West Bay to East Brexington

28 December 2021

Today was very different to our previous walk, a real winter’s day; cold, wet and windy. Still, we’re not fair weather walkers. Oh no we’re not. It is Panto season remember. The usual suspects turned up and there was some transport jiggling to enable a one way walk. At least the wind was on our backs as we set off but it was a steeeeep hill to get us going. The coast line takes a constant battering and cliff falls are frequent. Lest we forget, huge cracks run along the seaward side of our route reminding us to keep away from the edge. It’s an up and down walk, beside Bridport golf club, through several caravan parks, open fields and finally marsh and pebbles. The cliffs around West Bay and Burton Bradstock are where the TV series Broadchurch was filmed. They definitely had better weather. At the eastern end of Freshwater beach there seemed no way across the river. In warmer weather we may have waded across the 20 feet but today was not the day so we slogged upstream with no idea if there was going to be a crossing point any time before the B3157. It was a rickety bridge when we found it but the trolls allowed us over and then we slogged all the way back to the coast path. Those with 4 legs and maybe one of the 2 legged crew didn’t seem to mind the diversion and the very steep climb once we were back on track. Finally there was a view of West Brexington and not a hill, incline or bump in the way. Note to self: Just because it’s flat does not mean it’s easy. It rained, the path diverted inland to flooded, boggy ground with only one way through. That would be the wet way. It was with much relief that we got back to the beach and a straight run back to the car, just visible with the naked eye. Another set back. These are the pebbles of Chesil bank fame and they are not easy walking. Great for honing the calf muscles but little else. Legend says that local people know exactly where they are on Chesil beach just by the size of the pebbles. We were on the extreme west end and the pebbles were still babies. Very excitable babies that took pleasure jumping into boots. In the end it was just easier to walk in discomfort than to keep taking the boots off. I was very happy to see the car getting larger and larger but it was painfully slow progress. We made it! That was one of the hardest walks………so far. Nick and half the dog team went on another few miles, lesser mortals drove back to Loders and a log fire.