Purbeck

The forecast was rain, rain, rain.  All night and all the next day, which is more or less what happened.   I slept well, lulled to sleep by gentle rain on the tent, and awoke to the same.   It's difficult packing up in the rain, but I took my time, and managed to pack everything but the flysheet in the dry.  We will see how successful I was when I get everything out again, because putting wet things into a waterproof pannier tends to make everything wet.

Lulworth cove panorama

I had to go ten miles to Lulworth to get breakfast, in cold gentle rain.  Then I climbed up through the gorse-covered Lulworth army firing ranges to reach the Isle of Purbeck.   Steeple, Kimmeridge, and then I paused to reflect at the foot of Pete's Stairway To Hell,  an steep boulder-strewn track up to Swyre Head, which was on one of our Easter Tour rides in 2024.   I was one of the group who revolted then, and I didn't do it today either.

 

Short cut to Purbeck

Purbeck in the mist

On to Corfe Castle for an early lunch.  The Castle is looking its age and could really do with a bit of renovation.   Still raining.

 

Corfe Castle 

A few miles later I came to tiny Worth Matravers, and just had to stop at the famous Square and Compass pub, with an extensive selection of beers and a minimal selection of food.  And a museum, because why not?  It was packed inside, with damp pilgrims like me. 

The Square & Compass

 

The museum - incredible!

Still raining...  Next stop was Swanage, but thwarting their obtuse one way system, I bounced straight back out again, up a very steep hill, to Durlston Head with its interesting visitor centre in a castle.  Not sure I saw the Head itself as I didn't want a long walk in the rain. 

Visitor centre in a castle

Toilet is upstairs

Swanage

I was a bit disappointed because I know Purbeck is very beautiful, but it had just looked grey today. To cheer myself up, I found a fantastic cake shop, I Love Cake, in Swanage, and had a lovely, and massive, piece of lemon curd & blueberry cake. 

Cake therapy

Random cottage

After that, everything seemed better . The sun came out too. I hadn't ridden far but there are no more campsites for quite a way, so I stopped in a nice camp site just outside Swanage. The sun soon dried the tent, everything else stayed dry, and all's well with the world.