Abbotsbury to Portland

Day 8 Saturday 07/09/2013

Abbotsbury to Portland

Miles walked – 6

Colin’s foot was still sore when we got up, and as it was a long day today of about 15 miles, we decided to get the bus part of the way and walk the rest. The bus was 11.46, so after breakfast (landlady in a rush to get to a local show to see her grandson competing), we went for a look round Abbotsbury. It was cooler today with more breeze, but still sunny, and hot when out of the breeze, so in shorts and T-shirts again. We walked down to the Swannery, but it was £11 to get in, so want worth it for the time we had available. We came back and wandered round the village, very pretty with lots of old stone thatched cottages. We bought cheese baguettes and chocolate cake for lunch, then sat in the sun and waited for the bus. It was only about 15 minutes on the bus to Charlestown where we got off.

 After a bit of wondering around we picked up a path down to the coast and were then back on he coastal path. It was largely flat walking, with the Fleet on our right, a river like strip of water, with Chesil Beach beyond this, a high stone banking, then the sea beyond that. We stopped to eat our lunch, then carried on to Ferry Bridge, where we had a beer in the pub. It was then an easy walk across the bridge and along the main road onto Portland Island. In the large sheltered bay between Portland and Weymouth there were lots of kite surfers out as we watched them as we walked in. we got to the hostel about 4, went to the local Co-op for bread, milk etc. then went back to the hostel for a shower.

We stayed in separate dorms in the hostel, which seemed quite full. The warden recommended The Cove pub for food, so we went down there soon after 7. It was very busy, but we put our name on the waiting list for a table and had a few beers and eventually ate – had a very nice whole sea bass in lemon butter, new potatoes & veg, and a raspberry crème brulee, all very nice, before heading back to the hostel.

 

Accommodation – Portland YHA

Pub – The Cove

Beer - Jurassic