It was a big day today. Accommodation once again forced me to plan a stage longer than I can actually do (18 miles) so I used the bus in the middle to cut a few miles out.

Since I’ve been waking up at 5a it was no problem having an early start. Out through town eastwards, crossed the oldest concrete bridge in England, up a steep(!) hill, walked down the 17th fairway of the Axmouth Golf Course(!), through a field (amazing fields lately), and into the Undercliffs.

The Undercliffs formed in 1839 when there was a gigantic landslip and several miles of coast slumped off the cliff. It’s remained untouched and has grown into a dense, damp, dark jungle of vegetation. There’s warning signs at each end as it’s 6 miles with no escape routes so you have to commit to the distance. A lot of it was magical, and some was a struggle through stinging nettles and grasping blackberry branches. The only view was that of a green tunnel, my one view pic was taken from a side trail.

By 7 miles I was clear of the Undercliffs and making my way down to Lyme Regis. Having left my hotel so early I had lots of time so I stopped at a beach restaurant with a view for a Tuesday brunch!

Another landslip east of Lyme Regis necessitated a 3 mile inland diversion on roads and along another golf course. To save my feet and to cover some miles I bused most of this but still had a long 1 mile trek on an incredibly steep quiet road. Then a small descent before field after field climbing up to Golden Cap, the highest point on England’s south coast.

A few more hills, a few more fields, then my poor weary feet were descending into West Bay for a 15.6 mile day. West Bay is the location used for the cliff/beach for the PBS show Broadchurch. I didn’t have the energy to walk all around the harbor for a closer look, perhaps tomorrow.

3 more days to go!!!!