Purbeck

Swanage seems a good place for a hot day. Perhaps a stroll along the quayside, fish and chips in hand. Or a dip in the waters - except the tide happens to be in, so we are limited to the slipway.

There is a nice sandy beach at Swanage. Even at high tide there is room for a Punch and Judy show, and an ice cream licking audience rowed up on the edge of promenade. It happened to be stiflingly hot that day.

Across the Army ranges at the far West of Purbeck, you find the gem (and tourist honey pot) that is Lulworth Cove. Its an almost complete bowl of a cove wrapped in the arms of low cliffs. Where the path leads down, a host of cafes and shops can be found. Here they are just getting ready for the day ahead. How many coffee cups can you spot?

Most tourists to Lulworth Cove don't notice the spectacular Stairhole very close by. There is a path along the top with a low rope to deter anyone going down there, but it is possible to clamber down the mud drifts further on for a closer look. A wall of rock cuts this area off from the sea, save for several holes through which the tides flows in and out. At either end there are cliffs of contorted strata, whcih proved an interesting challenge to paint.