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.
I think this was the only walking day that we had any rain and that only light drizzle. It was a bright day, the wind a bit blustery. The drizzle created a rainbow, the optical effect of which was the closest we’d ever seen. It was as if the ‘end’ was just down on the beach in front.
Today was harder going than expected. I think it takes a day or two to get in the swing of it again. Felt slightly dizzy & out of breath going up some of the steeper inclines. The path drops right back to sea level at one point. Just for some perspective, today was a cumulative 2589 feet ascent. If you walked up the Miner’s Track to the summit of Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass, this would be 2410 feet ascent. And this is probably an average, rather than challenging, day on the coast path.
Not too many obvious stopping points today. There was tea shop indicated at Buck’s Mills in my book (dated 1996). Anyway, it didn’t exist and had closed many years before. We stopped here anyway and had sufficient provisions for lunch.
The path becomes increasingly wooded on the approach to Clovelly and a track known as the Hobby Drive gives views down the village on the approach.
We took a side path which descends to the village and emerged, conveniently, right next to the Cottage Tea Rooms for a veg homity pie, huge pot of tea and cake! Arrived approx 4pm.
We were staying in Burscott, Higher Clovelly which is above the main village. Hence, we spent some time by the quayside where there were swooping House Martins and kids jumping in the sea.
We had a swift pint of local ale, Litehouse, in the Red Lion before the uphill jaunt to Burscott and the B&B. It was getting on for dusk at this point. The B&B had bird's nests up under the eaves and House Martins were darting to and fro close to the window.
Info:
Accommodation – The Old Police House, Burscott, Higher Clovelly
Location *** A fair way from the path/village but this was a trade off with price.
Room ****
Facilities **** large bathroom
Noise **** quiet
Food **** good breakfast
Ambience ***
Price ***** £55 for the room (would have been £120 in Clovelly)
http://www.clovellybandb.co.uk/
Food – Cottage Tea Rooms
Quality **** Veg Homity Pie + dessert – quick & good quality
Price **** very reasonable, especially considering the location.
Beer
Litehouse **** Link
The Walkers Strategy Section
Took too much stuff. Strategy failure. Need to go back to kit list from Minehead! Bought a nifty compact lightweight tripod though, with bendy legs! Link
Bonus Pic - Old Clovelly
See the "Old UK Photos" site for more of these. Amazing.
[See links in right hand border]
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