Day 4 - Watermouth Castle to Mortehoe - 10 Miles

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 hurting considerably, especially coming downhill. We sat on the beach for about half an hour, which was pleasant, watching some young boys jump off the rather high rocks becoming increasingly more daring!

After our rest we set off up steps and then steeply zigzagging path up to the top of Hillsborough, which had lovely views down to the harbour at Ilfracombe. We made our way down to the harbour very slowly, me hobbling all the way, and then went to the pub overlooking the harbour and sat outside. I had scampi and chips for lunch. We bought and wrote some postcards and then before setting off on our way again had a lovely ice cream topped with clotted cream!!!!

After our main road walking we eventually approach Hele Bay which is in the inlet here. Ilfracombe can just be seen beyond Beacon Point which we zig zagged up after sitting on Hele beach for a while.

Ilfracombe ahead, from a viewpoint on the far side of Hillsborough above Beacon Point.

We walked along the 'front' and then briefly up hill to the High Street for Simon to buy fruit and to go to the bank. We then descended and carried on along the front and zig zagged our way up Torrs Park, with lovely views out over the rocky outcrops and wave cut platforms. At the top we joined a farm track, which progressively became more well used and eventually tarmac before the steep descent to the beach at Lee Bay…. Ouch!!

We sat for a while outside the shut bar of the hotel and then wandered down onto the beach as the tide was well out!!! And still I managed to be trudging onwards with the aid of regular painkillers!

The rather pretty Lee Bay.

Simon on the beach at Lee.

Looking Back at Lee Bay after our intial steep climb out.

The beautiful, if up and down, coastline between Lee Bay and Mortahoe.

The climb out of Lee Bay was steep, but we descended and re ascended twice on the coast path. It was all very beautiful though a bit less grand than the previous days' scenery. Eventually we got to the lighthouse at Bull Point and followed the access road to the village of Mortahoe and North Morte campsite, which seemed well kept and clean. We pitched the tent on one of the few flat areas, with our tent flaps overlooking the sea all the way out to the island of Lundi. We had a shower in the lovely clean shower block and wandered/hobbled into the village itself for food.

We ended up in The Ship Aground by the church. The food was lovely. I had Japaleno peppers stuffed with cheese again to start, followed by chilli and lime butterfly chicken.

We called in at the other pub on the way to the campsite and went back to the tent shattered, ready for sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

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