Paddlers: Cate Bargh, Jill Franks, Tony Sandry, John Miller,
Jon Massey, Ian Hackworthy, Barbara Browning.
When planning the 2011 programme almost a year ago the
weather for October 2nd was always going to be
unpredictable. For once this year the weather smiled on us
and we had the most perfect of days – in every way.
We set up a shuttle at Kimmeridge by leaving 2 cars there
before meeting at Knoll Beach, Studland . There were 7 of us
and we launched into a flat calm sea under a blue sky and
clad in t shirts and shorts. Tony had his fair weather hat
on – always a good sign.
We paddled out to the eroded chalk stacks and caves of Old
Harry Rocks. The stacks point out from Handfast Point
towards the Needles on The Isle of Wight, 28km across
Bournemouth Bay. A tide race forms at the outer edge of the
rocks but it was all quiet for us as there was no swell
running. We remained inshore to appreciate the spectacular
chalk spires and caves along this stretch before the cliffs
fall away at Ballard as you enter Swanage Bay.
We stopped at Swanage for refreshment and a leg stretch as
we knew there was unlikely to be another opportunity to land
before Chapman’s Pool. We set off at 12.15 – paddling
against the main flood but having faith in the promised
inshore eddy which fortunately materialised and dragged us
strongly through the tide race at Peveril Point.
Across Durlston Bay to the south, Durlston Head is
recognisable by its overhanging cliffs and fake castle on
top. The Durlston race was non-existent in this sea state
and we progressed keeping very close to the cliffs to the
Tilly Whim caves and the lighthouse of Anvil Point. As we
turned the corner we had the view of the unbroken cliffs to
St Aldhelm’s Head 7km away. As there was only a small swell
we were able to paddle very close to the cliffs and were
able to get in amongst the rocks. Jon and Tony were
especially determined to add some excitement to their day.
We saw plenty of climbers on the cliffs. The cliffs form
strange ledges overhangs and caves. Some of this is natural
but it is also due to quarrying in the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries. A series of long caves after Anvil
Point, Long Hole and Blackers Hole being the most notable.
Further on we came to Dancing Ledge. There were hundreds of
people down there enjoying the best day of the year. Dancing
Ledge along with Seacombe and Whinspit are platforms which
have been hewn out of the rock by quarrymen. Landing on them
is difficult and even in the very calm conditions we had,
landing wasn’t really an option.
After Whinspit where there were once again hundreds of
people enjoying the sunshine and spectacular scenery, our
next landmark was St Aldhelm’s Head. The headland is named
after Saint Aldhgeim and has a twelfth-century chapel on top
of the cliffs alongside the NCI lookout. There wasn’t very
much tidal flow for us although on a rough day the roar of
the race can be heard miles away with large waves stretching
over 1km. With wind over tide the waves can be very steep
and breaking.
From St Aldhelm’s Head we kept inshore and headed into
Chapman’s Pool to have a leg stretch and a short break.
Leaving Chapman’s Pool the cliffs change completely in
character to the sombre greys and blacks of Kimmeridge
shale. The sea was glassy calm for us and crystal clear.
There were, however, some waves breaking on the Kimmeridge
ledges and we were all able to have some fun on the benign
surf waves. We completed our trip by landing in the slipway
at Kimmeridge still in hot sunshine. We had just had one of
the best ever paddles on the Jurassic coast.
|
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| Kimmeridge in the
early morning mist |
John M in his lovely
new boat |
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| Peveril Point |
Tony in his 'fair
weather' hat |
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| The rock hopping was
superb |
Ian and John |
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| Coasteering at
Whinspit |
Jon and Cate |
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| John M surfing |
Lovely, benign waves
at Kimmeridge |
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| Journeys end at
Kimmeridge |
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