Mupe Rocks

[puddleshark]

The sun shone, and I fancied some sea air on this, the last day of the holiday. So I braved the car parking charges at the Lulworth Cove tourist-trap-and-visitor-centre, and set off for a walk across the Ranges to Mupe.



Checked the Tide Tables before I set off. The shortest, least hilly route to Mupe involves following the curve of the beach at Lulworth Cove.




Entrance to Lulworth Cove.



At the east end of the beach the coast path continues up a set of steps leading up a gully... Only the bottom section of steps had been carried away in a small landslip, and there was a six foot bank of slippery clay to scramble up to reach the remaining steps. I was um-ing and ah-ing over whether I was limber enough to manage this feat, when two gentlemen came along and made it look easy. So I followed suit. (Returning the same way, the descent was a lot scarier. I adopted my usual procedure: abandon dignity, and slide down on my arse. Duly arrived on the beach coated in clay, but safe).



Took the coast path along the cliffs, a muddy slippery path at this time of year. Hard work to stay upright in places. But the views of Mupe Bay make the effort worthwhile.





I didn't take the steps down to Mupe Bay this time. Too dangerous. The cliffs there are almost sheer, and when there are landslips there, they are huge. And we've had a lot of rain lately. Instead, headed back to Lulworth, taking the inland track that passes the ruins of Little Bindon farm. The gorse in flower along the way, and the sun warm, almost. Especially on the uphill stretches.






Little Bindon. Abandoned when the land became a military firing range.

Comments

[heleninwales]

I'd always rather go up steep and slippery slopes than down. Arse sliding is definitely the way to go if in doubt.

[puddleshark]

Yes, the scrambling up bit is much less scary than the sliding down. And after rain, the Kimmeridge Clay along that stretch of coast is the most slippery footing known to man.

[kaishin108]

How gorgeous! Steep paths can be hard though.

[puddleshark]

It's such a beautiful stretch of coast, but the coast path is very up-and-down. There are places where you have to climb and then descend hundreds of steps, and my ankles just say 'No thanks' these days.