Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

I have just arrived at my hotel in Torquay. It is late afternoon and it is raining.  I check the latest BBC weather forecast on my iPad. There is a promise of a few bright spells this evening.

From Torquay station I catch a train up to Dawlish Warren. I deliberately choose a seat on the right hand side of the train, nearest the sea. After an inland deviation via Newton Abbot, there is an amazing view through the rain streaks on the train window. The track follows Brunel’s original route and runs alongside the coast between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren. The tide is high and fierce. Grey waves crash up against the sea wall as the train trundles by, just a few feet from the lashing spray. Continue reading →

We drive down the narrow winding lanes to Branscombe Mouth. It is the Sunday of the Queen’s Jubilee weekend. The sky is overcast but better than yesterday (when I arrived in the gloom of late afternoon and only got as far as putting on my boots before the rain started and I abandoned the walk).

Today I am hoping to make good progress and have lunch in Sidmouth with a final destination of Budleigh Salterton. Continue reading →