Wembury to River Yealm

We parked at the National Trust car park above the beach at Wembury and walked towards the River Yealm.  It was a climb up the hill to begin with, but the view back to Wembury and then up the River Yealm were worth the effort.

We walked  to the ferry crossing to Noss Mayo before we turned back and headed for an icecream which we ate while we watching surfers at Wembury beach.

Seaton to Downderry

It was a lovely sunny morning.  I had an appointment at lunchtime, but we decided to make the most of the morning and go to Seaton.  It only took 35 minutes to drive there and we were able to park on the road facing the beach - a lovely spot for morning coffee.

View from Seaton beach across to Looe

We then walked along the sea wall towards Downderry.  Since we were last here they have build a set a steps at the end of the sea wall, so you don't have to clamber over rocks now.  We continued walking along the beach till we came to Downderry, then turned round and walked all the way back to Seaton along the beach.  A very pleasant 30 minute walk.

Baggy Point, Woolacombe and Westward Ho

While away for a long weekend in North Devon we were able to do several small sections of the South West Coast Path.  We had hoped to do more, but the weather was not kind to us.  On Friday we wanted to walk from Instow to Bideford, but it started to rain by the time we reached Instow.  On Sunday we had hoped to walk from Woolacombe to Rockham Bay, but it was dreadful weather, so we had to make do with just looking at the path from Mortehoe.

Saturday, however, was a lovely day so we were able to walk around Baggy Point.  The views were spectacular.

Croyde Bay with Saunton Sands in the background

Woolacombe Bay from Baggy Point

In the evening we walked for over a mile along Woolacombe beach.

Woolacombe

On our way home we stopped at Westward Ho! and walked a short way through Northam Burrows and then back through the village and along the cliff for a short way.

East Portlemouth to Gara Rock

We drove to Salcombe and parked the car in the road leading down to North Sands.  It was nearly high tide so not much beach, but it was still a pleasant view as we had our morning coffee.

We walked from there to the ferry steps where we took the ferry to East Portlemouth.  As the tide was in we walked along the road to Mill Bay and then followed the path through woodlands along the edge of the estuary, occasionally getting views across to Salcombe and the yachts sailing up and down the estuary.   The water was a beautiful azure blue.

Looking across to South Sands

The path followed the coast around and we could see round to Hope Cove and beyond.  The path was narrow and steep at times, but there were no long hills to climb and the views were worth the effort.

Looking down the coast

We eventually came to Garra Rock.  But there was no hotel there, just a building site where they were building expensive looking apartments.  At this point we walked inland and then made our way back through woodlands to Mill Bay.  It was a good path and a shorter way back, but we missed the spectacular sea views.

We stopped at Mill Bay for a late lunch - all the benches along the way had been occupied by other walkers taking a rest!  The tide had now gone out sufficiently for us to walk back to East Portlemouth along the beach.

Having taken the ferry back to Salcombe we walked into the town and had tea at our favourite cafe overlooking the harbour.  Then we walked back to North Sands seeing where we had walked on the other side of the estuary.

Looking across to East Portlemouth

Marizion

Sunday 10 April was another glorious day.  We drove to Marizion and walked along the footpath/cyclepath at the top of the beach first towards Penzance  and then we turned round and walked to the causeway to St Michel's Mount. This must be the easiest section of South West Coast path, with wonderful views all the time.

Noss Mayo to Blackstone Point

We parked in Noss Mayo village and walked along the River Yealm Estuary joining the South West Coast Path at Ferry Cottage.  This walk used to be very attractive at this time of the year with the wild rhododendrons at the side of the path.  However, there were only a few in flower and the rhododendrons looked rather depleted and sorry for themselves.

Rhododendrons with bluebells in the background

We walked to the end of the estuary and then followed the coast around to Blackstone Point.  The views were stunning looking out to the Mewstone across to Wembury, Cawsand and down the Cornish coast.

Mewstone with Cornwall in the distance

We left the coast Path and walked inland when we reached the Warren car park.  We then followed the path back to Noss Mayo.  Being above the estuary we had a wonderful view of the boats moored in the river.

River Yealm, with Newton Ferrers on the opposite bank

Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren

We took the train to Teignmouth and it was only a stone's throw from the station to the sea front.  The South West Coastal path runs along the sea wall.  It was nearly high tide and the waves were hitting the sea wall at times but we were able to walk along in the dry.  On the other side of the path was the railway line, and at times trains rushed past us.

Looking back to Teignmouth, with train coming along

View in the opposite direction with another train

At the end of Teignmouth beach we had to turn inland and go along roads and a footpath between hedges before coming out above Dawlish and wind our way down to the town.

View over Dawlish

Heading towards Dawlish

Looking back around the coast which we had skirted by going inland

We wandered through Dawlish town and found an excellent bakery, Gays Creamery where we bought pasty's and ate them by the river in a very pleasant park. 

Dawlish is famous for their black swans

From Dawlish we continued to walk along the path above the beach to Dawlish Warren.  We continued on from the South West Path into the nature reserve at the end of Dawlish Warren, but at the visitor centre turned back and made our way back to Dawlish Warren railway station from where we caught the train back to Plymouth.