pathway to heaven !

I was not exaggerating: this really is the pathway to heaven as defined by Swyre Head on the Purbeck Hills in Dorset.

Mind you, they say getting to heaven is never easy, and when you reach the crest of the hill you discover there's some way to go yet, particularly when you have had a short rest on this unusual memorial seat.

The way was sheltered from the unseasonal wind by the dry stone wall and trees to our right.

Sometimes you can look at things like the old stone wall and forget to think about the work that went into such an addition to the countryside.












We were fortunate in that we came across Mark and Andy(left) following a tradition going back thousands of years. Just look at the symmetry and craftsmanship.

As Andy remarked with an understatement:
"it's a time consuming job"





Walking on up to Swyre
Head was not something done quickly. Looking over to our left were views that demanded continual stop to stand and stare.

This is the view over Encombe to St Aldhelm's Head with its chapel, cottages and Coastguard lookout on the edge of the cliffs.
There is a very interesting website at:
http://www.isleofpurbeck.com/aldhelms.html

On the way back, face north and look at the view of Corfe Castle and Poole Harbour








but not before you stand and stare in awe at this:






which is so beautiful it needs a slight close-up looking westward towards Kimmeridge Bay and beyond.






Now you know you have reached heaven!