Walks in Dorset - The Jurassic coast

It may not quite feel like a 250million year old walk.  But the story of this famous Dorset and Devon Coastal Jurassic Coast walk really does go back to the ‘Middle Ages of life”

The walk won a World Heritage listing back in 2001, bringing an international status to the site.

The coast comprises of three geological periods.  The Triassic, Jurassic and the Cretaceous.  All of these span the Mesozoic Era (180 Million year, give or take).

The entire stretch equates to 95 miles and takes in the Purbeck area, Lyme Regis and Charmouth and the isle of Portland and Chesil Beach.  The Jurassic Coast website has an excellent interactive map worth looking at.

Rock falls along the many cliffs that make up the walk are not uncommon.  These mainly occur due to large cracks and fissures within the cliffs and can make the cliff drop away without any notice.  So take care.

At the end of the walk if you are feeling particularly energetic You could continue round to finish the South West Coastal path.  A mere 630 miles and approximately 1 month of you time.

Walking fleeces

It’s important to wear the right clothing for these trips.  In previous blog posts we have already talked about good quality Regatta Waterproofs jacket and Regatta shoes.  You also should take along a good fleece.

The Regatta Mercury Fleece for Men

Available in Olive green and Seal Grey, this soft an cosy fleece is excellent for day walking.  This is an “Anti-Pill” fleece, which means it will not develop those annoying balls of fabric after use.

Regatta Mercury fleece

The Regatta Mercury  Fleece costs £13.00

The Regatta Nova Fleece for Women

Again, the Regatta Nova fleece is an “Anti-pill” and quick drying.  It is lightweight, which is useful when packing into a rucksack

Colour: Red,Plum,Navy,Black,Brown,Light olive green,Pink.

Size: Ladies 10-20

Special Features

• 280 series Symmetry anti-pill both sides
• Adjustable shockcord hem
• 2 zipped lower pockets

Regatta Nova fleece

The Regatta Nova fleece costs £13.00

So #Grabthekids this summer holiday and hit the coast for some fascinating scenery and good healthy waking.

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Weymouth Midnight walk

Now in it’s fourth year the Weymouth Midnight walk is being held at the Esplanade in Weymouth on Saturday 21 August.

This is a ladies only event starting at the Pavilion there are two options a 6km or a 10km walk.

The purpose of the walk is to raise money for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.  It is an independent charity working in Dorset.  All our services are provided free of charge. 70% of the funds we need is raised locally; the rest is given by the NHS. We are the only agency providing specialist palliative care* in north, south and west Dorset.

Pictures from last year

If you need a pair of boots for the event, why not try the Regatta Women’s Lady Guideway Shoe at SAVE £30.00.

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Weymouth Carnival

Weymouth, Dorset is the place to be on 18th August for the annual Weymouth Carnival festivities. More than 100,000 people visit Weymouth each year during Carnival week where locals and holiday makers are treated to a truly fantastic, colourful and fun filled family day out. This year the Weymouth Carnival is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Weymouth and a dedicated community committee. The Carnival raises much need funds for the local community and worthy causes.

There are plenty of festivities at Weymouth beach to keep you entertained through out the day, and here at The Outdoor Store we have put together a summary of the main events.

Event list

Sand Sculpting Competition 10:30am

Weymouth is famous for its sand, perfect for making sand castles. You can get some tips from local sand sculptor Mark and all you’ll need is your bucket and spade to get creative. Who knows you may win a prize for your creation!

Beach Football 10:30am to 2:30pm - 3:30pm to 5:30pm

The Beach Football event is organised by Tim Davis and his team at WeySports (the Weymouth & Portland Community Sports Development Group) and players from Weymouth Ladies FC. This event is free and suitable for children of all ages and abilities. Kids will receive coaching and can take part in organised beach football matches.

Beach Space Hopper Race 1:30pm

The competitive Beach Space Hopper Race is open to women and children. Just bounce your way along the beach to the finish line or preserve your energy whilst enjoying the fun.

Bleep Test Challenge 3:30pm

This one is for the men and not for the faint hearted. Similar to pre-season football training, levels of football fitness will be tested using a special Bleep Test on the beach.

Waitress Trolley Race – Banus at 5pm

The classic Waitress Trolley Race is making a return to Weymouth Carnival, so come along to Banus and cheer along competitors from your favourite restaurant or bar.

Coach Pull Challenge – Marks & Spencers at 5:30pm

The Coaching Pull Challenge is a new addition to the Weymouth Carnival. Father and son, Chris Reay and CJ from The Channel Guest House, along with Dan Milverton of Future Physiques, will each take it in turn to pull the 12,500kg Bluebird Coaches over 40 meters. This will be followed by pub teams of 6 to see whether they can pull this coach the same distance and record a better time.

Children’s Fun Run – The Kings Status at 5:30pm

Children can take part in the Children’s Fun Run starting at The Kings Statue up to St Johns Church and back again.

The Grande Parade – Weymouth Pavilion at 6.30pm

Not to be missed, this year’s Grande Parade sees the return of the motorised procession after an absence of 2 years, in addition to people dressed in fancy dress, bands, majorettes and Morris dancers. You’ll also get a chance to cheer on the newly crowned Carnival Queen.

The Internationally famous Red Arrows will again be displaying their expertise above the skys of Weymouth (weather permitting) and the Spectacular Firework Display is at 9.30pm.

If you would like to keep up to date with the latest goings on with the Weymouth Carnival plans why not follow the Facebook and Twitter pages.

facebook.com/WeymouthCarnival

twitter.com/Wey_Carnival

Sponsors

A huge number of local businesses give their support to Weymouth Carnival. This year’s main sponsors are Skanska who are constructing the Weymouth Relief Road for Dorset County Council and DJ Property which lets industrial, retail, office, leisure and storage properties in the Weymouth area. DJ Property and The Outdoor Store have a family connection, Mickey Jones manages DJ Property a family business started by his late father David since 2003 and his brother Jonah is the owner of The Outdoor Store.

Make sure to put the date in your diary and we hope you enjoy the Weymouth Carnival as much as we do.

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Looking out across Chesill Beach in Portland

Did you know walking is good for you? It has good health benefits for all the family, regular walks keep your lungs in shape, provides good muscle tone and builds your stamina without too much effort. It is a fantastic outdoor activity and there is nothing more relaxing than a leisure walk where you can leave the daily stresses of life behind and explore your local countryside.

For those who enjoy walking in Weymouth, Dorset, The Outdoor Store has compiled a selection of the best local routes for you and your family to discover. You can either drive to the starting points, or take a bus from Weymouth.

Weymouth Walks - Short distances up to 2.5 miles

Rodwell Trail

This trail is a level 2.5 miles walk along the coast with wildlife habitat and fantastic views across Portland Harbour. You can start the walk at Ferrybridge a 20 minutes journey by bus from the Kings Status in Weymouth.

As you follow the trail back to Weymouth you can take a short detour to visit Sandsfoot Castle and gardens. As you pass through a wooded cutting you will see the old railway platforms at Rodwell Station and marvel at the engineering of the brick built railway tunnel. From here on there are marvellous views of the Dorset coast.

Download the Rodwell Trail map

The 3 Lighthouses on Portland Bill

The 2 mile circular walk around Portland Bill offers great views of the 3 lighthouses that protect ships around Portland. Portland Bill is a 40 minute journey by bus from the Kings Statue in Weymouth and you will see the first lighthouse ‘Portland Bill Lighthouse’ built around1903 as you alight at the car park.

This lighthouse is painted in bright red and white and is a traditional tourist symbol of Portland. To see the remaining two lighthouses ‘The Old Higher Lighthouse’ and ‘The Old Lower Lighthouse’  you need to head north on the South West Coast Path and follow the relevant footpath signs.

Download the 3 Lighthouses Route Map

Weymouth Walks - Longer distant walks

Railway Walks

Julia Bradbury the Countryfile presenter is well known for her love of walking. Last year she introduced many people to a walk along the disused railways between Weymouth & Portland for the BBC TV series ‘Railway Walks’.

The railway route was built in 1865 to carry passengers and the world famous Portland Stone between Weymouth and Portland, the line was closed in April 1965.

There are three routes for you to explore covering 6 miles namely:

• The Rodwell Trail mentioned earlier takes you along Portland Harbour.
• The Merchants’ railway from Castletown to Yeastes Incline follows the original horse drawn Merchants railway built in 1826 and used by the quarrymen to transport their wagons of stone.
• Follow the disused railway line which ran to Easton. Look out for an old engine shed being restored by Portland Gas Trust and the herd of feral British Primitive goats which have been reintroduced to help control scrub.

Download the Railway Walk Leaflet

The above route details are available to download on www.visitportland.co.uk or call into The Outdoor Store where we stock a variety of maps including the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL15 that covers the South West Coast Path and Chesil Beach area.

Look foward to seeing you out there Walking in Weymouth .

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The common rucksack once used for climbing a Highland Munro or the South Coast Path has now morphed into a backpack which is far happier on the School run rather than a fell run.

Regatta Backpack

Regatta Backpack for schools come in all shapes and size and it pretty much depends on your requirements.  If you are looking to do some serious after school clubs then you need perhaps a large capacity and strong.

Alternatively, if you are looking for your pre-teenager to carry their sandwiches in then a light, small backpack should do just fine.

At the Outdoor store we have a range of backpacks to suit most needs from the school trips to light walking.

Regatta Traveller Backpack - Clay/Grey

Regatta Traveller Backpack

This backpack is more at home on the school run than a fell run.  Technical features include;

• 12L capacity
• Hardwearing 600D polyester (Essential for children)
• Side pockets with drainage holes
• Daisy chain webbing
• Reflective highlights
• Inner security pocket
• Easy grab zip pullers
• 33H x 24L x 13D cm

The Regatta Traveller backpack costs £9.99 inc VAT

Regatta Cool Dude 15L Backpack - Green Camo

Regatta Cool Dude 15L Backpack

Again, as you may derive from the name the Cool Dude Regatta backpack prefers school life to the great outdoors.  At 15L capacity there should be enough room sandwiches and PE kits.

Special features include;

• 15L capacity (will take an A4 folder, or half a dozen text books)
• Hardwearing 600D polyester
• Side mesh pockets with adjustable drawcord
• Front zip pocket
• Compass key fob attachment
• Reflective highlights
• Inner security pocket
• Easy grab zip pullers
• 33H x 27L x 13D cm

Regatta Cool Dude backpack cost – £6.99 inc VAT

Regatta Varsity 25L Backpack

Regatta Varsity 25L Backpack

The Regatta Varsity range is a little less conspicuous and might appeal more to the “what-ever” class of teenager that we all know and love.

At 25L there should be enough room for study texts and a Jumbo sized tub of Clearasil.

Technical features include;

• 25 litre capacity
• Hardwearing 300D polyester
• Front bungee storage system for
• External side security pocket
• Internal organiser pocket with key clip for lunch money (teens don’t always eats mums sarnies).
• Easy grab zip pullers
• 45(H) x 29(L) x 12(D)cm

Regatta Varsity 25L Backpack costs £18.99 in VAT

Now if you have managed to persuade your cherished one that the Duke of Edinbugh award would be a good thing then you should consider a more serious Regatta Rucksack.

Regatta X-ert 25L Backpack

Regatta X ert 25L Backpack

Now are 25L capacity this more of a daysack rather than a weekend trip.  So please check with your DoE organiser for suitability.

Special features

• 25 litre capacity
• Hardwearing 600D polyester micro ripstop
• Hi-tech airflow venting technology with air mesh hip and backcushioning foextra load carrying comfort
• Articulated cushioned shoulder straps for added comfort
• Adjustable comfort fit padded air mesh hip belt
• Soft stretch mesh side water bottle pockets
• Internal hydration storage pocket and drinking tube retainer
• Detachable zip-away raincover
• Side compression straps
• Side security pocket with internal key clip
• Adjustable sliding chest harness with built in safety whistle
• Walking pole holder
• Ice axe loops
• Reflective highlights
• Easy grab zip pullers
• 56(H) x 29(L) x 20(D) cm

Regatta X-ert 25L Backpack costs £29.99 (SAVE - £30)

Regatta has an ideal selection of backpack for school , available in a wide range of colour and suitable for most kids taste.  Grab a bargain before the start of school term, visit the The Outdoor Store.

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National Parks Week

To coincide with the school holidays National Parks Week kicks off on the 26 July to 1 August.

There are lots of events arranged throughout the country.  From the New Forest show on 27-29 July to Witches, wolves and wickerman in Castell Henllys.

So if you are holidaying in the UK or just want somewhere to kids the kids.  Check out the National Parks website for a park that is local to you.

The Outdoor Store wants to get everyone out and about this summer so #grabthekids and start exploring.

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We shall shortly be moving into outdoor waking season and the most important piece of kit in my bag the waterproof jacket.    For me, Regatta ladies jackets are affordable and great quality and in particular, I like the Womens Regatta Anya jacket.

Available in 4 colours, black, white, turquoise and bright pink the Regatta Anya jacket is made from a waterproof, windproof and breathable Isotex grid fabric.

Regatta Anya Horizon

The fine mesh lining helps with the breathability of the jacket, whilst the taped seems keep the wind out.

The flexibility of this jacket means that you can use the Regatta Anya jacket for day drips to the coast or for wet school runs.  Even if it is not raining the hood can be tucked away.

Amazon reviewers have given this jacket a 4.5 star, which for the price of £29.99 makes this waterproof jacket great value.

The History of Regatta Clothing

Regatta caters for the whole family. Its ranges cover everything from high performance outdoor wear under the X-ert label to easy-to-wear everyday outdoor clothing in its Outdoor Classics and Heritage ranges. Regatta completes the outdoor offering with an excellent range of footwear, rucksacks and accessories.

In my opinion the Regatta Anya Waterproof jacket is a performance waterproof jacket that offers outstanding value and is a great investment.

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So we at online retailer the Outdoor Store feel we should look at the Regatta Guideway walking shoe.

Ladies Regatta Guideway Walking Shoe

With over 80 years of experience, Regatta is sometimes overlooked as a brand in favour of the North Face or Berghaus.  However, Regatta consistently make high quality outdoor clothing which has seen them develop into the UK’s largest supplier of outdoor and leisure clothing, as well as a leading player in the European market.

The Ladies Regatta Guideway walking shoe

The Regatta Lady Guideway has a rubberised toe and heel bumpers to provide protection against rocky ground whilst a lightweight rubber outsole and EVA shock pads cushion you from the ground up, lessening impact on your joints and bones.

Mens Regatta Guideway Walking Shoe

The Mens Regatta Guideway walking shoe.

With many of the same features as the ladies walking shoe, the mens Regatta Guideway shoe hast the same toe and heel bumpers, lightweight rubber outsole and EVA shock pads cushion.  This shoe comes in black.

The Outdoor Store thinks

“Since your feet take the brunt of all your hard work cragging, rambling, hiking and fell walking, they deserve a little protection. Especially since you’ll be expecting them to go out farther, faster and longer than before”.

If you would like to understand more about the Regatta Shoes visit the online store, The Outdoor store.

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Explore Dorset with the National Trust

The Dorset countryside is some of the best in the Country. From the drama of the 95 mile Jurassic coast to the hill forts, and woodland vales.   So as you would expect the National Trust in Dorset offers lots to do and see.

I have picked out 3 activities in and around Dorchester.

Clouds Hill

The secluded Clouds Hill cottage is in the very heart of Dorset. This peaceful retreat was owned buy T.E. Lawrence of Lawrence of Arabia fame.  The rooms remain untouched and reflect the mood of the man and his emotional ties to the Middle East.

Try and take the time to fit in the 7 mile Lawrence Trail and end with a picnic.

Hardy’s Cottage

Born in 1840 Thomas Hardy. This quintessential English poet of the naturalism movement was born in a small thatch cottage built by his father.  Located in the small village of Higher Bockhampton, Hardy’s Cottage displays all the charm you would expect from that era.

Max Gate

Situated in Arlington Avenue, Dorchester - Max Gate was the residence of Thomas Hardy from 1855 until his death in 1928.  This is where he wrote Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure andThe Mayor of Casterbridge, as well as much of his poetry.

Guided Tours are available.

Whether you are out climbing a mountain, or looking for some gentle rambling the Outdoor Store can help kit you our the summer.

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Spirit of the Sea

The coastal town of Weymouth and neighbouring Portland in Dorset host 200 magnificent events and festivals throughout the year.  The fantastic summer weather is attracting a large number of tourists to the scenic beaches and The Outdoor Store is expecting a large influx of visitors for the popular Spirit of the Sea festival.

3rd July 2010 to 16th July 2010

The Spirit of the Sea is a unique multi event maritime festival and showcases the best Weymouth and Portland has to offer as it prepares to host the sailing and windsurfing championships for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last year’s event attracted an extra 35,000 visitors to the town, looking to sample the areas rich maritime history and links with the sea. Weymouth & Portland’s third Spirit of the Sea festival promises to be even better with a bumper programme of cultural events, entertainment and taster sporting activities.

Try your hand at Powerkiteing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, Scuba Diving and Sailing

At The Outdoor Store we have created a sample list of some of the water sport taster session you can try throughout the maritime festival:

Powerkite Lessons & Kitesurf taster Days from £25

If you’ve never had a go at powerkiteing or kitesurfing then this is your chance to give it a try. Paracademy Extreme Sports Centre located in Victoria Square, Portland will teach you the basics on how to use, and get the most from, the Powerkite and Kitesurf equipment.

The Powerkite session costs £25 for 2 hours and is available on Friday 2nd, Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th July. The Kitesurf Taster Days are priced at £74.25 (25% discount off the normal price of £99) and take place Friday 9th to Sunday 11th July.

Windsurfing taster sessions £10

This is a prefect opportunity to have a go at windsurfing with expert guidance from The Official Test Centre, ideally located in the UK’s national sailing academy at Osprey Quay on Portland – it overlooks the most prominent water sports arena and resource in the world today. Windsurfing taster sessions are available for just £10 on Saturday 3rd, Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Friday 9th to Sunday 11th and Wednesday 14th thought to Friday 16th July. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Sea Kayak Demo Days Free

Secondwind Watersports, situated at Overcome Beach, Preston, Weymouth are offering free Kayak Demo days on both weekends of the Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival at Preston Beach. There is no need to pre book, just turn up and the expert assistants will provide all the information you need to get kitted out for this popular water sports activity.

Scuba Diving & Snorkelling Tasters £10

Planning to go scuba diving on holiday this year? C-Waves Diving will be offering scuba diving and snorkelling tasters in the heated swimming pool at the Riviera Hotel, Bowleaze Cove from 4th to 6th July only. Each session is 30-40 minutes in duration and will cost £10 per person including equipment. Places are limited and booking your time slot between 6pm and 8.30pm is essential to avoid disappointment.

Sailing on the 2012 Olympic waters! £20

On Wednesday 7th July SailLaser, Weymouth and Portland’s National Sailing Academy, are giving you the opportunity to try sailing in the venue that will host the sailing events for 2012 games. A qualified instructor will help you to master the basics and you will get a chance to experience a competitive race. Both regular sailors and complete novices are welcome. The cost is £20 per person,  £60 for a team of three, or only £45 for a team of three or four if no skipper is required.

At the Outdoor store we always say, “what are you waiting for”! Make a date to visit Weymouth and Portland during the two week Spirit of the Sea maritime festival, to enjoy the atmosphere, the events, and the opportunity to sample a new, and perhaps life changing skill.

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