2.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . 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 [...]

10 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Why does it always feel like the clock is ticking faster on New Year’s Eve? Despite an early start to deposit a car in Torquay, we end up wasting time walking to the ferry port and gazing across the estuary to the ferries on Shaldon Beach. After half an hours wait we decide the ferry is not moving today and walk up river to the Teignmouth and Shaldon Bridge. When built in 1827 this bridge was the longest wooden bridge in England, since then it has been through many changes and today we are certainly thankful for its existence. [...]

9 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . After parking up in the village of Starcross we seek footpath signs. The railway here runs parallel to the seafront and literally right beside it – Brunel certainly wanted to leave his mark! On the other side of the track the sea is right in so we follow the acorn signs through the village and on to the footpath by the road alongside the track. A field to our right is currently home to a large flock of dark bellied Brent geese, a sign explains how they are overwinter residents, returning to Russia every spring to breed. The road [...]

6 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . walk....

7 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . After a challenging and very muddy walk this morning and a brief stop for lunch at our seaside holiday apartment we join the throng of tourists in Sidmouth enjoying the autumn sunshine on a walk along the esplanade. Curios I look up the meaning of esplanade – “a wide open road where people walk for pleasure” – other than Weymouth I’m not sure we’ve come across one before? After the short seafront, dominated by upmarket hotels, the coast path takes us along a narrow pathway between the red cliffs and the sea to Jacobs Ladder and just a few [...]

7 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . After yesterdays failed attempt due to stormy weather, we arrive at Branscombe Mouth by taxi and head straight up the grassy hill passed the cafe which appears to have closed for the season. We curve our way round the coastguard’s cottages with their fine view of the bay through a row of olive trees, an unusual choice but I like it. Looking back there is a fabulous view of the sun glistening on the sea – somewhat different to yesterday’s stormy seas. The first part of the walk is up and down, mostly single track through woodlands with a [...]

5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . The rain thankfully stops as we wander towards the beach. The Seaton Sunday Bikers event is getting underway on the seafront with all sorts of different bikes parked up and their riders sharing stories.. stop to admire the big shiny one at the end. Seaton seafront has little else to hold our attention, so we wander along the promenade adorned with pretty coloured beach huts to the hideaway café, a sign advises us of a route diversion, yet another cliff slide! The little park with a stone labyrinth detracts us for a while, but we are soon wandering up [...]

7.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Enjoy a cooked breakfast in our Seaton holiday home before packing sandwiches and heading back to Lyme Regis, thankfully by the time we leave the car the drizzle has stopped and I’m wondering why I brought a cardigan? Wander down to the Cobb where we left off yesterday. Heather and Mark have joined us for these few days walking. The coast path takes us round the Cobb, into a car park, passed the bowling green and up some steps into a little woodland area. We meander through the paths, coming out eventually on a little road, turning west towards [...]