Last Day

Our last day started overcast and damp but by the time we had finished breakfast and we're ready for the off the sky had cleared and the sun was breaking through. We drove to Durlston Castle and left the car there (that is where Julia and Kevin had finished yesterday) and set out for Swanage to meet Jean, Mike and Co for coffee.  The route started off well, through the leafy, shaded paths of the country park, then it came up onto the road and a sign pointed us down a set of steps which I did not remember from the day before...... The steps were steep and came out onto a boulder-strewn foreshore but no path or way forward, so we had to backtrack and go the correct way, but not before confirming the sign had pointed the wrong way and it wasn't just us being stupid!

We did a bit of shopping in Swanage (Kevin had been looking for a lighthouse the whole walk and eventually found a perfect one on our last day!)

The walk out of Swanage was through houses but emerging onto a hill path to the top of the cliffs with a beautiful view back to Swanage.  We met up with Mandy and Pete near the headland of Old Harry, walked with them for a while, stopped for refreshments in a beach-side cafe then they went to collect my car and meet us again at the ferry.  While we were walking along the beach (4miles from Old Harry to the ferry) we had to walk through the nudist beach.......but, thankfully, nakedness was not compulsory! There were a few ladies splashing about in the shallows but quite a few men walking to and fro on the beach showing off their wares!

After photos and champagne (as well as nibbles provided by Mandy) we caught the ferry to Poole and our hotel........unfortunately the hotel had 'lost' my reservation for a sea-view room so we ended up with one overlooking the car park!

And so ends our fantastic 630 mile jaunt from Minehead to Poole.  We have had lots of fun, seen some spectacular parts of the country impossible to see from a car, met some characters my had some great accommodation and some not quite so good. All in all, an unforgettable experience.

Now to start planning the next one!