South West Coast Way

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

Today was to be a longer day but pretty much all flat walking so dosed up on the old painkillers as usual, we hobbled off for the day! We went down to the beach to rejoin the official footpath at the far end of Croyde Beach. Looking back at Baggy Point from the far side of Croyde Beach. The wonderful expanse of Saunton Sands stretching away to the River Taw Estuary. Behind the beach are huge numbers of sand dunes Braunton Burrows which are ministry of defence land. We decided to walk along the beach front rather than the official path behind the dunes. We had to go into the dunes at one point though to avoid pretend military goings on on the beach.. they were filming a D Day type landing there which was interesting. Me, as we approach the far end of Saunton Sands and the River Taw Estuary. From here on its a bit of a flat trudge inland as there is no ferry across this estuary. The nearest crossing is the old Bridge at Barnstaple... about a 20 mile detour to return back...

Well despite my pain there wasn't much point in not attempting today's walk as it was a really short stretch.. basically a wander along the whole beach of Woolacombe with our shoes off paddling in the water's edge in the lovely cool water with a short stroll around two headlands thrown in, neither of which was particularly up or downy. Simon sitting by the church gate in the lovely little hamlet of Mortehoe. The ship aground where we ate the previous night is also shown. We set off up the lane to the right of the church and regained the official footpath on the northern side of Morte Point. Looking back at the lighthouse on Bull Point, where we left the official route the day before to find the campsite in Mortehoe. The way ahead from the tip of Morte Point. Woolacombe sands just visible. Simon paddling as we start our dawdle along Woolacombe sands to the Putsborough end. Looking back towards Wollacombe from half way along the beach. And from abov...

I woke up very early in the campsite at Watermouth with rather excrutiating pain in my shin/ankle and knee. I had enough trouble moving it in the sleeping bag!!!! I fell asleep, repeatedly waking every time I needed to turn over. I eventually woke up properly at 8.15 and went for a shower, thinking I might not be able to go any further. Luckily it was a short day today so we weren't going to have to rush to get anywhere. I thought I could at least get to Ilfracombe, which was a more sensible place to give up if we had to, with more to do etc in the ensuing days. We set off after a leisurely shower and going to pay at the campsite shop. I had two mini milk ice lollies for breakfast!! The first bit of walking was pretty horrible – all down the main road because the tide was in and we couldn't join the low tide path at Watermouth Harbour. We basically followed the road all the way to Hele Bay, where we turned off and walked down to the nice little beach. My shin and knee were hu...

This was to be a long day. We got up slightly later than the first two days. I think I went for a shower at about 7.15am. When we'd finished and put down the tent, we set off for the day after posting our money through the shop letter box as it didn't open until 8.30am. We made our way to Lynton and stopped at the shop to buy some breakfast and something for lunch. I had a Cornish Pasty for breakfast and some coronation chicken sandwiches for lunch with two packets of Walker's sweet chilli crisps. We tried to find the coast path by the cliff railway station but failed and so went back down the hill to join it there. We followed a tarmac road, which became a tarmac path perched high over the sea with great views all the way to Castle Rock and the Valley of the Rocks – which were lovely rocky outcrops. Above: The little town of Lynton perched above Lynmouth, connected by the cliff railway. Right: Simon on the tarmac path out of Lynton as we approach Castle Rock. ...

I slept pretty badly through the night. I woke up at about 4am rather cold, but not cold enough to risk putting even colder clothes on! Also a sort of back of nose and throat sore sensation had developed.. not the beginning of a cold coming out surely:/ The showers at the site were pretty shitty, but we were up early and so got to use them before any sort of rush could develop for the two cubicles one of which was broken:/ Once the tent was packed up we wandered off in search of some breakfast and lunch supplies, being a little worried that we wouldn't actually find anywhere open so early on a Sunday morning in such a small place, which would mean pretty much no food all day let alone for breakfast. Luckily, around the corner, the general store was open and although its selection was mediocre to say the least, we would be eating SOMETHING today! Yay! I bought a pasty for my breakfast.. only a Pork Farms packet one but food at least, though I waited until we'd trudged along to...

With going to bed so early, I woke up correspondingly early, at about 6am, and went to have a shower in the lovely toilet block. The sun was just rising and was beautiful, making the bay and distant hills over the channel purples, pinks and blues. I sat writing this, while Simon got up and then we put the tent down and got ready to face the first day of our challenge. We stomped down to Minehead and bought some breakfast in the Co-op. I had bacon and egg sarnies and also bought some bread and houmous and garlic sausage for a picnic lunch. We wandered down to the beach to eat the breakfast and then wandered along to the sculpture that marks the beginning of the walk. Photos taken we set off, zig zagging steeply up through woods and overlooking the harbour. After this initial rapid height gain, the path became a much more gentle rise and rather pleasant. Wonderful view as we leave the campsite in Minehead and set off down to buy breakfast and then set off on what will be a MAMMOTH ...