Day 19 - Weymouth - Rest Day

Accommodation - The Gloucester House B&B

Weather - Overcast

We enjoyed our rest day in the sea-side town of Weymouth. It was packed with  tourists strolling along the esplanade and throughout the town’s streets and harbour. The town’s economy depends on tourism and the shops cater for the tourists with many icecream shops, cafes and restaurants. Weymouth also has more than 150 B&Bs. 

We started the day with a wide choice on offer at our B&B breakfast. With only three walking days to go we think this B&B will take the prize for the best breakfast on the walk. 

Weymouth has an historic reputation as a healthy seaside resort for the wealthy and links with royalty. King George III spent 14 summers in Weymouth between 1789 and 1805 and was encouraged to bathe in seawater to recover from his “mental illness”. There was no frolicking into the sea by the king. All respectable people were taken into the water in what they called a bathing machine, a replica of which sits proudly on the town’s esplanade near our B&B. It was pulled into deep water by horses. The king, wearing his street clothes, would enter the machine whilst on the beach and change into bathing clothing before emerging and entering the sea. The reverse would then occur.

Alongside the replica bathing machine, the grateful inhabitants of Weymouth erected a statue of King George III in 1810 as a permanent reminder of what the king did for Weymouth and probably one of England’s earliest tourist ambassadors. 

Continuing on a royal theme and also near our B&B on the esplanade was the colourful Jubilee Clock which was built by public subscription and unveiled in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 1887 Golden Jubilee. 

We walked through the town to the picturesque Weymouth Harbour. Once again, there were many tourists. There was a number of cafes and small galleries. 

After a late morning tea we didn’t have lunch so once again we headed off early to a restaurant in the evening feeling very hungry. It was another Italian one, Enzo’s on the esplanade which was only a few doors up from our B&B and recommended by our B&B hosts. Thankfully, we had made a reservation as the place was popular. We both had the restaurant special of risotto with the locally caught seafood and it was very tasty. We also ordered a side of vegetables. We’re missing our regular vegetables which unless specially requested only consists of peas and potatoes as part of a standard dish. 

This was our last rest day for our walk. Whilst I write this blog the weather is rainy and cool but the forecast is that it will clear overnight and we’ll have three clear days of good weather. The walk now becomes a bit more difficult after some easy days.