Day 45 Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge (Weymouth) (11.3 miles / 18km)

 Day 45   Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge (Weymouth)  (11.3 miles / 18km)

This was a gentle, restorative walking day.   Elevation wise this is one of the flattest sections of the whole South West Coast Path.    It was a morning that was “Farmer Farmer , May I cross your golden field ?” I did just that all morning.   It was a feast of Dorset countryside -fields, tractors , stiles and then more fields.   Second only to the smell of English woods is the smell of an English farmers field on a summers morning.  It was a patchwork quilt of crops and it felt like I was walking through the illustrated pages of a Janet and Alan Ahlberg book.  

A morning quiet that was only disturbed by the duet of cows and distant tractor hum .  I was the only person I saw walking and stile hopping so it felt a bit like I was trespassing in someone’s field and any minute a farmer would fire a warning shot at me and tell me to get off his land.  As I made my way over stiles into the next golden fields there were equally lovely stone cottages for me to stand and stare at for a while.    I tried to be subtle in my staring and photo taking – I’ve included a few – there’s 27 more.     

After beautiful farmland the trail changes to trace the inland shores of The Fleet Lagoon. It is an 8 mile tidal lagoon.  This sets the scenery for the rest of the walk – flat trail with Fleet on the right.   With this level, gentle walking it is a stage that didn’t cause any aggravation of the body parts not needing aggravation. 

While it is a break for the knees it’s a no refreshment options stage so a cuppa can’t be had until the end.   Rounding the flat shores of The Fleet on a path narrow and winding next to reeds for a while it  walks me into Ferrybridge.    From Ferry bridge, which I will return to tomorrow,   I keep on going for another hours walk into Weymouth where my Air B and B is.   My stay in Weymouth is for two nights  as tomorrow’s stage is to hike The Isle of Portland .    This Island forms part of the South West Coast Path as it is connected to Ferrybridge by a sand/shingle bar.   Shingle of course because it is actually the eastern end of Chesil ‘Shingly’ Beach.   

I was looking forward to two nights in one spot and this Air B and B was perfectly located right around the corner from Weymouth’s beautiful harbour .   Lined with restaurants and cafes and great pubs serving great pub food it is a bustling place with both the harbour and the sea front bouncing with music and bars with outside tables packed full with people who are people watching  all of it.  

I walk into my accomodation, called The Seaside Snug and put my pack down and do a dance.  It was ideal – with a kitchen, fridge and beautiful bathroom.   Chloe the owner had left me a basket welcome pack – including a gin and tonic , and a relaxing eye mask and gorgeous note.   Then I saw it – the thing I was most  excited about.    Chloe’s washer and dryer.   I was just dying to wash my gear after days of heat and doing my washing in small sinks.   I had my stuff peeled off and my first load in before I even put the kettle on or had the gin.   I then did me.  Clothes washed, my hair washed.   It was a reset before the final 4 days on this amazing trail.    I had a lovely dinner at the harbour and on a day without a sandwich stop and lots of country air it tasted so good.    

Night night from a washed woman in Weymouth xxx

Stone of the Day

Stone and gravel . Dream

last one I swear

The trail for the morning

Farmer Farmer….May I cross your golden field

One for the book

The beautiful trail

So many fields today

The Fleet Lagoon

My thoughtful Weymouth welcome xx