If I think of the big cliffs of the English south coast what do I think of? The White Cliffs of Dover, Beachy Head, Old Harry Rocks, the Lizard and Land's End. But Golden Cap? Never heard of it!
Surprisingly Golden Cap in the West Dorset sandstone area is the highest point on the south coast surpassing the White Cliffs (roughly 50 m), Beachy Head (163 m) and all the other ones.
Today I drove to Seatown. OS Map 193 (Grid Reference SY420917). It was blustery with a strong North wind.
From Seatown you realise that the Golden Cap is quite substantial. The name is also appropriate as the summit is in "golden" sandstone atop a grey sandstone. The Dorset coastpath is diverted away from the cliff edge at Seatown presumably due to instability.
About halfway to the top there was this great example of a windswept tree. Obviously the wind prevails from the South here, though not today! Slightly further along in the lee of Landon Hill there was a single buzzard lazily hunting. During the whole day I could count the number of gulls I saw on one hand - much less than normal - plenty of magpies though.
There was a great view from the top. This shows Doghouse Hill beyond Seatown with the East Cliff at West Bay in the middle distance. I carried on the coast path (steeply downwards from Golden Cap) along to Westhay Farm. I then turned inland skirting Stonebarrow Hill - a gorse covered heathland area - towards Morcombelake.
The final stretch was back on a track below Langdon Hill to Seatown. On this stretch I was surprised to see the first oilseed rape flowers. That seems a good month early to me. Normally the full bloom is around May Day. Along the walk there were patches of primroses.
Now, I'm out of the wind in my inn...thinking of dinner...and blogging!
2007-03-20 @ 00:26