Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

I begin my walk on Plymouth Hoe. It is Easter Saturday and the weather forecast says this will be the best day of the Easter weekend. It turns out to be a sunny day, not as windy as yesterday but still a very cold breeze.

I pose with my mother-in-law while my husband takes a photo and a couple of black labradors run up to us. One of them has a bunny in its mouth. Luckily, it turns out only to be a toy.

My mother-in-law loves dogs. We try to get them to sit and pose for the photograph, but they are too excited and keep running about. Continue reading →

Yesterday my walk ended in the rain. Today, the clouds are still low and ominous when I look back eastwards towards Bolt Tail and, beyond that, I can just make out Bolt Head.

What a difference a new day makes. No rain. Morning light. A good night’s rest.

The South West Coast Path follows the top of the slope, but I have chosen to walk along the alternative route, down by the sea. Continue reading →

If only it was summer! The South West Coast Path crosses the River Erme near its mouth. At low tide the water, apparently, is less than knee deep and you simply wade across. Having read the accounts of people who have done it, this is an exhilarating experience.

But this is a November and we have had one of the wettest years on record. The water is freezing cold and the river level is high. Wading is out of the question. I am going to have to walk up the river to the nearest bridge.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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 →