SWC Walk 75
(sort of reprise): 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 can
then either catch a number 40 bus from just outside the station at 11:11
(arriving at Corfe at 11:29) or take a train from Wareham at 11:17 (arriving at
Corfe at 11:35). 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: X54 17:23 (arriving
Wool 17:36) or bus 30 18:12 (arriving Wool 18:30). Return trains from Wool are at 17:45; 18:45; 19:45 and 20:34. Buy a day return to Wool.
This is one
of my favorite coastal walks with stunning cliffs soaring to the sky and
swooping to the sea….Last year, we explored a new 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. I enjoyed the new route so much, I could
not resist re-posting it this summer…..hopefully, with some heather on route across the heathland from Wareham to Corfe....
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.
The route 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, regardless of route, a picnic may still be the best
option….
Another lunch
option for the Corfe Castle starters, may be to divert off the route into the
village at Kimmeridge, there appeared to be a pub in that direction when we
passed through last year, though, I have been unable to fund out further
information about its existence and serving times……
Post walk
refreshies can be had at the Lulworth Cove Inn in Lulworth Cove.
Enjoy the
walk and swim!
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18 comments:
The 'pub' in Kimmeridge is Clavell's Restaurant. It's really a pub/restaurant, with a large beer garden at the front. Serves food all afternoon.
Any advice on cheapest tickets? Thanks.
i hope to do this Dorset doddle as it is one of my fave walks Jane the sandwich shop in Corfe Castle is excellent
For those preferring a later start while still enjoying all the coastal section there is another option: catch the 9.35 train to Wareham followed by the 12.11 bus, but instead of getting off at Corfe Castle, stay on the bus another 6 min to the Scott Arms at Kingston.
You will arrive there at approximately the same time as those starting the walk in Corfe. I say this with confidence as this is what I did last year!
Hello,
I am intending to join you on this hike, along with two other friends
In the description it says that we should buy a day return to Wool.
I am a little confused here because you said that the starting point is Wareham ( and not Wool) yet the return is from Wool station
So normally we should two single-route tickets (one from london to Wareham and the other from Wool to London)
Could you please clarify this
Could Stargazer gaze on the questions, please? Cheers.
The walk starts in Wareham and finishes in Lulworth cove where you then take a bus or taxi to Wool station. Since Wool station is further away, a day return to Wool will cover both your outward and return journeys and would be the most cost efficient ticket. Cheers, Stargazer
Thank you, Stargazer.
Hello,
Thanks for replying
I have checked the national rail website, apparently there's no train heading to Wool(thus passing by Wareham) and leaving London at 8:35, I found 08:05 and 09:05 as departure times
Could you please advise on which of these trains should I take?
Hi again, in the morning we are going to Wareham, a stop before Wool. A return ticket to Wool is valid to Wareham. In the evening, we will return from Wool. Cheers, Karen
Hello Karen,
I just want to know at what time we are gathering at Waterloo station, in order to go together?
Can we precise a meeting point and a time please?
Can someone meet me at waterloo station under the huge clock at 7.45 a.m. 8 a.m. the latest to buy a group saver ticket? If no one confirms i cant go...
We typically meet on the train platform where the walk starts...in this case Wareham....the group is usually quite obvious.....
We are pretty independent , so group save doesn't tend to work. A Network railcard gives the same discount.
I'm getting the 0935 & walking from Corfe
PeterG.. thank you for your reply. I do not have a network rail card but was hoping teo people might happen to go to Wareham to catch the 830am train. It looks like there is no one else but me. So i am going to abort my plans because i do not think i will pay the full price of ticket cost.
Stargazer thank you for your reply. I gather that we meet at Wareham for the start of the walk... but i do not have a railcard. I was hoping to find others who is in the same boat as me who happen to be doing this walk tomorrow and may want to join me to buy a group save ticket. Thats all
A simple solution to not having a Network Railcard is to buy one. It pays for itself very quickly if you are a regular walker, and means you are independent. Google it. Having one also means you are more aware of the rip-off prices charged by some Meetup-only walking groups.
17 emerged from the official train and assembled on the platform (including 1 relative newcomer and 2 first-timer friends) and following the usual formalities, we divided into two groups -- 7 opting for the full monty long-haul route direct from Wareham station and 10 choosing the shorter route starting in Corfe Castle (of these most took the new train service from Wareham to Corfe; while 1 took the bus and reconnected with the others in Corfe); two late starters took the bus to Corfe and one other to Kingston, making for a total of n=20 on this Dorset delight under w=light-clouds-clearing-in-the-evening.
One of the Corfe walkers stopped in the pub in Kingston for a drink and lite bite and met up with the late Kingston starter, eventually, these two reconnected with the rest of the Corfe starters who had picnics at Swyre Head....Many butterflies were spotted on route to Worborrow Bay where 8 swam and 1 paddled....This group arrived in Lulworth Cove with time to dine, with some going to the pub and others a fish and chip shop...To some surprise, they bumped into one of the late Corfe starters who had walked the original "inland ridge" route directly to Lulworth Cove.
Meanwhile, the long walkers saw some stags and donkeys on the traverse across the heath where the heather is only just beginning to show some color and enjoyed an alfresco churchyard picnic where we met one of the late Corfe starters -- two of this group then set off for the rest of the walk; while the others washed their lunch down with a quick half in the garden of the pub with its expansive views to Corfe and beyond. Amply refreshed, we set off for the real highlight of the route, the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast...we caught up with the two who had set off from Kingston earlier in Worborrow Bay where 4 went swimming (making for a total of 12 swimmers for the day) before completing the epic journey in soft evening sunshine, arriving in Lulworth Cove in time for a drink and some chips before our awaiting chariots whisked us away to Wool for the 8:34 train and a jolly journey home....
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