Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

I arrive in Aveton Gifford to resume my walk and realise it is high tide. Although the village is three miles from the sea, the river Avon runs close by and, at high tide, the little road that runs down the west side of the river becomes flooded. This morning, sure enough, the road is impassable.

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Today, I am apprehensive about the walk ahead. Looking at the OS map, it seems a wild and desolate area. One section of cliff is actually called ‘Slippery Point’.

I should have walked this stretch of coast when I was last down in Devon during August. But it was raining that day – a relentless downpour from low hanging grey clouds. Maybe, I said, it’s not a good idea to walk along Slippery Point in the rain? My husband called me a wimp. I told him I was simply being sensible.

This year has been the wettest on record and Devon has suffered from terrible floods. I thought I would never get walking again. But today, although the sun is not exactly shining, the clouds are high and white and no rain is forecast. Continue reading →

I walk along the pretty quayside of Dartmouth Harbour – crowded with visitors on this lovely August day.  Passing the ferry slipway (where I arrived on my previous day of walking), I head up the steep road leading southwards and out of town. This will take me towards the mouth of the river and the open sea beyond.
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My husband drops me off at the ‘secret’ car park at Sharkham Point. ‘Is that Japanese Knotweed?’ I look at the green shrubs growing around the signpost and take photographs for later identification.

[It turns out that, YES, this is the awful Japanese Knotweed and it’s running rampant in this area. Maybe this is why the car park isn’t signposted?]

The first section of the walk  is through fields, high above the sea. I meet a few gentlemen, out walking their dogs on this sunny Sunday morning. Continue reading →