WALKS IN DORSET

Walks in Dorset: Introduction | Coney's Castle | Champernhayes Woods | Lambert's Castle | Langdon Wood and Golden Cap | Morcombelake to Charmouth | Pilsdon Pen

MORCOMBELAKE TO CHARMOUTH

This is a great short walk to undertake if you are staying in Charmouth. Simply hop on the X53 coast bus towards Bridport and alight at Morcombelake.

• Start Location: Latitude: 50.740964N Longitude: 2.844418W
• Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 116 (ISBN 0-319-23536-X) Scale: 1:25 000
• Grid Reference: SY407938
• Walk Distance: Less than 6km (Allow two hours; more if fossil hunting)
• Rating: Moderate (Golden Cap is a steep climb)
• When to Go: Late April/Early May (for the Bluebells in Langdon Wood); Otherwise any summers day

INFORMATION

Morcombelake is easily reached using the X53 bus service that runs between Exeter and Weymouth.

Alight the bus at the stop adjacent to Moore's biscuit factory on the main road. Follow the track behind the factory through the fields across towards Langdon Wood. You can then pick up the circular track in an anticlockwise direction around the Woods before picking joining the track signposted for Golden Cap. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Golden Cap before following the path down the Western side of Golden Cap and continue down to St Gabriel's Mouth. After crossing the path take the 'permissive' path down to the beach. Take care on this path when it is wet as the steps are both steep and slippery. You can then walk west along the pebble beach to Charmouth. Always check the tides as it may not be possible to walk along the beach on a high tide or after a cliff fall.  This is a great stretch of beach for fossil hunting although care should be taken near the Cliffs as landslides and mud flows are common.

THINGS TO DO

Golden Cap is a popular destination for picnics and Sunday afternoon strolls.

FOSSIL HUNTING

Part of the Jurassic Coast this beach is famous worldwide for its fossils and geological importance. Ammonites can be commonly found on the beach. Further information can be found at the Charmouth Heritage Centre.

WILDLIFE

The resident wildlife includes Birds of Prey, Deer and plenty of rabbits.

GEOCACHING

There are Geocaches located at Langdon Wood and Golden Cap. You will need a GPS and to log on to the geocaching website for the clues and location.

PHOTOGRAPHY

You can get some great photographs in Langdon Wood of the  Bluebells in late April and Early May. Golden Cap boasts excellent views along the coast and you are often rewarded with mists in the morning and moody skies and beautiful sunsets in the evening. There are excellent opportunities to take beautiful pictures of  golden Cap from Charmouth Beach.

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT NEAR BY

Langdon Wood and Golden Cap can also easily be accessed from Seatown or Chardown Hill. The towns of Charmouth and Bridport are only a short bus ride in either direction along the A35.

Other walks include: Introduction | Coney's Castle | Champernhayes Woods | Lambert's Castle | Langdon Wood and Golden Cap | Morcombelake to Charmouth | Pilsdon Pen

LINKS

• The National Trust - Golden Cap estate is managed by the National Trust.
• The Met Office - Check out the weather for Golden Cap.

LOCATION MAP

To get directions to and from the bus stop in Morcombelake please click on the icon and follow the instructions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This page was written by Jonathan Tolhurst while job hunting in the summer of 2008. The page was last updated in August 2008.

If you would like to contribute further information regarding this or any other walk please contact me for further information. If you like my work you might like my CV.

You are free to use any photograph on this page for non commercial purposes as long as you acknowledge the photographer. Please contact me if you would like to use my photographs for commercial use.

ENGLAND 2008 PHOTOGRAPHS

Quick links to all my recent photographs: Shave Cross Inn | Lyme Regis | Week Ending 30 June 2008 | Tolhurst Family Photographs | Week Ending 06 July 2008 | Week Ending 13 July 2008 | Bristol | Cinderford and Kingsland | Week Ending 20 July 2008 | Week Ending 27 July 2008 | Loughborough | Week Ending 03 August 2008 | Weymouth | Week Ending 10 August 2008 | Basingstoke | Week Ending 17 August 2008 | Exeter | Week Ending 24 August 2008 | Candles on the Cobb | Week Ending 31 August 2008 | Tolhurst Family Portraits 1 | Tolhurst Family Portraits 2 | Week Ending 07 September 2008 | Fishpond | Week Ending 14 September 2008 | Clifton | Churches in Bristol | SS Great Britain and Bristol Waterfront | Week Ending 21 September 2008 | West Bay and Charmouth | Colmer's Hill and Bridport | Week Ending 28 September 2008 | Portland Bill | Church Ope Cove | Week Ending 05 October 2008 | Marrakesh (1) | Marrakesh (2) | Week Ending 12 October 2008 | Random Objects | Week Ending 19 October 2008 | Stonehenge | Week Ending 26 October 2008 | Avebury | Week Ending 2 November 2008 | Week Ending 9 November 2008 | Week Ending 16 November 2008 | Holly's 5th Birthday | Week Ending 23 November 2008 | Week Ending 21 December 2008 | Week Ending 28 December 2008 | London Portraits