5 of us met at lunchtime on Friday and set off on our walk towards Lulworth Common. We walked up out of the village through the fields towards Winfrith Drove.

From the highest point we could see back to the coast and the paths we would walk over the weekend. It was a warm, overcast afternoon and good to be able to stretch our legs after some long journeys.

We stopped to look at the views and collect sloes before heading back down to the Church for a look at their local exhibition and then onto the beach for tea.

We then met up with the rest of our party for drinks and dinner.

Most of us decided to stroll back to the beach after dinner and were delighted to find a huge group of wedding guests there sending off flares to celebrate the wedding the next day.

Saturday dawned damp, misty and warm and we packed up our lunches and headed off round Hambury Tout and up onto the coastal path.

It was very strange walking in the mist and shame we could not enjoy the views.

The sea mist eventually started lifting and we could finally see the sea and inland.

We reached St Catharine's church at Holworth and rested for a while while watching the sun trying to appear over the sea.

We then walked back up to the coastal path and followed the track to White Nothe where we stopped for lunch on the top of the cliffs.

Having eaten, rested (and dozed) for a while, we continued along the path back towards Durdle Door.

Sue and Alison elected to walk the harder of the two paths and while we took the higher way they stayed on the coastal path with plenty of ups and downs.

We all met up again at Swyre Head and headed down to Durdle Door.

We spent a few minutes at the bottom enjoying the afternoon sun before heading passed the Door.

Our final path took us above Man O War Bay back over Hambury Tout with a last look along the coast before heading down into the village for tea and ice creams.

After hot baths and showers we met for drinks and an earlier dinner so that some of the group could watch England play France in the Rugby World Cup in Paris - great fun and rather noisy!

Some of the group walked back to the beach before bed.

Sunday morning dawned bright and warm and after we had said goodbye to Sue, Tricia, Jane, Joanna and Noreen, 7 of us set off up Bindon Hill for our walk on the Ranges.

The morning was lovely with the sun burning off the early mist and the fantastic coastline opening up before us.

We spent some time looking down onto the Army firing ranges before walking on to Arish Mel.

We stopped for a break above the beach and Jill provided a great picture of contentment.

We then retraced our steps to the path down to Mupes Bay.

The water was a wonderful colour in the sunshine. The unusual rock formations are in good evidence on this part of the path and we spotted some amazing fungi.

We walked back along the lower path to the Fossil Forest where fossilised trees can be seen and other evidence shows life forms from 135 million years ago.

Reaching the far point of the Cove we enjoyed the views across the water before heading down to the beach for lunch.

It was so warm we could have swum or at least paddled but chose to just sit and enjoy the peace.












A final Dorset ice cream in the village before our farewells and journeys home. A lovely weekend with everything from thick fog to glorious sunshine - great!