Abbotsbury to Weymouth - Friday 21st August 2015
Path Facts - Length: 14 miles, ascent 922 ft
8am breakfast. Into town to get an M&S take away for lunch then to the bus stop to catch the X43 at 9.05 to Abbotsbury. This was a bit tight but carried out with military precision. Particularly the sandwich selection bit. Weather overcast but humid and warm.
Started walking at about 9.40am and took a slight unplanned detour at the start from Abbotsbury but picked up the path at the swannery. The first part of this walk is inland then it cuts down to the edge of the Fleet. After this point the sea is mostly hidden behind Chesil Beach. So one of the less coastal bits of a coast path, but pleasant enough.
Stopped at Moonfleet Manor about midday for a pot of tea and "free" homemade biscuit. Call me cynical, but the second after the thought, "Oh, free biscuit" was "What are they going to charge for the tea", as we didn't ask in advance. Turns out £7 for tea for two and two "free" biscuits. Fairly posh lounge area in the hotel but we went in the garden with the light drizzle! We know our
place.
Had lunch at a picnic bench next to the campsite at East Fleet Farm. This was about 1pm I think.
Stopped again at a campsite shop at Littlesea Holiday Park for drinks & snacks.
We deviated from the official route a bit today due to the logistics of the next couple of days. Officially, the path is from Abbotsbury to Weymouth Ferry Bridge (where Weymouth joins the causeway to Portland). This is about 11 miles. But this would give us a particularly long day on Sunday when we have a bus to catch from the finish & Andy was planning to travel home. Hence we carried on past Ferry Bridge round the coastal route to Weymouth Harbour, ignoring Portland for the time being until tomorrow. This makes today's route about 14 miles and reasonably flat.
Stopped yet again (could be a record today) for tea at Sandsfoot Castle. This stretch is quite built up and follows some cycle way and quiet streets on the SE edge of Weymouth. The path cuts through Nothe Gardens next to the fort and down through the harbour. Arrived at the harbour about 4.30pm.
Apparently I've now got a seagull obsession...
The strategy for this section of path was to base at one B&B in Weymouth and walk a few days using buses to get to and from start and finish points. This makes sense with regard to the Portland loop and is also fairly useful for the stretch either side of Weymouth. Also means you can walk with a day pack rather than carrying a week's gear with you. Makes walking a fair bit easier.
Went out for food/beer at one of two local Wetherspoons which was more than passable. Went to see the latest Mission Impossible film which was fairly terrible with the cheesiest plot (the holey kind). Rebecca Ferguson was the film's only redeeming feature.
Info
Accommodation - Greenwood Guest House
Location ***
Room ***
Facilities ***
Noise ** the nearby road was busier than expected and with warm nights the windows needed to be open.
Food ****
Ambience ***
Price **** £66 for the room
Food – The Swan (Wetherspoons)
Quality ****
Price *****
Beer - The Swan (Wetherspoons)
Ruddles Best
Doom Bar
