Geographers head to Durdle Door
Dorset, with its stunning Jurassic coastline and tranquil walks offers a unique experience to those who explore it.
Our four–day trip was packed with natural wonders, brutal weather and awesome sights as we conducted our field work. The trip kicked off with our arrival at Boscombe, a lovely seaside suburb southwest of Southampton. As we stepped off our coach, we were greeted with a horizon painted in blue. The first sight at Boscombe was breathtaking, but we didn’t stay for so long. As we explored the seafront and town, discovering so much about the local demographic and stunning street art, the day was cut short by the weather, prompting our return to the Leeson house, our accommodation for the trip.
Fortunately, on the second day, the weather was on our side. We visited some iconic locations which were flagships for the Jurassic coast. The morning entailed a thorough analysis of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door after a scenic hike up and down the coastal features. We spent the morning learning about different analytical methods for physical fieldwork, so that we were well equipped for our own enquiries on the third day.
Our day ended with a brief familiarisation and a sketch of the Swanage coastline, leading to a bustling and busy late evening study session. After experiencing the first 2 days, we designed our own enquiries to investigate for our third day. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans; the third day was the first time I’ve ever seen snow, hail and rain at the same time. Depending on our chosen locations, each group went to Swanage, Boscombe or Durdle Door. Here, we spent our day fighting the weather and gaining the information we needed for our research!
Although the weather was extremely unpredictable, it was a terrific experience to explore such beautiful sights of the English coastline. It really brings an awe and appreciation for all of the factors and effects which built such magnificent and massive landscapes!
Article written by Nicolas (Year 12)
