Please excuse the tired expression, but this was towards the end of a lot of walking through the day.
We hade a lovely day walking around Corfe, and then around St.Aldhelm's Head and Winspit. I hope you enjoy just taking a walk through the day with us as you go through the photos.
We arrive at Corfe, and Amanda togs up against the bitterly cold wind.
The main street in Corfe, with the castle in the background.
Down a lane, and the 800 year old church.
The castle, built in the 11th century. We had a nice cup of tea and a toasted tea cake in the cafe here.
A limestone quarry on the path from Worth Matravers to St.Aldhelm's Head.
A view of some of the Jurassic coast from the quarry area.
The cottages, and St. Aldhelms Chapel, on the cliff top.
The path, looking back away from the head.
The chapel, also about 800 years old, was used by monks etc using the pligrims trail from Penzance to London. No doubt a welcome stop on the long walk.
When entering, the three foot thick walls and heavy oak door soon shut out the freezing wind from the inside of this ancient place.
And I made my first prayer of the year sat here.
Then it was off along the coast path, past the coastguard lookout, and on to Winspit.
Breathtaking views everywhere.
Some very old, abandoned building ruins, where there was once a thriving quarry community.
The path along the cliff top was very muddy and slippery.
And we finally arrived at the dissused quarry caves at Winspit.
In the photo above, you can just make out the climbers on the cliff face. I don't mind a bit of climbing on Granite, but limestone is notoriously unstable and crumbly, and so there is always a danger of the rocks giving way.
The sea was spectacular, and this idiot thought that he was clever. His poor dog kept getting washed in as he threw it's stick into the water! This, and he had children.....such a good example eh?
The day was coming to an end.
And so after taking what were hundreds of photos, I had a quick look inside the caves.
Long since abandoned, they were haunting and still. The roof only supported by a few stone pillars.
I would come here as a youth, and the stress fractures in the roof have become numerous and large. One day, maybe even when someone is inside the caves, the roof will collapse.
Not today though.
We took the long and sloping path back up to Worth, Amanda set off for The Square & Compass via the village pond, I headed a mile or so the other way to retrieve the van, and then met her at the pub. A roaring fire, Christmas tree, good ale and whisky, room packed with people talking and dogs laying all over the floor....a pretty darned perfect day!
TTFN
