My first walk of the new decade is fairly short but nevertheless very enjoyable and memorable. We return to the car park behind the sadly closed down Palace Hotel, formerly known as Bishopstowe, home of Henry Philpotts, Lord Bishop of Exeter. The pathway we follow round the coast to Blackhead is known as Bishop’s Walk – there are no bishops walking round here today, it’s actually a fairly quiet morning – maybe peeps are nursing their heads after last night’s merriment? There are carved out rocks to our right and concrete pillar and metal railings to our left above the steep cliff down to the sea, but the terrain is all fairly level, and there is a lovely view looking back to Ansty Cove. I imagine in the summer the sea here is a glorious bright blue, there’s a glimpse of it even in today’s grey winter weather.

We reach a quiet residential street which we follow for a few hundred yards before taking the coast path down to Thatcher Point. As I catch up with my walking companions talking to a local lady I’m very excited to see a couple of dolphins swimming a really short way off the cliffs – they don’t hang around for a photograph but it’s certainly made my day.

The path soon re-joins the tree lined road of mostly Holm Oaks down to the edge of a large, quite formidable, apartment complex called Kilmorie. It’s not a pretty building but has lovely landscaped gardens and I’m guessing fabulous views from the apartments. Soon the sweep of Mudfoot Beach comes into view and we enjoy a walk along the promenade watching a group of paddleboarders in their wetsuits paddling out to East Shag rocks.

Our walk finishes at the end of the prom – the cafe, beach huts and toilets are all closed up so we head into Torquay centre for a New Years Day tea and scone with friends who live nearby.