Bindon Hill to Flowers Barrow

Not a long walk at 9 miles, though a punishing walk as it was virtually all hills. Park in Lulworth, up the steep side Bindon Hill and along it's hogs back ridge with its prehistoric banks and ditches, followed by a descent in to the small bay of Arish Mell where the waste water pipe from Dorset’s atomic energy establishment site at Winfrith, then directly the citadel heights of Flowers Barrow Iron Age Hillfort rose before us, an arduous climb later the payback was glorious views along the Jurassic coast. That was the out route. After a short rest and time to absorb the beauty before us, it was the return route.  Over ancient ramparts and back down to Arish Mell, past the rusting hulks of cobbled together mutant tanks used for target practice, then up the really punishing rise to Bindon. We then turned towards the sea and down the slippery grass slope with its loose tracks to the rocky bay of Mupe.  With it's rock stack, buckled geology and secret smuggler cave (a proper one!), Mupe Bay is straight out of an adventure story.  It's hard going, the coast here is jumbled rocks, some stable, some not. Once up from the bay it's along the coast to Lulworth Cove, with a quick detour to the fossil forest, described as "one of the most complete fossilized forest of any age", now closed to the public due to access problems, still do-able though. Finally Lulworth Cove and back to the car. Lulworth Cove's great, though a tedious walk (as pebbles always are), especially at the end of a walk, and a notorious honey pot, especially on good days. A great walk, taxing, though well worth the inevitable aching to come. 

Mupe

One of the up sides of climate change and the erratic weather it manifests is the possibility of a summers day at any time of the year, which is nice. Of course, that's my attempt at irony. Although, the day was quite spiffing. The sky was blue, and for the most part cloud free, the sun though waning still showed its power, the air was warm and still, the sea was calm and Mupe Bay on the Purbeck coast was sublime.  Enthusiasm led us to the summit of Bindon Hill in record time, where upon the full majesty of the Jurassic coast was laid out before us, a visual feast. Near the high point of Cockpit Head a sign proclaims 'Danger Cliff', no shit! The decent from the head to the bay is a steep mix of chalky single track and irregular steps, and better taken gentle lolloping gait, although it takes it out of your legs and does required fluid movements as well as complete concentration, you do descend and reach the bottom quickly. 

The bays beach is pebbly and drops off into deep water almost as soon as you enter the water. Though it's not the beach today, no, it's around the headland to the rocky cove known as Bacon Hole, with its limestone stack, rocks and ledges.  The tide was out, exposing the ledges, creating rock pools and allowing access to some of the large intertidal rocks.  It was beautiful, and as previously mentioned, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was high summer. The water looked inviting, and I thought, had I brought board-shorts I'd have gone for a swim. Then I thought, I've got a micro towel in my bag, and there was no one about, so what the hey. A skinny dip it was. It's amazing, the removal of that last garment is in some strange way liberating and freeing. Weird. The sea was warm, 18 degrees I heard later from a diving friend, though although warm it was still refreshing physically and spiritually, floating in natures beauty. It wasn't long ago that I'd have never dreamed of doing that, though now, I can't imagine missing the opportunity to swim. Once refreshed and dressed we continued around Bacon Hole, past the smugglers cave with its secluded little room and up onto the Portland freestone slabs (over hung by towering and seemingly fragile cliff) which protrude at 45 degrees out into the sea.  From here we had great views back across the stack and rocks. I've been here numerous times, today I was scared. The further slab, usually a clean surface, was covered in loose which had fallen from the cliff face. Enough to say, we didn't stay long. 

After a clamber around the slabs from a while we tracked back around Bacon Hole, over the ledges and back to the coastal path. The last picture is taken from the cliff top above Bacon Head, where the views eastwards across the bay and along the distant rocky Jurassic coastline were magnificent. Another fantastic walk through a magical landscape and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.