Name: Thorncombe Beacon: Smugglers' Song, Beacon, and Watering Well
Rating: 1.9

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Chideock

Thorncombe Beacon: Smugglers' Song, Beacon, and Watering Well

Discover

Places to see

Mountain Peaks

United Kingdom

England

South West England

Dorset

West Dorset

Chideock

Thorncombe Beacon: Smugglers' Song, Beacon, and Watering Well

Recommended by 9 hikers out of 10

This Highlight goes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Dorset National Landscape

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Location: Chideock, West Dorset, Dorset, South West England, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hiking Routes to Thorncombe Beacon: Smugglers' Song, Beacon, and Watering Well

4.8

(30)

299

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1. Thorncombe Beacon – West Bay Harbour loop from Chideock

11.6km

03:23

310m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.9

(29)

270

hikers

2. Thorncombe Beacon – Golden Cap Summit loop from West Bay

13.5km

04:08

470m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.8

(13)

241

hikers

3. Thorncombe Beacon – View of Seatown and Eype Beach loop from Eype

8.38km

02:29

250m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Mike Cree

September 6, 2024

3 little things to see on this section.

A Smugglers song by Rudyard Kipling

IF you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet,

Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street,

Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie.

Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by.

Five and twenty ponies,

Trotting through the dark -

Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk.

Laces for a lady; letters for a spy,

Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by!

Running round the woodlump if you chance to find

Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine,

Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em for your play.

Put the brishwood back again - and they'll be gone next day !

If you see the stable-door setting open wide;

If you see a tired horse lying down inside;

If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;

If the lining's wet and warm - don't you ask no more !

If you meet King George's men, dressed in blue and red,

You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.

If they call you " pretty maid," and chuck you 'neath the chin,

Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one's been !

Knocks and footsteps round the house - whistles after dark -

You've no call for running out till the house-dogs bark.

Trusty's here, and Pincher's here, and see how dumb they lie

They don't fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by !

'If You do as you've been told, 'likely there's a chance,

You'll be give a dainty doll, all the way from France,

With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood -

A present from the Gentlemen, along 'o being good !

Five and twenty ponies,

Trotting through the dark -

Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk.

Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie -

Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by !

Mike Cree

September 6, 2024

Thorncombe Beacon is a hill between Bridport and Charmouth in Dorset, England. It lies about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of Eype Mouth and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of Seatown. It is in the south-west part of Symondsbury parish close to the parish of Chideock. It is 157 metres (515 ft) high, compared to 191 metres (627 ft) for Golden Cap which lies about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the west. It forms part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site and the South West Coast Path and the Monarch's Way skirt the hilltop.

The hill is owned by the National Trust. Three bowl barrows to the north-east of the summit constitute a scheduled monument.

In 1588, a chain of beacons was built along the south coast to warn of the approach of the Spanish Armada, which had been sighted off Plymouth, and Thorncombe Beacon was one of these.

Mike Cree

September 6, 2024

The watering well. Man made well with rocks and piping, I imagine that this is a watering spot for the wildlife in the area. mainly deer. clear and clean water.

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Details

Informations

Distance 437 m

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 70 m

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Monday 22 September

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Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

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Location: Chideock, West Dorset, Dorset, South West England, England, United Kingdom

Thorncombe Beacon: Smugglers' Song, Beacon, and Watering Well

1. Thorncombe Beacon – West Bay Harbour loop from Chideock

2. Thorncombe Beacon – Golden Cap Summit loop from West Bay

3. Thorncombe Beacon – View of Seatown and Eype Beach loop from Eype

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