Isle of Purbeck:
Swyre Head and Nine Barrow Down

13 August 2005

While Lucy, Henry and Ellie were at the Bournemouth Canine Association's show, Stephen and George went for a couple of walks on the Isle of Purbeck.


A view along the ridge of Swyre Head

A view west from the summit of Swyre Head (208m / 682ft above sea level). The top is a tumulus, fully grassed over.

From the same point, a zoomed in shot of Clavell Tower. Also known as Clavell Folly or Kimmeridge Tower, it is 11 metres high, and was built in about 1831 by the Reverend John Richards. It has fallen into disrepair, and with the cliff eroding fairly rapidly, is in danger of shortly falling into the sea. (Compared with the previous photograph, this picture also demonstrates the value of a good zoom on a camera.)

Looking east over Swanage Bay to the Isle of Wight

And looking north-east over Pool Harbour with Round Island and Brownsea Island visible.

George on the track to the north-west of Swyre Head, with the Isle of Portland visible on the horizon, some 25 km away

Looking north-east to Nine Barrow Down

Orchard Hill Farm, well sheltered from westerly winds

Sheep watching the man and his dog

Onwards to our second hill, Nine Barrow Down, which can just be seen above the signal. This railway cutting forms the col between Swyre Head and Nine Barrow Down, and results in them having 150 metres of height separation, and thus promoting Nine Barrow Down to Marilyn status.

Looking the other way, a busy scene at Harman's Cross station on the Swanage Railway

George investigates the signpost as we make our way up Nine Barrow Down

Looking south-west to our first walk, Swyre Head

Swanage and its Bay

George investigates the trig point from the summit of Nine Barrow Down. Removed by the farmer with the permission of Ordnance Survey, it now looks rather sad on its side.

From the summit of Nine Barrow Down (199m/653ft above sea level), Pool Harbour and the narrows of the Sandbanks Ferry

A transmitter mast on Nine Barrow Down

This rusting tank is approximately on the highest point.