Year 9 Geography field trip to Dorset

Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, 62 Year 9 girls journeyed to Swanage, in Dorset, for their Geography field trip. After a long coach ride, the girls enjoyed paddling on Swanage beach on Friday evening before retiring to their accommodation.

On the Saturday the girls spent the day at Lulworth, hiking along the cliffs to view St Oswalds Bay and Durdle Bay – complete with stunningly clear views of Durdle Door. After a picnic lunch on the beach, in the sunshine, the girls conducted wave and beach measurements of a sheltered shingle beach, before refreshing themselves with ice cream whilst admiring the glorious views from the cliff top. The day concluded with a mapping exercise in Swanage, to see whether the town’s shops and services are typical of a seaside resort.

Sunday was the day of the ‘long walk’. The group set off along Swanage seafront, and stopped to admire the coastal defences – climbing Ballard Down – and sang Happy Birthday to celebrate one girl’s birthday. The group lunched in an idyllic spot with stunning views of Old Harry Rocks and Studland Bay. Down in the bay the girls collected wave and beach data on a wide, unsheltered sandy beach and paddled in some extremely cold water, before spending time in the visitor centre, shop and café.

The visit concluded on Monday with a visit to Durlston Head, where the group attempted to do some field sketching of the alternate headlands and bays, slightly hindered by the mist. This was rounded off with a scramble down from Durlston Head to see the famous Tilly Whim blowhole!