Charmouth Beach

A 5.2-mile half-day round the eastern half of the Golden Cap estate, about two and three quarter hours, dropping off the ridge to the ruined chapel at St Gabriel’s and coming back along the slumping coast path over Cain’s Folly. The going is grass and hollow-way tracks, muddy and rutted after rain, with several kissing gates rather than stiles. Start at the National Trust car park on top of Stonebarrow Hill, up a steep single-track lane from Charmouth, free to members and with the estate information barn on site; cattle graze the hill most of the year so a lead is needed on the open sections, and the only water is the stream at St Gabriel’s Mouth.

Small Palmers pub in the middle of Charmouth, home cooking and five ales, a short walk from the fossil beach. The bar area is the dog-friendly part and the landlady makes a point of meeting new arrivals; the dining side is not. A sensible stop after a morning on West Beach.