SWC Walk 75 variant: Wareham or Corfe Castle to Lulworth Cove via Kingston and Swyre Head t=swc.75
Length: From
Wareham: 18.5 Miles or 29.8 km for those more metrically minded; or
From Corfe Castle: 12.5 Miles or 20.1 km for those more
metrically minded
Difficulty: 11 out of 10 for the longer route and 10 out
of 10 for the shorter version
Train: Take the 8:35
AM South Western Weymouth train from London
Waterloo arriving in Wareham at 10:48. For a Corfe Castle start, you should
catch a number 40 bus from just outside the station at 11:14 (arriving at Corfe
at 11:33) – sadly no trains this year. Note: Advance tickets appear to be
available……
To return
from Lulworth cove, you will either need to catch a bus or take a taxi (Silver
Cars 01929 400 409 or 07811 328 281) to Wool.
Buses are as follows: bus 30 17:12 (arriving Wool 17:30) or bus 31 at 18:12
(arriving Wool 18:30) or 19:12 (arriving Wool 19:30). Return trains from Wool are at 17:45; 18:45; 19:45 and 20:34. Buy a
day return to Wool. With the addition of the 19:12 bus this year, those
doing the shorter walk should have no problem catching the bus (even with a pub
stop in Kimmeridge and a swim).
This is one
of my favorite coastal walks with stunning cliffs soaring to the sky and
swooping to the sea….It has been a few years since it was posted and we have in
the past explored a very enjoyable map-led
route via Kingston and Swyre Head to follow a more coastal
ridge above Kimmeridge Bay before
dropping down to Worbarrow Bay (for some swimming) and carrying along the
dramatic cliffs to Lulworth Cove. Thought it would be nice to post before the
onslaught of school holidays…..
For route
finding, you should use the “blue” route on the OS Map page for SWC 75. For
those starting in Wareham, the route follows the original route for a spell
(basically to Corfe). If starting from Corfe, you will need to pick up this
alternative route towards Kingston. Once on Swyre Head, navigation should be
simple – keep the sea to your left….. You can find
more information about the area and print the map/download the GPX here.
One added benefit
of this route is that it passes by the very charming Scotts Arms in Kingston (01929
480 270) which works well for a lunch pub for the Wareham starters, as it
serves food all day on Saturday – though possibly too early for the Corfe
starters. Do keep in mind though that there is another 10 miles to go to get to
Lulworth Cove……So, for the longer walkers, a picnic may still be the best
option….
Another
lunch option for the Corfe Castle starters, may be to divert slightly off the route into
the village of Kimmeridge where there is a pub/cafe/restaurant called Clavell’s that
seems to be opened all afternoon (01929 480701).
Post walk refreshies can be had at the Lulworth Cove Inn in Lulworth Cove.
Enjoy the walk
and swim!
5 comments:
Anyone planning on doing this walk tomorrow?
yes, would not miss it....
If anyone misses the train or wants a later start, the 9.35 train connects with the 12.14 bus. You then have the option of staying on the bus to the Scott Arms 6 min beyond Corfe Castle where you may catch up with those starting the walk in Corfe Castle and will certainly be ahead of those starting in Wareham.
Seven alighted from the designated train with five opting for the long walk and two taking the bus to Corfe from the village of Wareham....a later starter met the shorter route walkers at the pub in Kingston, making for n=8 in total. The long walkers enjoyed the varied terrain across heathland and wetlands and made good progress towards Corfe until the unexpected happened....on a narrow section of path contouring the base of a hill we were caught behind a gently ambling bull (yes, a fully intact rather handsome specimen)...behind which we all walked in single file for almost a kilometer....It was really rather amusing....at the end of the path, the gentleman kindly and patiently stepped aside to let us exit the area through a gate leading to Corfe Castle....I am not sure any of us have ever spent quite so long in such close proximity of a bull.. plenty of time to examine and observe his powerful physiology....Despite this slow-down, we arrived in Kingston in good time and based on a report that the Jerk BBQ came quickly, most of us indulged in a pub lunch (relegating our picnics to the journey home) before setting off on the sea cliff portion of the route with its stunning views of the spectacular Jurassic Coast...Arriving at Worborrow Bay, 4 of the long walkers opted for an initially rather bracing, but ultimately very refreshing swim, in this remarkable setting surrounded by dramatic cliffs....The swimmers finally made it to Lullworth Cove about 19:40 where we found 2 of the shorter walkers who had enjoyed a dinner in LC after one had had a dip in LC...before catching our rather delayed taxi to whisk us away to Wool for the 20:34....one shorter walker had caught the 18:12 bus and one longer walker had caught the 19:12 bus....A full and fine summer's day in fab company.....on a w=breezy-quintessential-British-summer's-day (meaning some sun to start, followed by cloud and a few light mist showers).
n=9 actually, as 1 (slightly) earlier starter walked the 'main' walk route (the green line on the route map), ascending to the inland ridge from the Blue Pool. And without any pub lunches or other delays, she got to Lulworth Cove way before anyone else and never met the group.
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