Golden Cap

24 October 2021

Golden Cap is the highest point on the south coast of Britain, 191 metres. I’ve seen it every time I’ve driven past, that’s over years and years, I’m almost Jurassic myself. It’s been a bit of a mental block for me since I embarked on my mission to walk the coast path. I’d hate to have walked 628 miles and failed to have done the couple of miles up and down The Cap! I know there are higher points on the north coast but I don’t see them so often so they’ve not bothered me so far…..they probably will, just not yet. So a plan was hatched, what if I just walk up and down Golden Cap and don’t go any further that day. I could do it very, very slowly and stop very very often. How hard can it be? Well, as it turns out, not so very hard at all. Silly me! I can do it and now I’d jolly well better do the other tough bits while my legs will still carry me. Tom came along for moral support. Seatown beach car park is underneath the great lump that is Golden Cap. We planned a 4 mile circular walk of which about 2 miles is actual coast path. The walk is referred to as strenuous, you only have to look up to see that could be an understatement but the track is well marked. The climb begins immediately and it is relentless. That’s the way to do it said Mr Punch and he’s right, after a while we stopped to draw breath and looked back. Very comforting to see how much vertical distance we’d covered. I was waiting to get to the perpendicular stretch but it didn’t come. It’s a steep climb alright but with various sets of steps it wasn’t too bad and plenty of resting spots along the way. Thus, I arrived at the top without the need for oxygen and with breath left to admire the splendid view in both directions. Exhilarating it was, impossible it certainly wasn’t. The western side comprises a loooong winding staircase. A short way down the zig zags was a nice bench crying out for picnickers, we obliged, cheering on those passing down and encouraging those climbing up. Perhaps the bench was intended for the uphill walkers but who else was to know which way we were going. At the bottom we peeled off toward Langdon woods to continue our circular walk back to Seatown. Just the gaps from Charmouth to the foot of Golden cap on the western side and then from Seatown eastwards to do. Those cliffs to the east look pretty scary…………………..

134.8 approximate total;)