they finally had had enough sense to go and find security who called around and found our driver.
One of the guys and I had listened. We just hiked the less than 20 minutes along the Coastal Path. It was fine and well signed.
I rewarded myself with fudge.
