Organiser – Richie
Where – YHA Litton Cheney, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9AT
When – 5th-7th April 2019 (Fri-Sun)
Cost – From £119.00 (includes 2 nights’ accommodation and guided walks)

Summary

For this weekend we are visiting the stunning Word Heritage Site of Dorset Jurassic Coast.  We will depart on Friday after work and make our way to the coast (car sharing will be available for those that need it and options will be announced nearer the time).  Our accommodation is YHA Litton Cheney, ideally located for our hikes over the weekend and is only a 2-3 hour drive from West London, meaning a decent arrival time on Friday evening, and the chance to do a decent walk on the Sunday – and still be back in London at a good time later on Sunday evening.

Durdle Door

Litton Chaney is surrounded by the beautiful rolling Dorset countryside and it is all we need for a great stay.  Bedding is provided and there are showers and toilets, large dining room, a fully equipped self-catering kitchen and a lounge plus a drying room.  If you are self-catering, you will need to bring your own food for breakfasts, dinners and packed lunches.

YHA Litton Cheney

On Saturday after breakfast we will have a short drive to Lulworth Cove (an attractive fishing port) where our walk begins.  Once there, we will start our 20km walk which initially heads around the cove and up onto the coastal path towards the deserted ghost village of Tyneham!  Our return route bring us back into Lulworth where we will continue to follow the coast which closely passes the magnificent and famous Durdle Door (a Natural Arches and part of the Lulworth Estate and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site) providing stunning views and picture opportunities.  We will then head back to the accommodation for a hot shower and then most of the group are likely to eat their evening meal at a local pub which will be booked nearer the time – or you can self-cater at the hostel.

Lulworth Cove

On Sunday after breakfast, we drive to Chideock which is approx 20 minute drive from the accommodation, and we will park the vehicles there.  Our walk is 15km and is based upon the televised Best Walks with a View (Julia Bradbury).  From Chideock our route heads to Symondsbury then up to Colmer’s Hill (near-conical sandstone eminence – topped by pine trees) and admire its views.  Our route then takes us over to Hardown Hill via North Chideock and Hell Lane (an ancient Anglo Saxon track used by smugglers).  The route now continues towards Golden Cap, a steep climb in places but worth it for the stunning views – Golden Cap is the highest cliff on the entire south coast at 191m, and is England’s only Natural World Heritage site.  We then descend towards Seatown – and an opportunity to have lunch, or just an ice-cream, at an award winning local coastal pub.  After lunch we have a short 15min walk back to the vehicles.  We will depart back to London – you can expect to be back in London by about 6-7pm Sunday evening.

Golden Cap