Driving from Bournemouth to Swanage early in the morning and I nearly turn around due to stormy weather.  But then remembered this is when the light can be at its best for landscape photography so continued.

Swanage Walk OS Maps

The plan was to cover another part of the Jurassic coast I had not walked before starting in Swanage and then turning back along the hills at Dancing Ledge.

As always I planned the walk ahead using OS Maps online.  I have visited Swanage before and once again I would start on the Pier.

Swanage Old Pier

Parking was good, only £1 for the day at Broad Road car park, next to the pier.  Pier opens at 7:30 AM until 4pm during the winter.  I had missed the sunrise.  Again problem with getting the back off the mattress in the morning.

Cost £1 to get onto the Pier.  Attendant told me couple photographers on the pier in the morning and said it was photography heaven with the stormy skies and sunrise.  Damn! missed that.  I questioned my dedication.

I experimented with some more long exposure photography using Swanage old pier as my focal point.  In the background was the Isle of Wight needles.  With the seagulls perched on top of the old pier the Lee big stopper was too long, resulting in unwanted motion blur,  so used a Lee little stopper, which was enough to smooth out the ripples on the sea.  Using Lightroom post processing I cloned out a lot of buoys.

A short time later, the stormy weather front cleared up completely and  looked like it was going to be a lovely day after all.

Peveril Point Durlston Bay

After Swanage Pier I made my way to Peveril Point where the Jurassic coast begins at the far eastern end.  The weather was now beautiful and to think I nearly not make it and then had thoughts of abandoning the outing.

Again long exposure with the Lee Little Stopper was the order of the day.   I experimented with the Lee Big Stopper but not work with the slow-moving white fluffy clouds that were moving right to left. In the distance background the sun light was catching the Needles on the Isle of Wight.

Moving along the Jurassic coastline towards Dulston head were great views out over Dulston Bay to the Isle of Wight.  I wanted to do a trip over to the Isle of Wight, there were some cheap hotels on the coast, but the ferry crossing was expensive.

Compositions were presenting themselves all along the south west coastal path and long exposures were making all the difference.

Dulston Head to Blackers Hole

At Dulston head there was a bar and café where you can take some refreshments, popular with tourists to the area.  I then continued my walk first stopping off at the Tilly Whim caves.

Due to danger, the caves have been closed to the public for many years now.  From Tilly Whim was a long slog with not much to photograph.  The south-west coastal path on this stretch of the Jurassic coast was very muddy.

I made it as far as Blackers Hole falling short of Dancing Ledge.  I then made my way up the top of the hills and headed back towards Swanage.

At Anvil point I managed to catch the setting sun.  The sky is on fire but the foreground lacks any real interest.

A great day outdoors

I made my way back into Swanage and had some fish and chips and a pint before driving back to Bournemouth.  A great day out and not bad landscape and seascape photography.  I like Swanage,would be a good place to live.  Not too busy and easy to get onto the Jurassic coast or on the Purbeck hills.