ramblers routes ramblers routes Britain’s best walks from the experts Britain’s best walks from the experts Southern

Southern England 06/02/2015 11:07 09 Isle of Portland, Dorset 10 Peninsula, l Distance 14 km/9 miles l Time 4½hrs l Type Coast l Distance 25km/16 miles l Time 7½hrs l Type Coast NaVIGaTION LEvEL FITNESS LEvEL NaVIGaTION LEvEL FITNESS LEvEL walk magazine spring 2015 walk magazine spring 2015 plan your walk plan your walk

Dorchester l l l DORSET Poole

Weymouth CORNWaLL l l Plymouth l

ISLE OF PORTLaND LIzaRD POINT

Where: Circular walk Where: Linear walk from round the Isle of Portland. , near , PhotograPhy: fiona barltroP PhotograPhy: Start/end: New Ground to . fiona barltroP PhotograPhy: parking area above Start: National Trust The Isle of Portland is unlike block of limestone, which has Cornwall’s wonderful coastline is The walk starts from the National Fortuneswell (SY690731). Degibna car park, south anywhere else in Dorset; or, for been heavily quarried over the a pleasure to walk at any time of Trust’s Penrose Estate alongside terrain: Coastal cliff-top of Helston (SW653252). that matter, anywhere along the years, as you’ll see on this year but especially in the spring, Cornwall’s largest natural paths and tracks along the end: Lizard village – bus , of which memorable circuit of the Isle. when it’s at its most colourful, freshwater lake, Loe Pool. well-signed England Coast stop (SW704125). it officially became a part in 2003. with the cliff edges fringed with Path National Trail. terrain: Mostly grassy While not beautiful, it is rugged 1. START From the New Ground pink thrift and other wild flowers. 1. START Walk back out of the MapS: OS Explorer OL15; cliff-top coastal path, with an and full of interest, with some parking area (SY690731), head east This glorious stretch of the Coast car park (SW653252) and turn R Landranger 194. initial stretch on lakeside impressive cliff scenery and along the green parallel to the Path along the western side of along a track. Soon afterwards, GettinG there: Frequent path and a final section on splendid views. Despite its name, road, keeping close to the wooden the Lizard Peninsula takes you turn L through a gap in the hedge bus service no 1 runs daily quiet country lane. it is, in fact, joined to the mainland fence to enjoy the views. You’ll to the British mainland’s most to follow a footpath, initially from Weymouth to Portland, MapS: OS Explorer 103; by the shingle ridge of Chesil pass an information board about southerly point. Scenic gems across open fields. The path turns L with an additional open-top Landranger 203. Beach, which stretches northwest the Verne Local Nature Reserve. en route include picture-postcard then R (signed for Carminowe) and bus (501) in the summer. GettinG there: First Bus along the coast to West Bay. For Continue along the road towards and beautiful continues down through the Trains from Weymouth link service no 2 from about half the beach’s length, it is the Verne Citadel, a huge fortress , with dramatic cliff trees. Keep ahead when another with Dorchester and London to Falmouth goes via separated from the mainland by built by convicts in the 19th scenery all the way. The name path joins from the L. Just beyond (✆ 0871 200 2233, Helston (regular daily an area of saline water called the century to defend Portland Lizard, incidentally, has nothing is a fork. You could continue on www.travelinesw.com). services); First Bus service Fleet Lagoon. You’ll have a good Harbour. It occupies a commanding to do with the reptile. It’s most down to Carminowe Creek and eatinG & drinkinG: Heights no 37 from Lizard to view of the beach and lagoon at position on the highest point of probably a corruption of the turn R, but it’s better to go Hotel (bar, bistro and coffee also stops at the start of the walk. Also in view Portland, protected by cliffs and Cornish ‘Lys Ardh’, meaning through the gate on the R, which shop), Portland (✆ 01305 Helston (regular daily is Portland Harbour, one of the surrounded by a great ditch (a ‘high court’. By pure coincidence gives access to the field. You’ll 821361, www.heightshotel. services). Mainline trains world’s largest man-made huge dry moat). The stone only, much of the peninsula is soon reach a long boardwalk, com); Fancy’s Family Farm, stop at Penzance and harbours, built between 1849 and removed from here was used for composed of a rock called which leads you across the creek. Portland (✆ 07810 485351, Falmouth (✆ 0871 200 2233, 1872 by convicts. It was a Royal the building of the Portland serpentine – long used for The footpath continues along the www.fancysfarm.co.uk); www.traveline.info). Navy base for many years until breakwater. From 1903, the citadel ornaments. The Lizard Peninsula is south side of Carminowe Creek, an Lobster Pot Restaurant, eatinG & drinkinG: it was sold in 1996. In 2012, the was used as an infantry barracks also renowned as the birthplace of arm of Loe Pool, which is cut off

Portland Bill (✆ 01305 820242, Mullion Cove Hotel harbour was used for the Olympic and became a prison in 1949. In modern communication, as it’s from the sea by Loe Bar – a broad

www.lobsterpotrestaurant (✆ 01326 240328, www. and Paralympic Games sailing 2014, it was converted into an where Marconi undertook some of shingle bank. Originally, it was the

portland.co.uk). mullion-cove.co.uk); Top ▲ ▲ ▼

immigration removal centre. his pioneering radio experiments. mouth of the . ▼ events. Portland itself is a massive 63-64 WALK46 RR SOUTHERN.indd 1 §

Ordnance Survey mapping ©Crown copyright 2015 Ordnance Survey. Media 019/15

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2 of short-signed diversions (through adjoining quarries) north of Allow time to explore Weston. the sculptures in old Tout Quarry near the end. At a tarmac path junction, leave the Coast Path and turn R (signed for New Ground) to return the start. Route devised by Fiona Barltrop 5. The return leg along the west side of Portland provides fine, walking with great cliff-top airy, views. It is straightforward enough, but there are a couple

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FINISH START START Map not to scale. Representation of OS Landranger MAP 194 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk 5 To download this route and hundreds of others, of others, hundreds and route this download To www.ramblers.org.uk/routes visit Turn sharp L downhill and, at the 3. Turn bottom, turn R along the route of the old railway line. From ruins of Rufus Castle, steps lead down to Church Ope Cove (detour R to see the 13th-century church ruins). 4. The Coast Path heads back uphill and turns L along the road for a little distance, before turning L along a footpath back to theoff coast. Continue along the top of to Portland Bill. Thelow cliffs lighthouse (pictured on previous page) replaced two older ones, one of which now houses the Portland Bird Observatory.

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The South Heights Hotel nformation: nformation: i ambler S g 01305 267992, r al itor 01305 268874, www. 01305 852817, www. 01305 262839, www. ✆ ✆ ✆ Sleeping: Sleeping: Vi S uidebook: g uidebook: loC (as before) or there’s a wide (as before) or there’s range of B&Bs and hotels self-catering in Weymouth; options in the area include Greenwood Grange cottages ( greenwoodgrange.co.uk) and Cottages Holcombe Valley ( holcombe-cottages.co.uk). Heights Hotel, Yeates Road, Heights Hotel, Yeates Portland (as before); Dorchester TIC, Antelope ( ✆ Walk www.visit-dorset.com). Coast Path Guide , West revised and updated annually (£9.95, published Coast by the South West Path Association, www.swcp.org.uk). South Dorset Ramblers ( southdorsetramblers.org.uk). Continued... 2. Follow the road as it bends R, Family Farm on passing Fancy’s your L. Continue along the rough road beside the high security fence on your L. Over to R High Angle Battery, is the Verne built c.1892 to house six guns, whose purpose was to fire heavy shells at a high angle up in the and onto theair over the cliffs decks of enemy ships. Keep ahead along the track over open ground. Bear R as signed you approach a building, the Old aboveEngine Shed, on the cliffs (information the East Weare panels provide more details). The Coast Path continues along a road, beside the high fence of a young institution on your R.offenders’ There are good views eastwards oftowards the chalk cliffs mainland Dorset. Continue until where just before a tall chimney, you’ll see a blue Coast Path sign pointing L.

Ordnance Survey mapping ©Crown copyright 2015 Ordnance Survey. Media 019/15

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scenery (pictured on previous page). At Kynance Cove, you can cross the beach if tide is out. a short walk from Lizard 4. It’s Point inland to the village of Lizard (along the roadside path). the bus back to Helston and Take alight at the hospital stop. Just beyond, turn L along Degibna Lane to get back the car park. Route devised by Fiona Barltrop Map not to scale. Representation of OS Landranger MAP 203 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk 3

START START 1 2 To download this route and hundreds of others, hundreds and route this download To visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes visit you’ll come to the Marconi It wasmonument on the cliffs. from Poldhu Point on 12 December 1901 that Marconi sent the first transatlantic radio signal. The After Marconi Centre is nearby. Polurrian Cove you’ll reach the Mullion Cove Hotel, splendidly top aboveperched on the cliff the cove. From here, descend to the cove and harbour. 3. The final section to Lizard Point provides more splendid cliff

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✆ ✆ , revised and The South West The South West 01736 335530, ✆ Mullion Cove Hotel nformation: nformation: i ambler S group: r , wrecked on Loe Bar in al itor 01326 240421, www. 01736 740542, www. uidebook: uidebook: ✆ ✆ When you reach Loe Bar, turn When you reach Loe Bar, loC Sleeping: Vi S g House Inn, Lizard ( 290974, www.thetophouse lizard.co.uk); cafés at Poldhu Beach, Mullion Cove, Kynance Cove and Lizard Point. House Inn (see and Top above); Polurrian Bay Hotel 335 1287, www.nationaltrust cottages.co.uk). Penzance National Trust Centre, Station Visitor Approach ( www.visitcornwall.com). Coast Path Guide updated annually (£9.95, published by the South West Coast Path Association, www.swcp.org.uk). Cornwall (Penwith West & ) Ramblers polurrianhotel.com); other B&Bs in Mullion and Lizard village (visit www. visitcornwall.com/ accommodation). National cottages and bunkhouse Trust located at Penrose ( ramblers.org.uk). ( ( Continued... L and follow the Coast Path from here on, keeping the sea on your R. Note the memorial cross soon after you leave the beach. This commemorates the loss of of the life-saving rocket line apparatus. Looking back, you can see beyond Loe Bar. At a fork, the Coast Path bears R to Fishing Cove, then goes onto the National Trust’s Baulk Head and descends from to ,Halzephron Cliff where the picturesque 15th- century church is tucked into the cove on its north side. The next cove is Poldhu, and beyond this 1807, when many men were drowned. It led to the invention Anson 2.

63-64 WALK46 RR SOUTHERN.rev1.indd 2 10/02/2015 11:37