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Church Ope Cove and Penn's Weare

Park in the little car park opposite the entrance to Pennsylvania Castle just past the Museum in Easton.

  1. The Pensilva Path

    Cross the road and go down the footpath along the side of the castle.

    Lat:50° 32' 22.6'' N(50.5396°)
    Long:2° 25' 52.1'' W(-2.43113°)
    OS:SY 69545 71182
  2. Pensilva Path

    The path drops steeply down through the woods.

    Lat:50° 32' 20.8'' N(50.5391°)
    Long:2° 25' 48.9'' W(-2.43025°)
    OS:SY 69607 71126
  3. Tower Doorway

    Until it reaches the remains of St Andrew's Church. Go through the doorway in what is left of the tower.

    Lat:50° 32' 20'' N(50.5389°)
    Long:2° 25' 46'' W(-2.42945°)
    OS:SY 69663 71104
  4. Church Ope

    Looking down from the churchyard it is easy to spot our path as it drops down to cross the path from Rufus Castle to Church Ope Cove, then climbs over the edge of the cove.

    Lat:50° 32' 20.4'' N(50.539°)
    Long:2° 25' 41.4'' W(-2.42818°)
    OS:SY 69753 71114
  5. Church Ope

    Before finally dropping down and turning along the top of Penn's Weare cliff. The main path from here to Durdle Pier is through very broken land, much of it quarry waste tipped over the cliffs above you.

    Lat:50° 32' 19'' N(50.5386°)
    Long:2° 25' 35.9'' W(-2.42664°)
    OS:SY 69862 71069
  6. Pillbox

    There are lots of paths diverging in every direction, but if you keep to the well-trodden one about 3m (10ft) back from the cliff edge, you should eventually come to an old quarryman's shelter turned pillbox, without problems.

    Lat:50° 32' 37'' N(50.5436°)
    Long:2° 25' 6.3'' W(-2.41842°)
    OS:SY 70448 71622
  7. Durdle Pier Whim

    From the pillbox, you may want to take a short diversion down to Durdle Pier and the remains of the old whim.

    Lat:50° 32' 38.4'' N(50.544°)
    Long:2° 25' 5.6'' W(-2.41823°)
    OS:SY 70461 71666
  8. Pillbox

    Retracing your steps to the pillbox, turn inland and follow the path towards the high cliffs.

    Lat:50° 32' 38'' N(50.5439°)
    Long:2° 25' 7.3'' W(-2.41869°)
    OS:SY 70429 71655
  9. Up to the Railway

    The path zigzags steeply up the side of the hill until it reaches the track bed of the old Easton & Church Hope Railway.

    Lat:50° 32' 40.2'' N(50.5445°)
    Long:2° 25' 10.8'' W(-2.41966°)
    OS:SY 70360 71723
  10. Easton and Church Hope Railway

    Driving up through Fortuneswell it seems extraordinary that there could have been a line from Weymouth all the way up to Easton right on the top of the island. What a grand ride that must have been.

    Lat:50° 32' 35.2'' N(50.5431°)
    Long:2° 25' 21'' W(-2.42249°)
    OS:SY 70159 71568
  11. Keep Left

    Keep to the left where the path divides. There are often rock climbers here.

    Lat:50° 32' 31.2'' N(50.542°)
    Long:2° 25' 28.5'' W(-2.42458°)
    OS:SY 70010 71447
  12. Rufus Arch

    The path drops down to a viewpoint overlooking Church Ope Cove then turns under the Rufus Castle arch and back up into Easton.

    Lat:50° 32' 22.9'' N(50.5397°)
    Long:2° 25' 42'' W(-2.42833°)
    OS:SY 69743 71192