10.8km along the coast and 12km inland
The forecast for today was good, but getting worse with rain and wind in the next couple of days so we thought that we should take advantage and have a fairly long walk directly from the campsite at Highlands End.
This took us directly to West Bay and then across a golf course to a huge campsite called “Burton Freshwater” we had stayed at this campsite a long time ago – in a previous van “Sam”.
Then through the village, much nicer when you walk rather than drive along the main road. A footpath took us across the hills to the National Trust carpark called Cogden Bay, and from here we followed a suggested NT permissive rout above the coast before descending to the coastal path, we then followed a rather wet route, and then the shingle to West Bexington to stop for lunch.
Back on the Official Coastal path and then along the “summer” route (I’m not sure whether May is summer or winter) to start and then inland, rather easier, Chesil shingle is hard work, and eventually to the Hive.
We have known the Hive for many years as in has changed from a simple beach café to a popular destination, but we were glad to stop for a Kelly’s Ice Cream.
It looked a simple walk over the hill to West Bay, but there was a serious down and up and the a steep decent to Wet Bay for a welcome takeaway tea by the harbour and the around the harbour before ascending back to the campsite for a beer.
