The route of today's walk.

It is possible, but discouraged, to walk all the way along the beach from Abbotsbury, but the 'Danger Area' on the beach is closed when the rifle range at Chickerell is in use, as it was today.

This looks much more cheerful than it really was - steady rain and enough breeze to drive the rain into my face.

Boats on The Fleet

More boats on The Fleet

Old piles

Another 'Pillbox' this time at Clay Hard Point

The firing range at Chickerell.

I had heard the firing for some time so it was no surprise to be sent to the left and round the back of the range

The Fleet looking West just outside the Danger Area

Barnes Wallis and the bouncing bomb (Upkeep)

Testing of Upkeep prototypes with inert filling was carried out at The Fleet, flying from RAF Warmwell in December 1942 at first using a Vickers Wellington bomber. However, the dimensions and weight of the full-size Upkeep were such that it could only be carried by the Avro Lancaster, which was the largest British bomber available at the time, and nonetheless had to undergo considerable modification in order to carry it.

Look here for a video clip of a test drop.
http://www.thedambusters.org.uk/videos/beach512.wmv

A defensive Pillbox adjacent to the Royal Engineers Bridging Establishment at Wyke Regis

A boundary post

Walking up the Rodwell Trail cycle way from Ferry Bridge towards the B&B. The breakwater of Portland Harbour is the structure offshore