Kingston to Swanage

My sister and I packed up the tent and gear into the van and took off for Kingston, where Che would drop me off, then repitch at our final campsite in Swanage. We passed a breakfast van where we had coffee and a bacon and egg sandwich. Because I was doing a charity walk the lad gave me a second sandwich for free. No wonder I’m putting on weight.

I was dropped at Kingston and the view looking back to Corfe Castle and Poole beyond was a belter.

I was clear of the MOD land, although the sound of machine gun fire in the distance signalled that manoeuvres had restarted. Heading due south I came back to the South West Coast Path via a path across farmland which dropped down a very steep hill.

And then it climbed back up the other side. This is looking back across the MOD land.

This memorial was built to honour and remember all those Royal Marines who were killed between 1945 and 1990. It means a lot to me. My cousin was a Royal Marine and wasn’t killed in action but was killed by Prostate Cancer. Let’s hope that through research we can eventually stop this killer illness.

Sadly the sound of the machine guns and tanks echoed clearly along the coast, indicating that we still haven’t found a just and lasting peace. And these brave lads will have to continue their service to protect our country.

After a very deep drop, and a 240 step climb back up, I came to St Aldhelm’s chapel.

St Aldhelm lived around these parts in the 600s AD.

Moving on the coast never failed to disappoint. It was stunning.

Eventually turning towards Swanage just after the Anvil Point Lighthouse.

Swanage is a decent place. Our campsite was a decent site. This walk was a lovely walk, particularly after the MOD debacle of the previous day. And the sun shone warm upon our faces.

Night night.