Day Five - Croyde to Barnstaple. 23.6km (14.6 miles).
Time on route 6:10hrs, walking time 5:50hrs.
Monday 26 May 2014
Today I persuaded my exam soaked daughter to take a break from her studies and spend the day with me walking. Having just completed the 45 mile Ten Tors challenge a mere stroll with her mother was well within her capability. It was lovely to have her company.
We took the train to Barnstaple and then bus to Croyde. It didn't take me long to find a coffee stop so we strode across the sands, mugs in hand.
A beautiful day.
South of the beach the path goes 'off piste' for a while. We eschewed the easy looking road above and scrambled over the rocks as per the guide book.
And anyway, we would have missed the dalek if we'd taken the road.
On nearing Saunton we took the alternative path north of the road to gain the view of Braunton Burrows. And the views were wonderful. Sadly I was distracted.
I braved the first field of cows and calves, bravely muttering aloud "you don't scare me". However we turned the corner and faced a bull. "I'm not doing this Riona," I squeaked, and headed up into a more northerly field shaking. She tried to reassure me (brave 16 year old, pathetic 44 year old Mum) but it didn't work; I was not going to share a field with a fully fledged bull.
In fact, we did have to creep back down the edge of the field to the path into Saunton Court but the bull didn't spot us. Golly, how am I going to do this whole path?!
South of Saunton the path flattens out and you walk for kms past the ranges. Quite boggy in parts ("not a patch on Dartmoor," commented the hardened Dartmoor teenager).
And lots of long straight, flat paths. I confess, lack of features on a route is a tad boring, but at least I had company.
I made Riona walk the extra km out and back on the boardwalk at the southern tip of Braunton Burrows. I think the promise of chips at the pub were working.
;
Looking across the bay to Appledore.
Again, another long straight path across the Horsey Island dyke...
...before turning the corner and heading up to Braunton by the River Caen.
Very soggy ground around here.
"Oooh, look a tide pole," I exclaimed. "Really?" said my daughter trotting towards me. "Where?" she said peering into the water. "Where are the tadpoles?" Poor thing, she actually thought I'd said something interesting for a minute there.
Once into Braunton the SWCP picks up the route of the old Ilfracombe to Barnstaple Railway. It is also now a National Cycle Path and part of the Tarka Trail. There are obvious signs of its previous use.
We passed RMB Chivenor, home of amongst other units, an RAF Search and Rescue contingent. I saw them buzzing around when I walked from Ilfracombe to Combe, and it was the same story again today.
The chip promise was delivered at the Braunton Inn. Smallest bowl of chips I've seen for a while!
And it would have been churlish not to have had a little something.
And in case you were wondering why I'm drinking out of a massive wine glass; it's not that big actually as Riona proves. Perspective eh?
We marched onwards hoping to catch the 1708 train from Barnstaple. Lovely views of the Taw Estuary: the forecast rain held off which was a treat.
The Long Bridge.
So a flat, swift day with great company and sun to boot.
Time on route 6:10hrs, walking time 5:50hrs.
Monday 26 May 2014
Today I persuaded my exam soaked daughter to take a break from her studies and spend the day with me walking. Having just completed the 45 mile Ten Tors challenge a mere stroll with her mother was well within her capability. It was lovely to have her company.
We took the train to Barnstaple and then bus to Croyde. It didn't take me long to find a coffee stop so we strode across the sands, mugs in hand.
A beautiful day.
South of the beach the path goes 'off piste' for a while. We eschewed the easy looking road above and scrambled over the rocks as per the guide book.
And anyway, we would have missed the dalek if we'd taken the road.
On nearing Saunton we took the alternative path north of the road to gain the view of Braunton Burrows. And the views were wonderful. Sadly I was distracted.
I braved the first field of cows and calves, bravely muttering aloud "you don't scare me". However we turned the corner and faced a bull. "I'm not doing this Riona," I squeaked, and headed up into a more northerly field shaking. She tried to reassure me (brave 16 year old, pathetic 44 year old Mum) but it didn't work; I was not going to share a field with a fully fledged bull.
In fact, we did have to creep back down the edge of the field to the path into Saunton Court but the bull didn't spot us. Golly, how am I going to do this whole path?!
South of Saunton the path flattens out and you walk for kms past the ranges. Quite boggy in parts ("not a patch on Dartmoor," commented the hardened Dartmoor teenager).
And lots of long straight, flat paths. I confess, lack of features on a route is a tad boring, but at least I had company.
I made Riona walk the extra km out and back on the boardwalk at the southern tip of Braunton Burrows. I think the promise of chips at the pub were working.
;Looking across the bay to Appledore.
Again, another long straight path across the Horsey Island dyke...
...before turning the corner and heading up to Braunton by the River Caen.
Very soggy ground around here.
"Oooh, look a tide pole," I exclaimed. "Really?" said my daughter trotting towards me. "Where?" she said peering into the water. "Where are the tadpoles?" Poor thing, she actually thought I'd said something interesting for a minute there.
Once into Braunton the SWCP picks up the route of the old Ilfracombe to Barnstaple Railway. It is also now a National Cycle Path and part of the Tarka Trail. There are obvious signs of its previous use.
We passed RMB Chivenor, home of amongst other units, an RAF Search and Rescue contingent. I saw them buzzing around when I walked from Ilfracombe to Combe, and it was the same story again today.
The chip promise was delivered at the Braunton Inn. Smallest bowl of chips I've seen for a while!
And it would have been churlish not to have had a little something.
And in case you were wondering why I'm drinking out of a massive wine glass; it's not that big actually as Riona proves. Perspective eh?
We marched onwards hoping to catch the 1708 train from Barnstaple. Lovely views of the Taw Estuary: the forecast rain held off which was a treat.
The Long Bridge.
So a flat, swift day with great company and sun to boot.
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