20 May 2018 – Rob's South West Coast Path

Date: 20180520

Time: 9:20 – 16:05

Distance: 24.8 km

Stay: Holmsleigh Bed And Breakfast, Braunton

Walk

For the first part of today, I choose the beach at Woolacombe, about 2 miles. The official Coast Path goes slightly higher above the beach. After the beach I go up back to the path, this is not too bad. There is a nice relaxed walk to Baggy Point and then to Croyde. Especially between Baggy Point and Croyde it is very busy with walkers, especially oncoming traffic. Is Baggy Point very popular or is it because it is Sunday? Or both?

When I’m around Baggy Point, I see Westward Ho! already lying, the final destination of next Tuesday and also the first resting place.

In Croyde, just before the beach, it’s time for a break and a pint at The Beach Cafe.

Also in Croyde the route follows the beach, the official route this time. Besides the normal daily sunbathers, there are also many surfers on the beaches. I look at this a bit and I see them lying in the sea with their surf board. Very occasionally one or two go on a wave, but that only lasts for a short while. I think it’s not such a good surf day today, too little waves.

After the beach of Croyde, it goes along the coast towards Saunton. After a small climb, a very relaxed path follows along the hill overlooking the beach of Saunton. To avoid the road in Saunton (and with that also the beach bars, I already had a pint), I take the alternative route of the Coast Path. That immediately gives me a steep climb and later of course the corresponding descend. In the height chart below, this is the last spike…

Fortunately, it is not too bad, especially compared to the past few days. Today I only have a few rises and falls and they are all a lot lower.

The last part of the walk does not even have any rises or falls. I walk along / through a golf course and then along a military training ground. Before I reach Braunton, there is a big diversion:

October 25th 2016: The Coast Path is temporarily diverted on Horsey Island south of Braunton (Grid Ref: SS 470 330) due to the sea eroding a large hole in the path making it unsafe. As a result the path is closed and diversion is in place following the toll road (public footpath).

Arriving in Braunton I go directly to the B & B. Unfortunately no pub along the way, but the hostess offers me a beer, so that’s okay.

Weather

Great weather, just like yesterday. In the morning cloudy but nice, in the afternoon sunny and very warm. Jacket? What is that?

Lyric of the day

Today’s lyrics relate to the beaches and all the surfers who were waiting for a wave in the sea, Windsurfing by The Surfers:

Every day when our homework is done
We go to the beach and gonna have some fun
The ocean is blue
And the weather is fine
With the surfboard sailing all over the sea
A new sensation for you and me
I sure can say
We’ll have a wonderful time

Talking about
Surfing, surfing, windsurfing
Surfing, surfing, windsurfing
V-a-c-a-t-i-o-n
And it’s fun, fun, fun
Everybody has fun, fun, fun
Everybody has fun, fun, fun
Winsurfing fun

Driving down the shore in daddy’s cadillac
With a pretty girl hanging ’round my neck
Sunset boulevard
Look out here I come
And when the evening comes and the sun goes down
Surferboys and girls coming from miles around
‘Cause we’re gonna have a real party tonight

Talking about
Surfing, surfing, windsurfing
Surfing, surfing, windsurfing
V-a-c-a-t-i-o-n
And it’s fun, fun, fun
Everybody has fun, fun, fun
Everybody has fun, fun, fun
Winsurfing fun

Photos

Date: 20180519

Time: 9:25 – 18:05

Distance: 27.3 km

Stay: The Imperial B&B, Woolacombe

Walk

After packing everything and having a good breakfast, the 4^th stage of the South West Coast Path is in the pipeline.

Immediately at the beginning in Combe Martin I meet the three musketeers again. What a timing.

Up to Ilfracombe the route is not too hard, not too much climbing and fantastic views. I cross a campsite among other things. Also in this first part there are plenty of possibilities to get something to drink (or eat).
Ilfracombe is full of tourists. Still, I find a quiet terrace (at the back of the restaurant) with a nice view of the sea.
In the harbor is a very large (one of the largest in England) sculpture of a half skinned woman. Weird guys, the English … (I know, I know, bad translation of a typical Dutch Obelix joke).

Just outside Ilfracombe I meet another Coast Path walker, Davey, whom I have come across earlier. He walks the Coast Path with everything on his back and camps everywhere. We talk for a moment and then we each go further at our own pace.

After Ilfracombe it’s on to Torrs Walk, a decent climb.

Just after Torrs Walk I meet the three musketeers again. Apparently they caught up with me when I was having a pint. They are doubting which way to go. I also doubt because there is no marking and the description I have is not entirely clear. Luckily my GPS brings the solution and I go in the right direction so they can follow.

The part after Ilfracombe is quite heavy again. Not because of the altitude, but because of the many falls and rises. Eventually I arrive at Morte Point, a rock formation that protrudes into the sea. From here the beaches of Woolacombe are clearly visible. It is not very far anymore to Woolacombe. That last part, however, is still quite hard because it is going up steeply before I am on the road and then it goes down again.
At the end, however, the Red Barn Inn (very very red) waits with a nice selection of beers …

Weather

Today it was again great weather, sunny and sometimes even a bit too hot. Somewhat the same as yesterday, only slightly warmer. No jacket needed today.