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| View from Seaton beach across to Looe |
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Seaton to Downderry
It was a lovely sunny morning. I had an appointment at lunchtime, but we decided to make the most of the morning and go to Seaton. It only took 35 minutes to drive there and we were able to park on the road facing the beach - a lovely spot for morning coffee.
We then walked along the sea wall towards Downderry. Since we were last here they have build a set a steps at the end of the sea wall, so you don't have to clamber over rocks now. We continued walking along the beach till we came to Downderry, then turned round and walked all the way back to Seaton along the beach. A very pleasant 30 minute walk.
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Wembury
We parked at the National Trust car park above the beach at Wembury and walked towards the River Yealm. It was a climb up the hill to begin with, but the view back to Wembury and then up the River Yealm were worth the effort.
We walked to the ferry crossing to Noss Mayo before we turned back and headed for an icecream which we ate while we watching surfers at Wembury beach.
We walked to the ferry crossing to Noss Mayo before we turned back and headed for an icecream which we ate while we watching surfers at Wembury beach.
Monday 13 June 2011
North Devon Weekend
After our delightful weekend away in West Cornwall earlier this year we decided to book the same cheap deal and spend a weekend in a caravan in Woolacombe and explore North Devon.
On Friday 10 June we drove across Dartmoor to Torrington, where we stopped at the old railway station, Puffing Billy, that is now on the Tarka Trail. We walked along this trail and followed a stream through a woodland - a very pleasant walk. We then went on to Instow where we visited Tapeley Gardens. These gardens were pleasant, but nothing special. We walked down to the lake and then out across fields to the Monument. the views from here were spectacular.
It started to rain just as we returned to our car, so although we drove down to the seafront at Instow we did not get out of the car there, but continued on to the caravan at Woolacombe. In the evening the rain stopped and we were able to walk down to the village with a long haul up on the way back.
Saturday started fine and we drove to the National Trust car park at the edge of Baggy Point. From there we walked around Baggy Point and had marvellous views first of Croyde Bay and then of Woolacombe.
After returning to the car and having a wonderful strong cup of coffee at the National Trust Cafe we set off to explore Croyde. We walked along the beach and then headed inland to find the village. After getting lost we eventually found the pretty village that has not really changed much since I visited it every year as a child.
We we got back to the car we drove on to Arlington Court. The gardens here were beautiful and the Carriage museum very interesting.
We set out on the Lake Walk and saw and heard many birds in the woodland. Along the way there was a bird hide with feeders outside so it was easy bird watching. The Lake walk overlapped with the Wilderness walk and we were surprised to see huts had been built in the Wilderness.
On the way back to Woolacombe we stopped at Mortehoe and went out to the coast where we could look across to Woolacombe and up the coast. I hoped to walk this part of the South West Coast Path the next day, but the weather stopped us.
Our evening meal was fish and chips eaten on a bench overlooking Woolacombe Beach. Afterwards we walked along the sands. We walked for nearly 30 minutes watching paragliders and being careful not to stand on the jellyfish but were still some way from the end so turned around and retraced our steps.
On Sunday it poured with rain and blew a gale so we spent the day in the caravan, however, Monday was dry for the journey home. On the way we stopped at the Outlet Centre, Atlantic Village and then went to explore Westward Ho! We walked a little way through Northam Burrows and then through the village and around the coast. It was a pity we did not have time to walk further. We will have to come back another day.
On Friday 10 June we drove across Dartmoor to Torrington, where we stopped at the old railway station, Puffing Billy, that is now on the Tarka Trail. We walked along this trail and followed a stream through a woodland - a very pleasant walk. We then went on to Instow where we visited Tapeley Gardens. These gardens were pleasant, but nothing special. We walked down to the lake and then out across fields to the Monument. the views from here were spectacular.
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| Instow village |
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| Looking towards Appledore |
It started to rain just as we returned to our car, so although we drove down to the seafront at Instow we did not get out of the car there, but continued on to the caravan at Woolacombe. In the evening the rain stopped and we were able to walk down to the village with a long haul up on the way back.
Saturday started fine and we drove to the National Trust car park at the edge of Baggy Point. From there we walked around Baggy Point and had marvellous views first of Croyde Bay and then of Woolacombe.
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| View to Croyde Bay and beyond to Saunton Sands |
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| View to Woolacombe Bay |
After returning to the car and having a wonderful strong cup of coffee at the National Trust Cafe we set off to explore Croyde. We walked along the beach and then headed inland to find the village. After getting lost we eventually found the pretty village that has not really changed much since I visited it every year as a child.
We we got back to the car we drove on to Arlington Court. The gardens here were beautiful and the Carriage museum very interesting.
We set out on the Lake Walk and saw and heard many birds in the woodland. Along the way there was a bird hide with feeders outside so it was easy bird watching. The Lake walk overlapped with the Wilderness walk and we were surprised to see huts had been built in the Wilderness.
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| The Church in the grounds of Arlington Court |
On the way back to Woolacombe we stopped at Mortehoe and went out to the coast where we could look across to Woolacombe and up the coast. I hoped to walk this part of the South West Coast Path the next day, but the weather stopped us.
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| Woolacombe |
Our evening meal was fish and chips eaten on a bench overlooking Woolacombe Beach. Afterwards we walked along the sands. We walked for nearly 30 minutes watching paragliders and being careful not to stand on the jellyfish but were still some way from the end so turned around and retraced our steps.
On Sunday it poured with rain and blew a gale so we spent the day in the caravan, however, Monday was dry for the journey home. On the way we stopped at the Outlet Centre, Atlantic Village and then went to explore Westward Ho! We walked a little way through Northam Burrows and then through the village and around the coast. It was a pity we did not have time to walk further. We will have to come back another day.
Monday 6 June 2011
East Portlemouth to Gara Rock
We drove to Salcombe and parked the car in the road leading down to North Sands. It was nearly high tide so not much beach, but it was still a pleasant view as we had our morning coffee.
We walked from there to the ferry steps where we took the ferry to East Portlemouth. As the tide was in we walked along the road to Mill Bay and then followed the path through woodlands along the edge of the estuary, occasionally getting views across to Salcombe and the yachts sailing up and down the estuary. The water was a beautiful azure blue.
The path followed the coast around and we could see round to Hope Cove and beyond. The path was narrow and steep at times, but there were no long hills to climb and the views were worth the effort.
We eventually came to Garra Rock. But there was no hotel there, just a building site where they were building expensive looking apartments. At this point we walked inland and then made our way back through woodlands to Mill Bay. It was a good path and a shorter way back, but we missed the spectacular sea views.
We stopped at Mill Bay for a late lunch - all the benches along the way had been occupied by other walkers taking a rest! The tide had now gone out sufficiently for us to walk back to East Portlemouth along the beach.
Having taken the ferry back to Salcombe we walked into the town and had tea at our favourite cafe overlooking the harbour. Then we walked back to North Sands seeing where we had walked on the other side of the estuary.
We walked from there to the ferry steps where we took the ferry to East Portlemouth. As the tide was in we walked along the road to Mill Bay and then followed the path through woodlands along the edge of the estuary, occasionally getting views across to Salcombe and the yachts sailing up and down the estuary. The water was a beautiful azure blue.
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| Looking across to South Sands |
The path followed the coast around and we could see round to Hope Cove and beyond. The path was narrow and steep at times, but there were no long hills to climb and the views were worth the effort.
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| Looking down the coast |
We eventually came to Garra Rock. But there was no hotel there, just a building site where they were building expensive looking apartments. At this point we walked inland and then made our way back through woodlands to Mill Bay. It was a good path and a shorter way back, but we missed the spectacular sea views.
We stopped at Mill Bay for a late lunch - all the benches along the way had been occupied by other walkers taking a rest! The tide had now gone out sufficiently for us to walk back to East Portlemouth along the beach.
Having taken the ferry back to Salcombe we walked into the town and had tea at our favourite cafe overlooking the harbour. Then we walked back to North Sands seeing where we had walked on the other side of the estuary.
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| Looking across to East Portlemouth |
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Avon Dam
When we went to Shipley Bridge 2 weeks ago the rhododendrons along the riverside were not fully out. We realised they would be a picture when in full flower, so we decided to go back to the same area today.
There were still many of the rhododendrons flowers to come out, but they were nevertheless a picture. They were either side of the river Avon and up the banks towards the moor.
There was more water flowing down the river than when we visited last time, making little waterfalls, but there was still plenty of stones that were not completely covered in water.
We walked along the side of the river and continued up into the moor to Avon Dam. Instead of taking the path to the dam itself we cut across the moor and came to the reservoir. Along the way we came to a baby foal and its mother. The foal was very unsure on its feet and must have been very young.
We followed the path around the reservoir hoping to cross to the other side to walk back. We were not able to do this before the edge of the reservoir so continued walking up the river Avon. The ground started to become marshy and we could not see any crossing over the river so eventually turned around and came back the same way. Looking at the map later we realised we needed to continue up the river further, but we would have needed walking boots for that part of the path. Over the other side of the river we would have had to go up and down a hill, but the walk we did only had a gentle slope.
There were still many of the rhododendrons flowers to come out, but they were nevertheless a picture. They were either side of the river Avon and up the banks towards the moor.
There was more water flowing down the river than when we visited last time, making little waterfalls, but there was still plenty of stones that were not completely covered in water.
We walked along the side of the river and continued up into the moor to Avon Dam. Instead of taking the path to the dam itself we cut across the moor and came to the reservoir. Along the way we came to a baby foal and its mother. The foal was very unsure on its feet and must have been very young.
We followed the path around the reservoir hoping to cross to the other side to walk back. We were not able to do this before the edge of the reservoir so continued walking up the river Avon. The ground started to become marshy and we could not see any crossing over the river so eventually turned around and came back the same way. Looking at the map later we realised we needed to continue up the river further, but we would have needed walking boots for that part of the path. Over the other side of the river we would have had to go up and down a hill, but the walk we did only had a gentle slope.
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