The low grey cloud has lifted and the sun is peeping through the puffy clouds as we return to Ilfracombe for our last walk of this holiday, in fact of this year. Departing from the Landmark theatre we can see the words “RNLI 200” to mark their 200^th anniversary, mown into the Capstone Point cliff, to the left a zig-zag path takes us over the point to the quay.

We enjoy a wander in the gift shops along the quay and pop into the Lundy ticket office to collect our tickets for tomorrow’s trip… although we are still unsure if the weather will allow the trip, fingers crossed.

Damien Hirst’s 20.25-metre-tall statue of Verity has us walking round in circles at the end of the quay admiring both sides of her bronze body, which was hoisted into position in 2012. We grab scrumptious ice creams from Joey’s parlour before heading around the quay.

It’s a pleasant walk over Hillsborough Fort towards Hele Bay, with delightful views looking back to the harbour, Verity pointing up to the blue sky. We enjoy the woodland walk for maybe half an hour before taking the steps down into Hele Bay with its gravelly beach and houses with long steep gardens up the cliffs.

The next section is mostly single-track pathways on field edges and through wooded areas, eventually a glimpse of Watermouth Bay appearing through the trees. It’s hard to believe in the peace and quiet of todays stroll along the coast that over 80 years ago a 27-mile pipeline was laid from here to Swansea to test the viability for Operation PLUTO.

The path winds round the grounds of Widmouth Farm Cottages and pops out onto the minor road, we thought we would have to walk along the road but there’s a narrow path running just below leading right into the bay. I wonder if on a high tide this might not be possible?  It’s such a gorgeous looking bay, the sunlight shining on the boats, all stranded in the mud for the moment.

We stop for our picnic and enjoy the view, not tempted by the café.  The coast path goes out the bay, along the road for a short time then across a bridge into Watermouth Valley Camping Park.  I’m always intrigued by camper’s set-up, here they have an incredible view over the sea, but I wonder how windy it gets?

The last half hour of todays, well in fact, this years’ walk, takes us along wide paths, enclosed by high stone walls; through woodlands with coppiced beech trees; passed a cottage on the cliff top with brightly coloured giraffes wearing welly boots; another house with a pair of eagles guarding the driveway into the cute little cove of Combe Martin.

Briefly explore the long high street before catching the bus back to our car awaiting us in Ilfracombe.