hiking Lulworth and Durdle Door by Stephen20 June 201811 October 2019 It’s just after 7am as I arrive at Lulworth Cove, and the fog is starting to lift, but it’s all still very quiet with few people about on a June morning. Just west of Lulworth Cove is Stair Hole. The sedimentary rocks formed underwater and were later titled, since when they’ve been eroded by the sea. The Portland Stone that faces the sea was breached by waves attacking weak points, producing caves which eventually form arches, ultimately collapsing to produce stacks. The softer Wealden Beds behind the Portland Stone have been washed away. From a different angle, the sedimentary layers are clearer and the gap from eroded Wealden Beds, now several small bays, is visible. Lulworth Cove is just visible in the fog in the background. Next is Durdle Door, again made of Portland Stone eroded by wave action I have a soft spot for gates that go nowhere and whose function is now very different from when they were a means of getting from one area to another. Having past Durdle Door and Scratchy Bottom, I passed over Swyre Head and through Middle Bottom and West Bottom, turning sharply to head back towards Lulworth a bit further inland through The Warren. It was a wet walk because of the fog and the very heavy dew, but brightened by lots of flowers Having stupidly failed to bring a change of footwear, I completed the walk with sodden feet, and facing a day of bellringing shod like that, I stopped at the first tourist shop and purchased a new pair of beach shoes for the rest of the day.