Doddle West 21^st October 2018

Route Description

AT THE CHECKPOINTS, when you arrive, ensure your name is recorded.  Take notice of checkpoint open and closing times, as these will be enforced.

IN CASE YOU HAVE TO RETIRE - Please retire at a checkpoint to await transport to Poundbury. If you are unable to reach a checkpoint please ring the emergency number or let another walker know and someone will come to your aid. Do not leave the event or wander off-route without informing the organisers.

ENFORCED CUT OFF – If you have not passed through Checkpoint 2 at Portesham (18.1 Miles) by 3:15 pm you will be retired from the event and in due course transported to the finish at Poundbury.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE No.  07561 095751 (or 07875 810660). Note that some stretches of the route have no signal.

Abbreviations used in the route description:

AH Ahead ie straight on	BL Bear Left	BR Bear Right	BW Bridleway
CB Compass bearing	FB Field Boundary	FP Footpath	HW Hardy Way
KG Kissing gate	L Left	LMG Large metal gate	LWG Large wooden gate
R Right	RD Road	SDR South Dorset Ridgeway	SMG Small metal gate
SP Sign Post	SWG Small wooden gate	TL Turn Left	TR Turn Right
WM Waymark

1          Charmouth to Burton Bradstock (15.2 km / 9.4 miles)

1.1          If starting from Lower Sea Lane car park, leave car park and TL on RD. In 60m TL at T-junction onto Lower Sea Lane. Registration is 50 m up the road on L in the St Andrews Community Hall.

1.2          From registration, TL on Lower Sea Lane, then in 25m TR into Wesley Close. Follow RD as it swings left. At main RD (The Street) TR and keep to pavement. In 250m when RD swings L, continue straight on up Stonebarrow Lane (SP Coast Path diversion). In 1200m go over cattle grid, then in 100m at entrance to car park TR on path SP Coast Path East (SY 381 932).

The route now follows the coast path to West Bay and may be followed using the signposts for Coast Path and the acorn symbol. The route description is supplied for reference but is sometimes confusing to follow.

1.3          In 25m TR SP Coast Path East and Cains Folly Viewpoint . Go through wooden barrier and keep R along grassy path. At cliff top TL onto path with cliff on R. In 100m TR SP Coast Path East. Go down steps, then TR SP Golden Cap 1¾. Go through KG and across meadow with FB on R.  In 150m through SWG and BL past WM post on LHS, then through gap and BR on CB135 to SP Golden Cap 1½. Descend to wooden bridge (SY 386 926).

1.4          Cross bridge, go uphill, and in 200m through KG SP Golden Cap 1¼. Cross field CB 145 to SWG, across wooden footbridge (SY 389 925) and uphill with hedge on L. In 250m at top go through KG SP Golden Cap 1 onto path with scrub on R. In 200m TR through SWG (acorn WM), Cross field and in 200m through SWG. Cross field and in 150m through SWG (acorn WM). BR and in 40m through SWG onto CB125 for 150m to SWG SP Golden Cap ¾. Through gate, down steps, over bridge (SY 398 923), up steps onto path uphill with cliff on R. In 600m through KG and take zig-zag path to the top of Golden Cap (height 191m / 626 feet).

1.5          Take breather here and admire view if visible. Then BL to trig point (SY 407 922). TL onto steps downhill. At bottom of steps through KG and TR SP Seatown 1. In 75m through SWG in RH corner and AH on worn path meandering across open ground generally on CB095. In 600m through KG SP Seatown ¾. In 50m BR SP Seatown ½. Go down hill and steps, through 2 SWGs, through trees, through gate, cross field, through KG and in 80m reach RD (SY 420 919).

1.6          TR down RD, BR at junction, and in 40 m TL over footbridge into car park (SP coast path). After bridge, TR, then BL through SWG SP Thorncombe Beacon, then up path with cliff on right. AH at FP post, pass seat, pass summit on R, then down to KG SP Eype Mouth 1¾. Uphill following SP Thorncombe Beacon ½. Go over summit of Doghouse Hill and along ridge to Thorncombe Beacon (SY 435 914).

1.7          Ahead on coast path SP Eype Mouth 1 with cliff on R. Go through KG SP West Bay 1½, and KG SP West Bay 1 and down to car park at Eype Mouth (SY 447 910).

1.8          Through car park to RD, TR down tarmac path and down steps to beach. Cross stream, TL and bear right SP West Bay. Keep on path uphill with cliff on right, past campsite at top of hill then through KG SP West Bay ½. BR on path across field to R of houses, go through SWG and down stony track onto esplanade.

1.9          BL along esplanade. In 200m follow the RD round to the L and in 100m TR onto RD bridge with harbour on right. BR and BL to pass to the right of St John’s Church. If instructed at check-in, use alternative route at end of route description, otherwise continue as below.

1.10      Just before West Bay Inn TR into car park SP Coast Path. Go diagonally across car park then BL up grassy path uphill with cliff edge on R. TAKE CARE ON THIS STRETCH AS THE CLIFF IS LIABLE TO FREQUENT COLLAPSE.

1.11      AH for 1km with golf course on L and then follow path down onto beach. Pass to R of chalets, cross car parking area, pass to R of chalets onto beach. BL on path with chalets on L. In 250m when track bears L go straight on to SP with yellow sign on far side of field. TL SP Coast Path with river on R. In 150m through SMG (SP Coast Path). AH with fence on R and in 150m TR between wooden rails to SMG SP Coast Path (SY 481 896). Cross field on worn path to SP Burton Bradstock ½, TL with fence on R and in 150m go through SMG onto path through wood. In 120m go through gate into field, keep FB on R and in 30 m TR through gate up steps to RD, cross RD – take care as road is busy -  and TR on pavement (Barr Lane). In 350m just past Anchor Inn do not BR on main RD but keep straight on along Church Street. In 75m reach CP1 in WI hall on L (SY 488 895).

CP1 Burton Bradstock WI Hall 15.2 km / 9.4 miles.
Open 9:45 to 12:00.

2          Burton Bradstock to Portesham (14.0 km / 8.7 miles)

2.1          TL out of hall. Keep R at grassy triangle. Pass church on R and go over bridge onto track then path with stone wall on R. In 150m go over two footbridges and BR SP Hive Beach on grassy track in field with hedge on L and row of trees on R. Keep R to pass through KG onto RD. Cross RD onto path through trees SP Hive Beach & Coast Path. In 65m cross RD – BUSY ROAD TAKE CARE -  and TL on pavement. In 70m TR onto Beach RD. In 180m pass National Trust sign onto open space, then in 100m TL by wooden hut, go through gate, and BR on path across field CB135. At far side of field go through KG (SY 493 887) and BL on coast path.

2.2          In 250m at chalet park keep to R close to cliff edge. In 850m pass stone sign in shingle W Bexington 2 then in 100m BL at wooden post with HW marker SP Coast Path. Cross track and BR along path with fence on L. In 200m go through gate. In 400m at wooden SP (HW) & small white tag (Burton Mere) BL on track with fence on L. In 500m BR and BL past NT Cogden and HW sign. In 150m go through KG and plain gate onto path with scrub on R. In 500m go through KG. In 40m TR SP Coast Path across bridge then TL onto path inland of beach. Enjoy walking on shingle for 1.2km to reach car park (SY 531 865). There are toilets up the path to the L.

2.3          Go into car park and TL up tarmac RD. In 500m when RD bears L keep straight on up stony track SP South Dorset Ridgeway / Hardy Monument 6. In 500m TR SP Hardy Monument 5¾. In 150m at RD, TR into layby and BR at far end of layby onto path with hedge on R. In 200m pass SP Hardy Monument 5¼. In 100m BL by stone building (limekiln) SP Inland Route. In 50m, at top of slope, TR on path. In 150 m pass SDR WM and in 100m through wooden gate (SDR WM). AH with hedge on R. In 250m TL uphill at SP Hardy Monument 5 to SP Hillfort ½. BR with RD on L. In 100m take path SP Hardy Monument 5 with scrub on R. Pass to L of 2 barrows and AH for 200m to gate (SRD WM) in corner of field. Through gate, cross RD with care as road is busy with fast moving traffic, over stile, and onto path SP Hardy Monument 4½. Keep R to top of hill and along ridge to reach trig point (SY 557 865) in 500m.

2.4          BR down steps onto path, through KG, and down to RD. Cross RD, go through gate (SP HW) onto path along ridge. In 1.5km go through metal gate with blue BW and green HW signs and BR on path going slightly downhill. In 300m through gate SP HW and on downhill. In 150m through gate SP HW, then in 200m through gate SP Abbotsbury Round Walk onto enclosed path. In 350m TL on RD, then in 100m TR onto Rosemary Lane to reach main RD in 100m (SY 579 853).

2.5          Cross RD, TL on pavement. At Swan Inn re-cross RD onto pavement on north side. In 100m, just past Glebe Close TL on track SP Portesham 1¼  and HW WM. TL at stone sign Abbot’s Peace onto track of old railway line. In 1.5km go round metal gate and in 25m BL on track. In 150m TL on RD, then in 150m TL into Malthouse Meadow. CP2 is in Portesham Village Hall immediately on L (SY 600 856).

CP2 Portesham Village Hall 29.2 km / 18.1 miles
Open 11:15 to 15:15

3          Portesham to Poundbury (13.6 km / 8.5 miles)

3.1          Turn right out of hall then TL on pavement alongside main RD. In 250m BL up Front Street (sign not visible at junction) SP Hardys Monument 2. Pass Kings Arms and in 150m just past church, TR up Winters Lane SP Coryates. In 500m TL up initially stony then tarmac track (BW WM) over cattle grid with sign for Portesham Farm. Pass Rocket Quarry and rusty sculpture. Over cattle grid onto stony track. Pass farm on R.

3.2          In 650m at bottom of hill past ruined stone buildings BL and in 50m TR onto path uphill with SDR WM SP Inland route. Pass two unmarked LWG on the R, and 25m after the second LWG BR through SWG onto path uphill with inconspicuous wooden SP Hardy Monument ¼. In 200m at path crossing, go straight over following sign on stone Osmington Mills 11. In 130m cross track to Hardy Monument and head downhill past footpath post to RD. Cross RD with care and go down path SP South Dorset Ridgeway and Osmington 10¼. In 300m go through gate onto RD, TL, and reach clipper point in layby (SY 616 877).

Clipper A (SY 616 877)

3.3          Cross RD onto Restricted Byway. You now follow ridge for 3.1km following SDR BW WM through multiple gates. Do not TL to Martinstown until SP at end of paragraph. Initially follow path with fence or scrub on each side. In 800m AH on path with stone wall on R and open field on L. In 800m AH on path through scrub. In 400m AH on path with fence or wall on R passing metal storage tanks on L. Go under three sets of electricity power lines, then in 500m BL through gate with blue BW mark to L of tumuli on line of path. Pass first tumulus on R, BR between tumuli, BL and AH in original direction with fence on R. In 500m TL onto grassy track with fence on R at SP Martinstown 1½ with SY 647 867 on post.

3.4          In 250m when track bears L, BR though gate with concrete gatepost and cross field on CB50 to R of line of barrows. In 500m in far corner (SY 652 872) go through LMG with blue BW markers, TL onto path with fence on L. In 100m through gateway and cross field to far corner on CB50. Go through LMG onto concrete track downhill. Pass through multiple metal gates keeping to R of farm, stay on track as it bears L, and AH between houses on tarmac track to RD.  TL on RD then in 100 m BR off main RD down side RD SP Winterbourne Monkton. In 120m BR at RD junction and stay on RD. Do not TR into private lane. Cross bridge, pass cricket ground and when RD bears R keep straight on through metal gate with BW WM (SY 662 881) onto grassy track uphill.

3.5          In 500m go through LMG. In 250m at track junction keep R. In 300m pass to L of car park and onto tarmac RD. In 300m BL through gate onto path parallel to and to L of RD. In 500m TR through gate and TL on pavement, cross bridge and just before white arrow on blue RD sign TL onto tarmac path. In 400m pass Rugby Club on L and in 250m emerge onto RD. in 80m TL at RD junction. Go through line of posts, then in 25m TR onto Middlemarsh Street. In 150m TL into Pummery Square. Finish is in Brownsword Hall (SY 678 902) on far side of square.

Finish Poundbury 42.8 km / 26.6 miles
Open 12:30 to 18:30
Well done!

Alternative route if cliff path closed after West Bay

Keep on past the West Bay Inn, pass car park on left and then follow the RD round to the left. In 200m TR on footpath by small stone building. Go over stile and BR diagonally across field following worn path to stile with sign warning “Beware golf balls”. TAKE CARE CROSSING THE GOLF COURSE. Over stile TL then bear right on CB 110. You are not going through the obvious gaps in the wall ahead. Instead, in 150m go to the left of the footpath WM and patch of rough, then BR at FP notice. Go through gap in wall with yellow FP WM, then along path to left of fairway. Keep on track generally on CB 110.

At end of track, TL through metal gate into campsite onto RD with footpath sign on lamppost on left. In 75m TR on tarmac track SP Burton Bradstock. In 250m at junction go straight on through small metal gate SP Footpath. When path emerges into field continue with fence on right and then bear left across field to FP signpost and gate onto RD. Through gate, cross RD, and TR on pavement (BARR LANE). In 350m just past Anchor Inn keep straight on down Church Street. In 75m reach CP1 in WI hall on L.