Ottery St Mary to Budleigh Salterton

I had Tuesday off so, once I'd done my unexciting admin, I set off for the sea.  I'd often wondered how long it would take to walk to the coast from Ottery and today was my chance.  It wasn't really a hard walk - get to the river at Ottery and turn left, keep walking, find sea.  

Once I'd said 'hi' to the river I found myself on a portion of the old railway route from Ottery to Budleigh. 

Then I found some old friends, and was pleased that we had a fence between us.   This random bridge here once carried the railway.

I walked down past Harpford, crossing where I'd previously walked with the East Devon Way.  I'm sure I'd have remembered the bull bit though.

JC and I had walked some of this path before and lost the path in Newton Poppleford.  I did again this time - it is super unmarked and involves turning right before a big tree which I missed.  However, a helpful local put me right and I was back on a narrow path behind the houses, and then onto a path by the fields.

I walked past Colaton Raleigh and found myself a lovely lunch spot. Sushi, crudités and humous isn't too shabby for a walk ;-)

From Colaton Raleigh it was an easy, and pleasant stroll down to Otterton Mill where I enjoyed a tea and gluten free scone.

From the Mill I was on home ground as I've walked this path dozens of times.  

It's certainly interesting to see what the Lower Otter Restoration Projent, LORP, are up to.  They've moved the cricket pitch and are allowing the fields to flood: it's fabulous to see the birds moving in to the newly created wetlands.  The footpath will be broken through soon (hence bridge foundations) allowing the sea to inundate and create some amazing saline wetlands.  

All in a lovely 16.4 km stroll, and thanks for picking me up in Budleigh JC!

Bank Holiday Gaddings Around

Another Bank Holiday weekend, but this one was better planned than my last, also helped by the fact that JC was around.  

On Saturday we went down to Sidmouth for their jazz and blues festival.  We rendezvoused with my old friends in Blackmore Gardens, sat in the sun and listened to some fabulous (and then not so fabulous) jazz.  This is what Saturdays are for. 

On Sunday we met with my friends at Exeter Quayside coinciding with Exeter Heritage Harbour Festival.  Plenty of sea shanties to listen to, although the cannon firing was a bit alarming if you weren't expecting it.   Lunch in the sun and a lovely long walk around the river.  This is what Sundays are for.

On Monday it was JC's turn to pick a trip.  For those who know him, it is of no surprise that it centred around photography but he does try to accommodate me by sneaking in a coastal location if he can. So we headed off to Exmoor which is somewhere I tend not to visit much, but should as it's beautiful.

We drove over Dunkery Hill waving at Wales -"hi Riona!"  

Then we stopped at Horner, just south of Porlock, as there was a packhorse bridge JC wanted to photograph.  Horner is actually a National Trust site and had a lovely marked path past Horner Water, through Horner Woods and up over Ley Hill which we enjoyed.

Next up was Robbers Bridge, a few km west.  This was beautiful but it didn't take me long to get my one shot, and JC a lot longer as there were numerous tripod set ups.  I entertained myself by playing spot the tadpole and tried to educate myself in wild flowers using the book I'd bought JC for his birthday.

It was a bit sad when a landrover eschewed the bridge and drove through the ford at full pelt - oh the baby frogs! :-(

We drove down to Porlock Weir via a weird toll road.  All we knew is it was a toll, but it was only when we arrived at the gate did we discover the price, £2.  No major dramas but it was very much an honesty box system and a bit odd overall.

Porlock Weir was a Ruthy fest.  As soon as I saw the harbour I went looking for the tidal marks and it didn't take me long to see them carved into the harbour walls.  

I enjoyed the sea defence with its smiley face.

We had supper in a local pub as the sunset was pretty late, then we wandered over the shingle eastwards of the groynes to capture the sunset.  This is what Bank Holidays are for.