Trekking to The Dorset Coast on 30/5

My nephew came to visit my family on 29/5 and we will go to Ireland for holidays together. We  went to the Dorset Coastline. Dorset's Coastline forms the sea fringe of one of southern England's loveliest and most rural counties, a glorious stretch of beaches, downs and cliffs that runs from Bournemouth in the east to Lyme Regis in the west.

We drove about three and half hours to reach Lulworth Cove. We parked our car at the car park for 5.00 gbp and there were cafes, restaurants and a visitors' office near the car park.  We had fish and chips for lunch and start walking up hills toward the Durdle Door Arch. It was a long way uphill to the Durdle Arch. The hills were surrounded by the sea and on top of the cliffs or hills were heathland.

When we reached the top of the cliffs there was a broken stairs leading down to the beach. We went down to take some photos of the Durdle Door Arch.

Lulworth Cove is part of England's first Natural World Heritage designated by UNESCO. The Dorset and East Devon coastline is a spyhole into 185 million years of Earth's history.  At Lulworth the rocks dating from the Upper Jurassic (150 million years ago).

There were five types of rock exposed in these cliffs. Each formed underwater and later tilted as continents collided. The tough Portland Stone breached by the sea, creating Durdle Door the stacks which describe the coastline of 10,000 years ago. Softer rock behind have been washed away leaving an eroding line of chalk cliffs.

After we had took some pictures of the Durdle Door, we walk up to the hills to another limestones cliffs.  Similar as the other one, there was walking trek or stairs leading to the beach  of this limestone cliffs.

By the times we walk back to the car park it was already 5.00 p.m. so we walk to the other side of the Lulworth Cove. There were lot of B&B and restaurants around this side of the cove. As we were not staying a nite at this place so we followed the trek to the beach leading to the hills to the "Stair Hole".

The beach of near Stair Hole was enclose by the hills and there were some repair works to keep this national reserve. We didn't want to waste too much times on the beach so walk up to the hills. There were lot of notices  around the edge of the cliffs and hills to warn tourists not to go too close to the edges due to landslides.

Similar to Durdle Door Arch, Stair Hole was form by erosion. Stair Hole is sculpted from 3 rock types. The sedimentary rocks fromed underwater and later tilted as continents colided. There have since been continually worn by the sea. The Portland Stone that faces the sea was breached by waves attacking a weak point or crack. Small cracks were enlarged into caves that collapse to form arches and then deintegrate to leave behind stacks. A blow hole has formed high up in cliff to release air pressure in the cave as huge waves pound through. The softer Purbeck and Wealden Beds have been washed away creating a series of small coves.

After taking some photos of these cliffs we went to Weymouth.  We had our dinner at a pub and then walking in the town centre.  We went to look for B&B near the pier and got 2 rooms at 85.oo gbp for without breakfast.  Left our luggage in the rooms we went to the beach and in time to see a light show. But unfortunately, all the tourists and locals sitting on the beach awaiting for this show but nothing turn up.

My father-in-law used to have a restaurant in this town and had sold out about 30 years ago and now is India Restaurant. My husband couldn't stop himself  walking down there through memory lanes and have a look to see what happened to it now.

While we walking along the pier, we had some good times when the locals crack some jokes on the local councils. The light show was meant for Olympic 2012 as this town will have hold a sailing events.  The beautiful palm trees planted along the pier to make it look beautiful with lights on were just planted 2 days ago.  The beautiful benches where we sat were also put on there just 2 days ago. When ask why the bus stations around here are with sheltered and with bus timetables on where in our areas we didn't have this facilities.  The locals told us that the councils had all these made within this week and all for Olympics but then the councils cut cost on all others. Ohmygod, what a nite we have and till about 10.30 p.m. the light show finally really working and we start to take photos of this show.

We went back to the B&B around 11.00 p.m. and were totally knackered after the day out.

Place: Lulworth Cove and Weymouth
Scored:  5 stars
Pictures: By Catherine Tan
Dated: 30/5/2012