Weyswa three

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A thoroughly enjoyable, if a little strenuous, walk. I walked it from Weymouth to Swanage in mid August, it was very dry and hot with a pleasent sea breeze. It is relatively easy to follow, as in the main it stays to the well marked Coast Path National Trail. There are steep climbs and descents mostly with steps. As Helen and Paddy have said you do need to check that the paths through the firing ranges are open, especially during the week. Take sufficient water and food. There are opportunities for snacks and ice creams etc along the way. I walked it at a fair pace in 11 hours, but to fully enjoy it I would reccomend breaking the route into two sections. A quality walk with outstanding views.

I was walking the entire SWCP and this Slow Way followed part of it. First off, it's actually a stunning stretch of coast, but on the other hand it's too far to walk in a day. I walked from Weymouth to Lulworth one day, then Lulworth to Kingston the following day. That much of the Slow Way I can comment about, because my next day was exclusively along the SWCP to Swanage, while the Slow Way runs entirely inland. Anyway, getting out of Weymouth is easy as it's just a promenade walk. The cliffs build up gradually from Bowleaze Cove to Osmington Mills and Ringstead, and all those places offer food and drink. Afterwards, there are higher cliffs and some very steep ascents and descents, passing Scratchy Bottom, where everything is dangerous and you're not allowed to do anything! Most of the way to the famous Durdle Door, any chance of me getting good pictures was thwarted by mist covering the cliffs. A hard surfaced and immensely busy path runs from there to Lulworth Cove.

You need to check that the Lulworth Ranges are open, otherwise your walk grinds to a halt at this point. Check https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lulworth-access-times/lulworth-range-walks-and-tyneham-village-access-times-2025 - and presumably if you keep changing the year at the end, it will keep up to date in the future. If you can get access to the ranges, then you can enjoy some splendid cliff coast walking, but it's hard work in places. I was surprised when an 'ice cream speedboat' suddenly turned up at Worbarrow Bay, but I was too slow, so I had to wait until I exited the range at Kimmeridge Bay to visit the snack cabin in the car park. The cliffs continue to be scenic, but every time I visit I notice that the path has moved back a bit from the crumbling edges. A rockfall a couple of years ago destroyed the SWCP on Houns-tout Cliff, but a new path now avoids the edge.

The Slow Way is entirely inland from here to Swanage, so I can't comment about it. I followed the course of the SWCP, which is longer and no doubt much more scenic. I'm giving the route five stars for its scenery, but remember that the best bits are inside the Lulworth Ranges, so please check that it's open before you head there.

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