Path Facts - Length: 10.3 miles
8.30am breakfast surrounded by hundreds of U3A under graduates (I think that's sufficiently cryptic to put it politely) at the Anchorage Hotel. This was an ok place and reasonably priced for two single rooms. It was also only about half a mile to re-join the path.
We left at 9.30am and picked up the path by Petit Tor. The weather was sunny but with a cool wind. There is a nice wooded section of path but with fairly intermittent waymarkers so you have to keep your wits to stay to the path.
The route finding was also tricky around Maidencombe. It was pretty hilly after Maidencombe on route to Shaldon.
Got to Shaldon and crossed the Teign on the ferry for the bargain price of £1.50. Teignmouth is ok. It was really sunny by this point and we found a good café for lunch.
Heading out of Teignmouth the path soon runs along the side of the main railway line down to the West Country. We've been travelling down for 5 years now doing various bits of the path, passing along this stretch, watching the walkers and thinking about the distance future when we'd walk this bit. So here we are!
This section stays level with the train line for some way then there are some ups and down avoiding the train tunnels on the closing stretch into Dawlish.
Arrived at Dawlish about 3pm. There was a marginally awkward conversation with the landlady about whether we were gay and that, in her view, it was ok if we were. So we had to explain that yes we really did want the twin room and weren't in denial about a potential latent tendency in this direction! That's the first time that's happened in 5 years of walking the path.
Had a walk around Dawlish. It's quite nice. There's a river that runs through a park through the centre of the town. We had a swift pint in the White Stag which was very localsy and not that recommended. One drunken guy was borderline threatening.
Continuing what seemed to be the Dawlish general theme, we passed by the intriguingly named Gay's Creamery where they sell fudge and the like. Being in slightly post walk, post beer mild craziness we were trying to think of good slogans for their merchandise. after some refinement the clear winner was "I had my fudge packed by Gays".
Ate at the Gurkha Restaurant. This was basically the only place in town that was open and it was still mostly empty. Luckily it was also very good.
Info
Accommodation - The Blenheim
Location ***** right on the path (also right next to the train line but barely heard anything)
Room ****
Facilities ***
Noise ****
Food ****
Ambience ***
Price *** £78 for the room
Food – Gurkha Restaurant
Price ***
