Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Saturday 3 October 2009

Saturday 3 October 2009 - South Devon Coast Path - Day 1 - Torcross to Dartmouth

24 hours after leaving home, Andrew and I finally made it to Torcross this morning, finishing our long journey on First's No 93 bus from Kingsbridge.

Admittedly, most of the 'journey' had been spent in the excellent company of Colin, Liz and Simon at our overnight stop in Exeter.

As usual, we set off walking in fine weather. We were followed today by a brisk breeze, with dark scudding clouds overhead.

After 200 metres the call of a tea shop was too great to resist, so it was noon by the time we embarked along Slapton Sands, having admired the nearby relic Sherman tank - in memory of the 'Operation Tiger Tragedy' - which looked only marginally older than the Austin Healey 3000 parked next to it.

And so to Dartmouth. Past a surprising array of wild flowers and butterflies, through the pretty villages of Strete and Stoke Fleming, the varied paths led all of 16 km (10 miles) to our destination. Our 4.30 pm arrival was followed by a long rest in our B & B, then an excellent meal with Chilean Pinot Grigot round the corner at Taylor's Restaurant.

Dartmouth is a lovely town, and we've spent some time 'wandering' both before and after darkness fell and the full moon rose high over the rooftops.

Highlights of the day:

a Slow Worm on a woodland path;


an incongruous tangle with a large group of overdressed wedding guests outside the church at Dartmouth Castle;

and of course the delights of the coast path - a varied route with some fine views, with afternoon sun lighting the River Dart, seen above at Warfleet Creek with Kingswear as a backdrop, shortly before entering Dartmouth.

It may only have been 10 miles, but it has tired us out...

Goodnight all!

Next Day

4 comments:

Alan Sloman said...

I dunno!

As soon as you leave Sue behind you find a sudden passon for tea shops!

I know a goood divorce lawyer, Sue....

Phreerunner said...

Actually, our SWCP trips, even with Sue in tow, have a good record for coffee shops. And cream teas!

Alan Sloman said...

In that case you should abandon all those foreign climes and concentrate on good ol' Blighty for your perambulations.

That way Sue could have a nice B&B every night with a Full English in the morning with coffee shops mid morning and tea shops in the afternoon.

And no huge rucksack weighing her down!

Go on - as Frank Windsor used to say "You Know It Makes Sense"

Phreerunner said...

'Variety is the spice of life', I hear, so we can vary our exertions from tough UK trips (May in Scotland) to gentle saunters in sunnier climes (our next significant trip) with - subject to fitness that is currently elusive to Sue - any number of permutations in between....

....ho ho ho - you need to get out more, Alan!