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
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
