Day 24 (Sunday 14 June)

Abbotsbury to Golden Cap (13.5 miles)

Off we set to Golden Cap. It's a lovely day - Annie is taken by the colour of the sea, Gill by the landscape and the weather; meanwhile Tony has decided to don a mask (because of hay fever), a hat not seen since the days of the Magical Mystery Tour and a pair of six-shooters (I may have made the last bit up). Stop for coffee at a beach cafe at Burton Bradstock. We all really liked it - lots of people there and it's not a typical English tacky beach place - it's got a real continental feel.
Off we go and we soon have some climbing to do. Then down into West Bay and across the bridge. Start climbing up again and it's pretty steep. We probably could have walked along the beach but it's great that we didn't because we see the most fantastic display by a pair of peregrine falcons - soaring up from the cliffs and down onto a golf course -(I suppose there had to be one) - targeting a crow which is trying to hide - it must have been hit by the peregrine because it can't fly away. Have never seen anything like it.
On we go (after watching them for perhaps 15 minutes). Walk down to Seatown for a sandwich at the Anchor. Worth noting that neither of the male of the species had any alcohol; the same cannot be said of the female of the species. This information is offered with no comment. Then the climb begins to get up to Golden Cap - the highest point on the south coast. And here's a picture of 3 of the intrepid climbers




And below is the picture that I just knew would be the tree of the day before we set off - I always look for it when I come here.







Looking back beyond the tree is the coastline we have followed. We were fortunate indeed with the weather as you can see.






I go on ahead for a few minutes because Golden Cap is the the spot where we put Lorna's ashes. Then Annie, Tony and Gill come along and we start to walk back along the top of Golden Cap and a linnet started to sing.

Now we head down towards Langdon Wood. I know what sort of direction we should go in but the path is not where I think it should be - Gill runs up the hill to find it - pretty impressive after the climbing we've done. It's very nice shady walk back to the car

Bird of the day: peregrine falcon

Tree of the day: hawthorn (see picture)