Bude to Crackington Haven

Leg 3, Day 5 - Thursday 1st September 2011

Path Facts - Length: 10.2 miles, Ascent: 2664 feet

Another 8 am breakfast and set off before 9 am which may be close to a record. A walk across town was necessary though pretty quiet still. The path picks up just beyond the canal. This was the hottest day of the leg and there were already clear blue skies.

Morwenstow to Bude

Leg 3, Day 4 - Wednesday 31st August 2011

Path Facts - Length: 7.9 miles, Ascent: 2100 feet (est)

Another great breakfast at 8 am. Very soon it will be necessary to kick the fried breakfast habit as I definitely won’t be burning as many calories as I’m consuming.

Set off at 9.20 am again. There’s about ½ mile of track to pick up with the coast path again & we made a slight detour to visit Hawker’s Hut, made of driftwood, overlooking the sea. This is apparently the smallest property owned by the National Trust.

Hartland Quay to Morwenstow

Hartland Quay to Morwenstow - Tuesday 30th August 2011

Path Facts - Length: 7.5 miles, Ascent: 2172 feet (est)

In the planning, there was a choice with regard to this stretch. The guide books give Hartland Quay to Bude as 15.4 miles, 4272 feet ascent and suggest this is the toughest walk on the whole coast path. We opted for the optional stop at Morwenstow, splitting the walk into two shortish days, I think largely because my melodramatic description of the full route last time we met caused Andy to start developing new ailments 6 months in advance.

Clovelly to Hartland Quay

Clovelly to Hartland Quay - Monday 29th August 2011

Path Facts - Length: 10.3 miles, Ascent: 2323 feet

8am breakfast again then set off at 9.20am. From Burscott the path descends again to the visitor centre at Clovelly before heading through a field with huge iron gates reminiscent of Jurassic Park (watch out for velociraptors). 

There is a stretch of woodland path on leaving Clovelly (apparently the shelter gives Clovelly it’s own micro-climate). An objet d’art known as The Angel Wings is on this stretch. It is a wood carved shelter, made by a former butler of Clovelly Court.

Westward Ho! to Clovelly

Westward Ho! to Clovelly - Sunday 28th August 2011

Path Facts - Length: 11.1 miles, Ascent: 2589 feet

8am breakfast followed by some pack adjustments, returning excess baggage to the boot of the car. We set off about 9.30am. The North Devon mini rally was passing through Westward Ho! There were meant to be 200+ minis taking part. There were plenty on the road and at the sea front.

Arrival ~ Westward Ho!

Westward Ho! - Saturday 27th August 2011

Arrived in Westward Ho! for the commencement of Leg 3 about 5pm. There is a great road that opens up views of the sea as you come down the hill into the town. At the sea front the tide was in. There was big sky, strong wind, epic waves and great views across the bay to coast path past and future.

Bideford to Westward Ho!

Bideford to Westward Ho! - Monday 4th April 2011

Path Facts - Length: Approx 6.5 miles, Ascent: 430 feet

Woke up early with the noise from the road. Busier in the town today but registering that it was Monday wasn’t immediate. 8am breakfast then checked out to start walking before 9 am. Could be a record.

A few provisions were obtained in Bideford as we didn’t entirely trust the water in the hotel. The path meanders through the suburbs of Bideford for a while. Then after awesome bridge we were clearly in the posh end of town.

Barnstaple to Bideford

Barnstaple to Bideford - Sunday 3rd April 2011

Path Facts - Length: Approx 10 miles, Ascent: 100 feet (est)

8.30am breakfast then packed the overflow bags in the car. Crossways had kindly let us park at the B&B for a few days as we were staying both Thurs and Sat nights. Started walking about 9.30am through Barnstaple town across to the river.

Showers were promised for today which was necessary to ‘stress test’ Andy’s new lightweight goretex which had only been field tested in the dry before this.

The route heads out over Long Bridge in Barnstaple then goes through what I expect will be a contender for one of the least scenic stretches of path but still had repeater signs in the form of acorn stickers on lampposts. We still managed to miss a huge blue sign with Bideford written on it whilst engaged in conversation and doubled back slightly after some embarrassingly obvious directions from a patient local.

Croyde to Barnstaple

Croyde to Barnstaple - Saturday 2nd April 2011

Path Facts - Length: Approx 14.4 miles, Ascent: 420 feet

8.30am breakfast at The Thatch which was excellent then started walking about 9.30 am. The first challenge was yomping through the dunes to get to the beach. It was already sunny today and probably the warmest day of this leg.

Ilfracombe to Croyde

Ilfracombe to Croyde - Friday 1st April 2011

Path Facts - Length: Approx 13.6 miles, Ascent: 3002 feet

We both arrived at Crossways B&B in Barnstaple on the Thursday night about 7pm. Battle plans were laid out on a table in the Rolle Quay Inn & discussed over a couple of pints of Tribute, who may turn out to be the unofficial sponsors of this tour. A 7.30am breakfast alongside a few travelling businessmen then we walked through the town to sample the ambience of Barnstaple bus station and caught the No 3 to Ilfracombe.