Ramblers Routes

ramblers routes ramblers routes Britain’s best walks from the experts Britain’s best walks from the experts Southern England Southern England 09 Lulworth Ranges, Dorset 10 Westdowns to Polzeath, Cornwall l Distance 21km/13miles l Time 6½hrs l Type Coast and downland l Distance 24km/15 miles l Time 7-8hrs l Type Coast NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL walk magazine autumn 2015 walk magazine autumn 2015 plan your walk plan your walk l

l Weston-super-Mare Ilfracombe

DORSET CORNWALL

LULWORTH

troP WESTDOWNS Lyme Regis troP COVE l

l Padstow l Plymouth

Where Out-and-back walk Where Linear walk along from Lulworth Cove eastwards the coast path from oNa BarL FI PhotograPhy: over the Lulworth Ranges with Westdowns to Polzeath FIoNa BarL PhotograPhy: partly different return route. via Port Isaac. The Dorset and East Devon coast 1. START From the car park, head Viewers of ITV’s Doc Martin will be 1. START Polzeath has a large Start/end Lulworth Cove Start Westdowns, near – known as the Jurassic Coast – back up the road (a path runs very familiar with the picturesque beach car park, which fills up car park (SY822801). crossroads (SX059828). is England’s first natural World alongside) towards West Lulworth, fishing village of Port Isaac on the quickly in summer and on sunny terrain Army ranges used end Polzeath, beach car park Heritage Site. It covers 95 miles and take the first R turn, Bindon north Cornwall coast. Between weekends. Alternatively, there’s for live firing, so public access (SW936789); alternatively of stunning coastline, with rocks Road, and almost immediately here and Polzeath is a most Sea View car park nearby. Take the strictly controlled. Open at Sea View car park nearby. recording 185 million years of a footpath on the R, signed for delightful and highly scenic stretch bus from Polzeath to Westdowns, weekends (except for six a terrain Initial stretch Earth’s history, spanning the Range Walks. Ascend the hill and of the South West Coast Path, which is just before Delabole. Ask year), bank holidays and along quiet country lane Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous when you reach the fence turn much of it in the care of the to alight at the turning on the L school holidays (✆ 01929 and footpath to coast, periods. These are laid out from R up to the top of the hill. Go L National Trust, including the signed for Treligga. Walk along the 404819). The Range Walks are thereafter cliff-top walking the oldest to the youngest, through the gate – range wonderful Rumps and Pentire lane ignoring the first L turn (a marked with yellow posts. along coastal path (part of moving west to east. The Heritage boundary – and continue Points. In the other direction, drive and footpath signed to the Good downland paths and the South West Coast Path). Centre at Lulworth Cove is worth eastwards along the crest of there’s splendid cliff scenery all the coastpath) and take the next L to tracks. Stretch of the South MapS OS Explorers 109 & a visit to learn more. There is Bindon Hill. Lulworth Camp, and way north to Tintagel. A good bus Tregardock. From there, continue West Coast Path. 106; Landranger 200. probably no more popular stretch the tank ranges are over to your service links Polzeath with Port along the path signed ‘To the MapS Explorer OL15; GettinG there Stagecoach along the South West Coast Path L. You join up with the route of Isaac and from there continues Coastpath’. Soon, keep ahead Landrangers 194 & 195. bus service 584 from than that between Lulworth Cove the South West Coast Path and inland to Camelford, where a where the path forks and carry on GettinG there Bus service Wadebridge to Camelford and Durdle Door to its west. This descend to Arish Mell (superb change of bus is required (other down to a four-way path junction 104 from Wool railway via Polzeath Beach, Port route, however, avoids the crowds view on descent). than on Sundays) to reach where you join the route of the station to Lulworth Cove Isaac and Westdowns (four and heads east over the Lulworth Tintagel. This walk avoids that South West Coast Path, turning L. (Mon–Sat, twice a day); journeys daily until the end Army Ranges. The range walks are 2. From Arish Mell, it’s a steep complication by starting at service 103 on Wednesday October; not Sundays/bank very well marked. The spectacular climb up to the Iron Age hillfort Westdowns, from where it’s an 2. Route-finding should be very only (✆ 01202 338402, www. holidays during winter). First coastal stretch is part of the South known as Flower’s Barrow (you’ll easy walk to the coast, which straightforward now. Beware, damory.co.uk/routes). South Great Western trains from West Coast Path, so those walking be climbing it again later in you’ll reach roughly midway however, there are a number of West Trains from London London Paddington to this section of the national trail reverse!). More splendid views are between Tintagel and Port Isaac, steep valleys that have to be Waterloo to Wool (✆ 0871 Bodmin Parkway, Plymouth need to time it carefully. This is the reward for all the exertion. making for a more manageable descended and ascended along 200 2233, www.traveline.info). Citybus 75 to Wadebridge a superb but strenuous walk overall length. Port Isaac provides this first section to Port Gaverne. eatinG & drinkinG Nothing (✆ 0871 200 2233, www. requiring lots of stamina – not to 3. From the top of Flower’s Barrow, a good refreshment stop on ▲ en route but lots of choice at ▲ travelinesw.com). ▼ be missed, even if you cut it short. continue on the Coast Path down this glorious walk. 3. You may want to take a ▼

1 START

3 2 5 3 1 5 4 START 4 FINISH 6

FINISH Map not to scale. Map not to scale. Representation of Representation of OS Landranger OS Landranger MAP 200 1:50,000 MAPS 194 &195 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Continued... To download this route and hundreds of others, Continued... To download this route and hundreds of others, visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes Eating & drinking Port Lulworth Cove/West Lulworth. Gaverne restaurant and hotel SlEEping B&Bs in West nearby. Between Trevan and (a mile away). It’s worth a detour, (south) and follow the range (✆ 01208 880244, www. breather at Port Gaverne, before Lulworth: Cove House (✆ 01929 Carnweather Points are Epphaven and you could always rejoin the boundary down to the portgavernehotel.co.uk); the next climb to Port Isaac and 400137, www.cove house.net) Cove and Lundy Bay. (Look out for outward route by taking the path Kimmeridge Gate (where there’s Stowaways Tea Shoppe in Port back down to the harbour. As you and Bindon Bottom (✆ 01929 Lundy Hole – a few yards from the that leads directly from Tyneham an oil well). Nearby, too, there’s Isaac (✆ 01208 881083, www. continue up the lane on its west 400256, www. bindonbottom. path on your R.) Rumps Point – to Gad Cliff. During the Second a fine view over Kimmeridge Bay. stowawaysportisaac.co.uk); side, you’ll pass Fern Cottage on com); Holcombe Valley which, together with The Mouls World War, Tyneham’s inhabitants the Waterfront in Polzeath the L – the surgery in Doc Martin. Cottages self-catering island, has been visible for much of were forced to evacuate their 6. Keeping the sea on your L, (✆ 01208 869655, www. The next few miles to Port Quin (✆ 01305 852817, www. the way – is a marvellous spot, homes to allow the army to take follow the South West Coast Path waterfrontpolzeath.co.uk). take you round Varley and Kellan holcombe- cottages.co.uk). over Tyneham Valley as a training all the way back to Lulworth Cove SlEEping Port Gaverne Hotel Heads and involve a lot of steps especially for bird-watching. The ViSitor information earth ramparts of an Iron Age fort ground. They assumed they would via Gad Cliff, Flower’s Barrow, (as above); Lane End B&B and – but it’s a super stretch of coast. Purbeck TIC, Wareham can be clearly seen. return, but the land was retained Arish Mell and Mupe Bay. There’s self-catering, Port Isaac (✆ 01929 552740, www. for army use. At least MoD control a steep descent to Mupe Bay, but (✆ 01208 880013, www. 4. Port Quin inlet (pictured, visit-dorset.com). has kept development and thereafter the going is easier. Note laneendcornwall.co.uk); previous page) was once a busy 5. Pentire Point is the next guidEbookS The South West headland beyond Rumps Point, intensive farming at bay. the fascinating Fossil Forest (there’s Seaways Guesthouse, Polzeath little pilchard port, but it’s very Coast Path 2015 Guide by the and a fine viewpoint. It has a an information panel) before you (✆ 01208 862382, www. peaceful today, with just a few South West Coast Path plaque with the words in memory 4. Carry on along the Coast Path exit the ranges through another seaways-polzeath.co.uk). cottages. Carry on up the road the Association (£9.95, www.swcpa. of the Fallen, which Laurence eastwards over Gad Cliff. Beyond gate. The official Coast Path route, ViSitor information other side. Look out for a stile on co.uk); Pathfinder Guides: Dorset Binyon is said to have composed the turnoff L to Tyneham, leave as shown on the OS map, involves Padstow TIC (✆ 01841 533449, your R which gets you back on to – Walks (£11.99, Crimson, on the cliffs here. Approaching the Coast Path and continue over more ascent and descent, but at www.visitcornwall.com). the cliffs – lower and gentler than ISBN 978 1780590714). Tyneham Cap and along the ridge- most states of the tide you can guidEbook The South West the preceding section. On Doyden Polzeath, if the tide is out, you loCal ramblErS groupS can walk the last section on top path towards Kimmeridge. avoid this by walking along the Coast Path 2015 Guide by Point is a little 19th-century folly South Dorset (✆ 01305 the beach. beach at Lulworth Cove. the South West Coast Path castle, now a National Trust 269381 or 01305 262839, Route devised by Fiona Barltrop 5. At the Ridgeway Gate turn R Route devised by Fiona Barltrop Association. (£9.95, www. holiday let. Note the mineshafts www.southdorsetramblers. swcpa.co.uk). org.uk); Dorset Area Ramblers loCal ramblErS group (www.dorset-ramblers.org.uk). Camel District (Wadebridge) ✆ Ramblers ( 01208 75350; to Worbarrow Bay. A well walked www.ramblers.org.uk/ track leads inland from go-walking/group-finder/ Worbarrow (where there’s an areas/cornwall/groups/ information panel about its camel-district-wadebridge). history) to the village of Tyneham

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