Day 47 - Blackpool Sands to Dartmouth - 5 miles

The weather forecast earlier in the week had been for pretty bad weather on the Saturday, but it had improved as Saturday had got nearer. We had planned a shorter day in case it was bad anyway, and we'd also decided that finishing in Dartmouth for this week's walking attempt would be a good idea. We had both had enough of the strenuous walking of this trip which had lots of cliff ups and downs.

The weather wasn't too bad... certainly not as bad as it HAD been forecast earlier in the week.

As we were leaving the car at Blackpool Sands for today's walk we decided to go to our by now fairly regular breakfast spot... the cafe on the beach. I decided I would have a proper full english breakfast today...none of this veggie full english that I'd had before, as the vegan sausages had been so yucky. Steve went for an eggs benedict I think?

View from seating at Blackpool Sands Beach cafe our breakfast spot before setting off today.

Once finished we set off up the Blackpool sands entrance road and then turned off on a path before reaching the main road that went around the car park and then climbed up through woods gradually along the side of the main road. So we had the noise of the traffic but it was much better than walking along the road itself!

Steve gently climbing up from Blackpool Sands through trees, on a path by the side of the busy road, which you later have to walk along on this stretch.

View out over Blackpool Sands from the path through the trees running alongside the main road.

Looking back at Blackpool Sands, the shingle ridge of Slapton Sands and all the way back to Start Point in the distance.

Before too long though the path had to join the busy main road, and around the next bend we had to cross the main road to head up a small lane opposite, that climbed very gradually and angled slightly away from the sea for a change.

The lane ended up entering the village of Stoke Fleming by the church. At the crossroads in the fairly quaint heart of the village we carried straight on before taking to a narrow fenced off path beneath trees.

At the end of the lane heading up from the main road we enter the village of Stoke Fleming with its tall church tower.

The Green Dragon pub by the church in Stoke Fleming. Straight over at the crossroads for us.

After working our way through the village of Stoke Fleming, we cross the main road again to join a lane for quite a way, which is a little inland for a change.

Nice views from the narrow country lane out over valleys heading down to the sea at Mill Meadow Cove.

After turning right off the lane we head gently down to the sea again and there are views back to Stoke Fleming with its church, and all the way back to Start Point in the mist.

As we get down towards Warren point, views open out ahead across the Dartmouth inlet to the headlands of Inner and Outer Froward Points with its Day Tower Day Beacon

Above Warren Point there are still views back out across Start Bay to Slapton Sands before we turn east and walk along the cliffs towards the mouth of Dartmouth inlet.

View from Warren Point out over Start Bay, all the way across to Start Point several days walking behind us.

Steve heads eastwards from Warren Point along the cliff edge, heading for Dartmouth inlet.

The way ahead from Combe Point along the cliffs to the far side of the Dartmouth inlet.

Steve as we head east along the cliffs, with Mewstone and Inner Froward Point at the far side of Dartmouth inlet visible beyond.

Looking back west to Combe Point over Willow Cove and Shingle Hill Cove as we head eastwards along the cliffs.

Mewstone and Inner Froward Point across the Dartmouth inlet get ever nearer.

Nearly made it to the Dartmouth inlet with its long and up and down path into Dartmouth itself.

Looking back along the cliffs as we head into the Dartmouth inlet.

The Dartmouth inlet proper as we round Blackstone Point, with the tiny Kingswer Castle visible on the far side.

The tree covered cliffs hiding the up and down path all the way towards Dartmouth Castle.

Steve on the path through the trees as we head along the cliffs to Dartmouth Castle.

Occasional glimpses through the trees across the Dartmouth estuary to the far side.

One of the numerous rocky inlets and beaches as we head up and down getting ever nearer to Dartmouth Castle.

Heading around the back of one of the larger beaches on the Dartmouth inlet looking south.

More rocky inlets on our approach to Dartmouth Castle along the Dartmouth estuary.

Houses of Kingswear on the far shore of the Dartmouth Estuary finally come into view.

Still a long way to walk into Dartmouth along the estuary as we round Dartmouth Castle's headland. Cruise ship in the harbour ahead.

Rounding an inlet at Warfleet as we head in towards Dartmouth from Dartmouth Castle.

Cruise ship in the harbour getting ever nearer as we trudge our way along towards Dartmouth.

Looking back out towards the mouth of the Dartmouth estuary.

Cruise ship in the harbour now close at hand, as we reach Dartmouth town centre.

Steve looking at boats in inner harbour of Dartmouth.. our day's walk and indeed week's walk complete!

Map of the day's walk:(click to enlarge)