bridport to cogden

June 13, 2018 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

partially along the SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

in search of bee orchids

saturday, 9TH june 2018

Today's weather forecast looks to be pretty good, and I should have sun with cloud all day long. There shouldn't be much wind but it is blowing in the wrong direction which it has done for most of this year.

Bridport low tide 08:29

Bridport high tide 15:25

The aim of today is to find bee orchids in the fields above Cogden Beach. I've been here quite regularly over the years so I should have a very good chance of finding them.

It's farmers' market day in Bridport today which is held on the second Saturday of each month.

We leave our apartment, conveniently located in the heart of Bridport, at just after nine 'o' clock and amble around all of the market stalls while stopping off in the various bookshops. I manage to add to my Roald Dahl collection, start my Paddington collection with five books and add to my nephew's growing Ladybird collection.

It is now time to head for the National Trust car park at Cogden. I head down West Street and then follow the River Brit as it heads out of Bridport.

There are some rather nice roses clinging to the fences surrounding the allotments next to the playground.

I head behind St Mary's and then pass next to the grounds of Bridport Football Club.

I pass behind Palmers Brewery and amble along the river bank enjoying the wild flowers.

I head across fields towards West Bay where I come across a herd of cattle. Even though there are quite a few calves with their mums they aren't in the slightest bit bothered by me.

The grass in the fields has been cut recently. We saw an awful lot of tractors making their way through Bridport yesterday loaded up with hay.

I head through West Bay Holiday Park where I take photographs of the various flowers.

The early morning grey clouds have started to lift and it's starting to get rather warm. I amble though West Bay and head through The Customs House emporium.

I head out on to West Bay Beach where there are loads of people enjoying the sunshine and warmth.

I amble along the sandy beach below the iconic, and very crumbling, West Cliff.

At Freshwater Beach Holiday Park I have to head inland in order to cross the River Bride over a wooden bridge. I head back to the coast again and head along the sandy beach towards Burton Bradstock.

I head along Hive Beach at Burton Bradstock which turns into Cogden Beach where the coast path heads inland. I walk along a rutted and baked dry path where I come across my first bee orchid all on its own.

I continue along the baked path and come across a lovely patch of flag irises.

Next to the irises I come across a large clump of southern marsh orchids. This is turning into a rather successful orchid hunt!

I pass a National Trust sign for Cogden and head inland across fields. It is a properly warm day now and the skylarks are making a racket above the fields.

I amble along the flower strewn fields keeping a beady eye out for bee orchids but instead I spot a pyramidal orchid, just coming into flower. This is swiftly joined by loads of other pyramidal orchids. This is now my third orchid species of the day.

I should be seeing bee orchids by now but instead spot another orchid species which I don't initially recognize but turns out to be a greater butterfly orchid (it could be a lesser butterfly orchid but I haven't a clue how to tell the difference between the two) which I haven't seen for years and I don't recall seeing them in this field before.

This greater butterfly orchid is all on its own but further along the field I find a small clump of some more.

My orchid field guide tells me that I can tell the difference between the greater and lesser butterfly orchid because the two pollinia are set wide apart on the greater. I guess they must be greater butterfly orchids then.

This has turned into a fantastic day for orchids. Four species in one day! Bee orchids are turning out to be elusive though. However, finally I spot another bee orchid.

And then I start to see more bee orchids - not as many as I was expecting - but on a day like this I'm not complaining.

I pass behind Orthona, a spiritual and community retreat, and then continue along the fields until I reach the National Trust car park at Cogden. My orchid hunting is over for the day.

I head back down towards Cogden Beach where I enjoy the sea thrift, sea poppies and the sea cabbage.

It's time to head up onto the cliffs. I head through Old Coastguard Holiday Park and then drop down towards Hive Beach again.

I head behind Hive Beach Cafe before climbing back onto the cliffs at Burton Cliff and then clamber down the cliff at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park.

I head inland to cross the river again before walking through the holiday park and clamber back onto the cliffs at East Cliff. I walk past Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club and then have magnificent views over West Bay.

I head through West Bay and then back towards Bridport where I pass Palmers Brewery again.

I head through Bridport Community Orchard and pass behind St Mary's.

I head past the market stalls which are now packing up for the day and my walking is over. It has been a fantastic orchid hunting day.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

swifts
rabbits
cows
roses
cow parsley
hogweed
wild carrot
elderflower
geums
agapanthus
aquilegia
ribwort plantain
bee orchids
flag iris
southern marsh orchids
pyramidal orchids
greater butterfly orchids
birds-foot trefoil
sea thrift
sea poppy
sea cabbage

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via the iTunes store or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 16.5 miles today which amounts to 35583 steps. It has been another beautiful day's walking today with some great orchid success. Ten out of ten!

Hmmm. My Ordnance Survey app failed me again. My other app I use to track elevation worked but it's showing a decidedly dodgy graph!

MAP

uploders to seatown

May 12, 2018 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

via golden cap

sunday, 6TH MAY 2018

The weather this year has been particularly stinky but the weather forecast for this week looks pretty good. It should be warm and sunny today with virtually no wind so I can't complain.

Bridport high tide 10:44

Bridport low tide 16:11

I start the walk at our holiday cottage, Celtic Blessing, in the village of Uploders.

I wander along the quiet country road towards Loders but turn left along a footpath before reaching the adjoining village. The roadside verges are covered in wild flowers.

I climb up onto a rather muddy Boarsbarrow Hill and the paths are covered in stinky wild garlic. I can hear a woodpecker pecking away.

I pass Dalrymple Copse and join a small and rather muddy track called Green Lane which leads down to the busy A35 Dorchester Road.

I cross the A35 and head down a narrow path which leads me to a minor road. The road passes behind the cemetery but I head into Jellyfields Nature Reserve instead and amble along the paths next to streams, enjoying the birdsong.

I come to a wildflower meadow planted in 2014 and dedicated to the Bridport men who served in the Great War. It's supposed to be full of poppies and cornflowers but just seems to be a tangle of grass and nettles.

I follow Crock Lane and then cross the A35 again and enter Asker's Meadow Nature Reserve where I walk next to the River Asker. I pass behind the Morrison's superstore and cross over South Street to pass next to Palmers Brewery.

I cross over a weir over the River Brit and join a very familiar footpath which takes me back towards the centre of Bridport.

I walk through Bridport Community Orchard and then walk along South Street and West Street heading out of Bridport.

I leave West Street and head towards North Allington before following a footpath which rounds Allington Hill.

I come across another orchard, this time Jubilee Green Orchard where 24 fruit and deciduous trees were planted in 2012.

I continue along the footpath which takes me around and then over Allington Hill where I enjoy the wildflowers and bird song.

I pass by Crepe Farm and head into the village of Symondsbury where the Ilchester Arms can be found although I didn't see it. I'm joined in the village by a large walking group.

I leave Symondsbury and climb up onto the iconic Colmer's Hill, the lower slopes of which are covered in bluebells.

I have magnificent panoramic views over the Dorset countryside. I come across a trig point at 417 feet high in amongst a copse of nine pine trees. While enjoying the views I'm joined again by the walking group.

I descend Colmer's Hill and head along quiet lanes at Quarry Cross before joining Hell Lane, an ancient Holloway which leads me in to North Chideock. The lane is very muddy and deeply rutted and I make my way gingerly along it.

I come across a lone early purple orchid. There could be others around but I've been concentrating so much on staying upright on the path that I haven't been paying much attention to the flora and fauna.

The lane turns into a shallow stream and then, suddenly, turns into a tarmac road which leads me into North Chideock.

I follow the road down into Chideock where I pass the church before alighting on the busy A35 again.

I head out of Chideock down towards Seatown before following a footpath which climbs up to Langdon Hill.

It's now surprisingly easy climbing to join the South West Coast Path up to the top of the mighty Golden Cap.

I enjoy the magnificent views on the summit, to the west overlooking Charmouth and Lyme Regis and to the east over Seatown and West Bay and onwards towards the Isle of Portland in the distance. It's much busier up here than I've ever seen it before.

Golden Cap was given by members of the National Trust and friends in memory of The Earl of Antrim, chairman of the National Trust from 1960 until his death in 1977.

I descend Golden Cap and head towards Seatown where you can find the Anchor Inn and where my lift awaits.

It is heaving with people, presumably flushed out by the glorious weather on this sunny Sunday.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

herb bennett
bluebells
wild garlic
celandines
chiff chaffs
a woodpecker
great tits
pheasants
herb robert
swallows
song thrushes
long tailed tits
hawthorn
sheep
orange tip butterflies
early purple orchid

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via the iTunes store or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 11 miles today which amounts to 24524 steps. It has been lovely walking the Dorset countryside today in the best weather of the year. Nine out of ten!

According to my Ordnance Survey app my total ascent today has been 451 feet or 137 metres. Really OS? Colmer's Hill is 417 feet high and Golden Cap is 642 feet high. The app has proved to be useless again!

Another app I use to track my walks gives a better indication of today's elevation.

MAP

bridport farmers' market

January 11, 2014 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

south west coast path

11th january 2014

Today's weather forecast looks like it will be fantastic, especially considering the amount of rain we've had recently, and does, indeed, turn out to be bright, sunny and warm. Must make the most of it as it doesn't look like it will last vey long.

Today is Bridport Farmers' Market day which is a perfect excuse for heading out to the South West Coast Path at West Bay. The farmers' market is held on the second Saturday of every month in the Arts Centre (@BridportArts).

Producers attending the market today included :-

Barley Sugar Bakehouse (@TheBarleySugar) - yummy treacle tart with orange and ginger today
Bothen Hill Produce (@bothenhill)
Bridge Farm Cider
Bridport Gourment Pies (@bridportpies)
Daisy's Woodland Chicken
Dorset Coffee
Elwell Fruit Farm
Fussels (@andy_fuss)
Homemade by Lizzie and Bekki- the baking birds (@bekkibemrose and @lizzibakingbird)
Leakers Bakery (@leakersbakery)
Meat Free Martha (@meatfreemartha)
Mere Fish Farm (@MereFishFarm)
Stockland Venison
Woolsery Cheese (@woolserycheese)
Wyld Meadow Farm

First up is a wander around Bridport (including stocking up on supplies at Leakers Bakery (@leakersbakery)), exploring the saturday market and along the way passing The Ropemakers, the George Hotel, the Woodman Inn, The Greyhound, The Bull Hotel and The Hope & Anchor.

After that I head out to West Bay along the Monarch's Way to join the South West Coast Path. It's pretty muddy out so I squelch along the fields at a very slow pace before reaching Park Dean Holiday Park at West Bay.

After exploring West Bay for a bit - passing the George Hotel and The West Bay Hotel - I trudge along the beach to reach Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, enjoying the mild January weather.

Here I head inland slightly, walking through the holiday park - it's pretty dead at this time of year - and then through fields to reach Burton Bradstock. I turn left to walk through part of the village and then head towards St Mary's church. I cross the stream that burbles away here and then cross fields to reach Hive Beach.

Often I'll continue walking along Cogden Beach before doubling back on myself, crossing fields to reach the National Trust car park above Cogden but today is a short walk day so I end my walk by the Hive Beach Cafe, which is closed this week for annual maintenance but is open for business again on Monday.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

sheep
robins
lots of dogs
lots of gulls

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

I've walked about 5.5 miles today. My pedometer app failed me again but it should be about 12000 steps.

Love Bridport.

Love West Bay.

Gorgeous weather.

10 out of 10.

We'll be back next month.

View bridport to burton bradstock in a larger map

I didn't do any recording today but below is a recording from farmers' market day back in October. It includes recording from Bridport itself, Bridport Farmers' Market, the river behind Palmers Brewery, West Bay, Harbour Amusements in West Bay, West Bay beach, St Mary's Church, Burton Bradstock and Hive Beach at Burton Bradstock.