Tregantle Fort

Another showery day, so we decided not to go too far in case it rained and we were not able to walk.  As it was still August we were able to walk across the firing range in front of Tregantle Fort instead of taking the other path along the road.  As the weather was not that good we were able to park by the gate to the firing range.

Initially we walked down to the beach.  It was nearing high tide so we could not walk far along the beach and it was too windy to sit and watch those brave enough to go in the sea. Kite surfers were doing the best in the conditions.

We then climbed back to the top and followed the path through the firing range in front of the fort.  Once we came to the other path we continue to walk in a westerly direction for a while.  The views in both directions were wonderful, although the would have been even better if it had been a sunny day.  Dark clouds were gathering so we decided we had chanced the weather long enough so we turned back.

The view westward

The view eastward

Whitsand Bay

A pleasant, easy walk.  It would probably have been even more spectacular at low tide when you could see more of the beaches at Whitsand Bay.

Little Dartmouth to Dartmouth

The weather forecast was for showers, becoming heavier, but the sky was blue so we decided to take a chance on going for a walk.  We drove towards Dartmouth from Totnes, but turned on to the A379 just before getting into the town and looked for signs to Little Dartmouth where we knew there was a NT car park.  Initially we could not find it and when we approached Stoke Fleming we knew we had missed it so we turned around and took the turning to Dartmouth Castle and then followed the direction we thought it should be in (ie right at next junction) and soon came to the car park.  We drank our coffee in the car looking down the coast with a beautiful view of Blackpool Sands and Slapton Sands.

We then headed out down a path marked to the coastal path.  To begin with there was a steepish slope down a field but and the coastal path path went up and down a lot, but the views were magnificent.

Eventually, after 2.5 miles, we came to Dartmouth Castle where we stopped for lunch.  Revived we decided to walk a further mile into Dartmouth.  It was regatta week and we anticipated there would be a lot of activity on the water, but there was just the usual sort of traffic.

After browsing round a couple of bookshops we headed back.  Just after the Castle we took the bridle path rather than the coastal path.  Initially there was a long hill upwards, but once at the top is was fairly flat all the way back to the car.  The car to Dartmouth Castle along the coastal path was 2.5 miles while the return journey was 1 mile.  However, the return journey was mainly on paths between hedges so not so pretty, but not so tiring.

It had been a lovely walk and we had only had one shower and that one only lasted a few minutes and we hardly got wet at all.

Stoke Point

Having parked the car at the National Trust car park inland from Stoke Point we walked down to the coastal path.  This was a very steep path and we determined to find another way back to the car!  We headed eastward and there were beautiful views out to sea and along the coast to Bigbury and beyond.

The path was wide and good and after a while went through woods with plenty of butterflies around.  The path was fairly flat and we slowly went down to the edge of Stoke Beach and then gradually walked up towards Beacon Hill.  We then came to a steep path downwards.  There a path inland that looked as if would skirt this steep hill, but we did not have a map with us so we decided to turn round at this point.

When we came to the pathway back to the carpark we chose to walk on further to the next point and then cut up the hill gradually back to the car park.  A much better way than the downward path.

Whitsand Bay Part 1

We only had the afternoon to walk, but the weather was too good to miss the opportunity to get out in the fresh air.  With only a short amount of time we chose to walk near to Plymouth and drove to the far end of Whitsand Bay.  We parked in the small car park near Wiggle and took the SW Coast Path westward.  We were linking up with the walk we had done a couple of weeks ago around Rame Head.

The path gradually went down the cliffs and then up.  Then it was down then up again and again.  Not an easy walk although the paths were not too bad.  At no time did we go all the way down to the beach but the climb up seemed long.  The view was excellent, but did not change significantly as we walked along.

We eventually came up to the road by the Cliff Top View cafe and we were glad to stop there for a cup of tea.  Although we had only done a small portion of the path around Whitsand Bay we decided to finish there.  We walked back along the road rather than the up and down coastal path and it only took us 20 minutes to return to our car, whereas we had taken 40 minutes on the outward journey!

Not a walk that we would repeat.

Rame Head

This morning we drove to the car park on Rame Head next to the coastguard station.  From here you could see both up and down the coast and visibility was so good the Eddystone Lighthouse looked quite close!  We followed the coastal path towards Whitsand Bay and the views were spectacular.  Near Polhawn Fort there was a hedge full of wild flowers, making the view down the coast even more attractive.

When we reached the coast road we left the coastal path intending to cut across country to Kingsand to do a circular walk around Rame Head.  The walk instructions told us to continue down a road and then take a path to the left.  We walked quite along way until we came to a left turn and when we walked up there we realised we had come to far and were going in the wrong direction.  We retraced our steps, went across a couple of fields and came back onto our original path where we followed our instincts and went down a footpath on the right.  This turned out to be correct and we were soon walking down to Kingsand, with a view of Plymouth Sound and breakwater.

After stopping in Cawsand for lunch, watching sailors and children enjoying the sea, we climbed up the coastal path along Rame Head.  The view out to sea was obscured by trees most of the time, but we had tantalisingly beautiful glimpses at time with yahts with white sails contrasting with the sparkling blue sea.  I would like to repeat this walk when the trees were not in leaf as I am sure it would be glorious.

At one point we heard rustling in the trees beside us and just caught sight of a fawn running through the woodland.

When we arrived back at the tip of Rame Head we  went out to the derelict chapel on the edge of  headland, from where you could see in all directions.

Looe to Polperro

It was a beautiful sunny summers day.  It felt like it might be too hot to walk, but we decided that if we walked along the coast we would feel the sea breeze and so keep cool.

We drove to Hannafore and parked just before the road ran out.  The first part of the walk was a gentle uphill slope, but then we noticed a steep flight of steps.  As we went up we counted them 76 in total!  But the views over the sea to St Georges Island with all the little boats to and fro-ing from Looe made the climb worth it. Initially you could only see down the coast to Rame Head, but then the visibility improved and we could see a headland even further away.

St Goeges Island

Looking back to Hannafore

Before long we were heading downwards towards Talland Bay.  We stopped at the beach there to eat our lunch as we watched children playing in the sea and rock pooling.

From Talland Bay to Polperro it is only 1.5 miles but the hill out of Talland Bay was very steep.  Once we were over the top of that it seemed a short stroll into the busy village of Polperro.  There are sewerage works being done there that spoilt the seascape, but the village was as quaint as ever.  We walked through the village to the bus stop at the top and then caught the bus back to Hannafore.  As we came through Looe we noticed how crowded it was, particularly the beach.

Looe Beach

Before heading home we stopped for tea and cake at the Island View Cafe.  There was a wonderful view of all the boats going to the island and taking tourists  out for boat rides from Looe.

Torquay to Brixham

We caught the train to Torquay and it was just a stone's throw from the station to Torquay beach.  This is where we stopped walking earlier in the year when we walked from Torquay to Meadfoot Beach. We followed the road  towards Paignton and for a short while had to walk on the pavement by the main road. Although it is not pleasant to have cars rushing past you, before long we had views over the sea, and this made up for it.  Soon able to turn off to go through a park at Hollicombe, and from then on we were off-road the whole of the way.

We did not see the sign for the SW coast path and continued walking down to Hollicombe beach.  It was low tide and we saw that other people were walking across the rocks to the beach beyond, so we decided to follow them.  To begin with it was easy as the rocks were flat and encrusted with barnicles so there was plenty of grip.  However, near Preston Sands there was no alternative but to walk across seaweed covered rocks and through shallow pools, but we made it to the other side.   With the tide out we were then able to walk all the way to the end of Paignton Sands without having to go up to the road.

We walked around the harbour and then through the park down to Goodrington.  The views on this walk were spectacular with long views around the bay and beautiful beaches and covers.  Photos cannot capture this.

Goodrington

Up to this point the walk had been easy but from now on there were many ups and downs, with rough steps, but the views were worth it.  Broad Sands was a lovely beach that I had never been to before.  After Elberry Cove we walked through woodland that was pleasantly cool, although the path had roots and stones sticking out of it which meant you had to watch your feet.  We could see the blue of the sea through the trees but there was no view of the bay with all the leaves on the trees.

As we walked down to Churston Cove we were struck by how lovely it looked with all the boats and Brixham in the distance, although the beach itself was not very attractive as stony.

After climbing up from this cove it was just a short walk on to Brixham.  We could look back and see Torquay with its balloon and realise how far we had walked (about 6 1/2 miles).  We were glad that there was a frequent bus service from Brixham to Torquay so we did not have to walk back!