I left with Adrian at 7.30 from Newton Abbot for Paignton where Adrian dropped me off near where I ended my walk yesterday. I quickly found a sign directing me to the Coast Path and walked around Roundham Head and then along Goodrington Sands on the promenade where I found the circular brass plates set in the pavement indicating the Coast Path [ I found these again in Brixham when I arrived there]. The path was easy as I passed Broadsands Bay at 8.45, Elberry Cove with its mussle farm offshore at 9.10 and then walking through some lovely woodland, called the Grove, arrived at Charleston Cove with a really beautiful view of Brixham harbour. At 10.00am I arrived in the centre of Brixham where I stopped to buy some lunch and a pot of tea. At 10.20 I set off again passing the replica of the Mary Rose and the statue of William of Orange. I passed Berry Head [where I could still see the Island of Portland silouetted against the horizon and on to St Marys Bay at 11.25, Man Sands at 12.15, Scabbacombe Sands at 12.45 and Pudcome Cove at 1.30pm. Between bays the path twisted and turned and went up and down but was not particularly difficult but it was frustrating as progress seemed slow at times! At 2.10pm I reached Froward Point and the views changed as new vistas emerged and direction changed to northeasterly to enter the Dart estuary and at 3.30pm I arrived in Kingwear at the ferry for Dartmouth. This was loading and I had arrived at just the right time to avoid any wait. In Dartmouth I walked in a southerly direction to the Castle and Church and then climbed uphill and here the Coast Path became a Bridleway - I asked the way and was told straight on for Stoke Flemming and after about a mile the Coast Path emerged from the left and I was back on track. I had missed the left turn at some point. By now Stoke Flemming was in view with its church tower visible above the undulating hills on the skyline. I arrived at 5.00pm a little earlier than expected. Jenny and Adrian were on their way to pick me up when Jenny rang to say there had been an accident and they were stuck in a queue and would be delayed. They arrived at 5.30pm and we drove back to Newton Abbot. Having ended in stoke Flemming I am well placed for Mondays "Dawdle" from there to Salcombe.
Adrian had invited a couple of old friends around for an evening meal and this was nice.
Distance travelled today 22 miles.
No comments:
Post a Comment