Chifor one

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This is an attractive route, more than half of it on good country footpaths with some fine views over the Fleet and Chesil Beach to the sea. For nearly two miles of the southern end of the route, it runs beside a noisy road. This can easily be avoided by crossing over to the coastal path. That makes it a 5 star route. Otherwise, it's 3 star.

After the first half mile on roads out of Chickerell, the path follows country footpaths for the next three miles or so. The footpaths are mostly attractive and good quality with undergrowth trimmed back and no obstructions other than a few stiles and openable gates. I walked it on a fine May day, dry under foot. In wet or very wet weather there are occasional short muddy stretches.

After half a mile the footpath climbs slightly over Crook Hill from which there is a great view down to the Fleet lagoon, Chesil Beach and in the distance Portland, our destination. Half a mile further on, after crossing a lane, it passes through an army rifle range. Don’t try to follow the gps route when crossing the range or you will end up at a high, locked gate. Instead follow the clearly marked path, turn right at the lane on exiting the range, and you will soon be back on the gps route.

Shortly afterwards, the route passes through Littlesea Holiday Park. If you’re not using the gps, there are no signs to guide you through the park, so follow your nose: your target is the left hand end of the wooded ridge to the south of the park. When you reach the park’s central administration buildings, skirt round them to the left and, as you go up towards the wooded ridge, find your way to the left hand (east) boundary of the park. The route exits the park at its southeast corner, onto a footpath.

(If you’re following the route in the reverse direction, it’s also not obvious where the route goes, without gps. You may have to cast around a bit to find the exit near the north corner of the holiday park, where the footpath goes past a stables).

Once out of the holiday park, the route is clear. After a quarter of a mile, it briefly joins a road, then a path along the back of another holiday park, from which it exits onto Westhill Road in Wyke Regis. You can now follow the remainder of the route all the way along the roads.

But there is a more attractive option. A third of a mile down Westhill Road, where it bends sharply to the left at the entrance to Martleaves Farm campsite, turn right instead and follow the marked footpath beside the campsite. This leads down to the shore of the Fleet, where you turn left and follow the coastal path. It adds only 100m or so to the route and gives fine views across the Fleet to the Chesil. The diversion rejoins the route at the main road at Ferry Bridge.

(If heading in the reverse direction, turn left as soon as you can after crossing the Ferry Bridge, along the margin of the Fleet lagoon, and you will come to the coastal path. Follow the path for about half a mile to the first intersecting footpath, where you can turn right and rejoin the official route at its end).

For nearly two miles along the causeway to Portland, the route now runs along the footpath beside the A354, a fast and busy road. You are buffeted in the wind from passing HGVs while keeping an eye out for cyclists on the narrow shared path. You can hardly hear the numerous skylarks because of the traffic noise.

A much better option is to cross the road and join the coastal path on the old railway line, overlooking Portland Harbour and, further on, the marina. This is the route used by Slow Way Weyfor 1 and the separation from the road reduces the noise volume by over 90%.

Beyond the harbour, the climb up to Fortuneswell follows the steep Merchant’s Incline, with splendid views back over the harbour and the mainland coasts to east and west.

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