5 - Hunter's Inn to Combe Martin

Stage Distance: 7 miles (Total Distance: 35.5 miles)

 Another glorious morning! Through the gardens of The Hunter's Inn and back to the stone bridge where we picked up the coast path again.  A steep zig-zag up through Heddon's Mouth Wood and up side of the cleave out onto heather-covered moorland.  A quick stop to recover at Peter Rock with fine views down to Highveer Point at the mouth of the cleave.

The view stretched westward along the coast for miles from High Cliff.  We stopped for lunch in the field above the pleasantly-named North Cleave Gut where it was warm and sheltered from the strong wind.

On past Neck Wood, clinging to the cliffside (the wood, not us) and then onto the open moorland of Trentishoe Down where we were entertained by a paraglider.  We soon got our first view of Great Hangman, the highest point on the whole South West Coast path.  Unfortunately, the climb up Great Hangman is prefaced by a very steep descent down to Sherrycombe.  Saw a lovely adder on the way down but before the camera could be brought to bear, our stomping had scared it off.

From Sherrycombe, we started the steep climb up Girt Down (renamed Girt Up by us of course), finally reaching the cairn on Great Hangman.  The views in all directions were spectacular (see the banner photo on the blog among others).  From then on, it was down, past Little Hangman, Lester Cliff and Wild Pear Beach, finally reaching the Kiln Car Park in Combe Martin and the car.  Three great days of walking and very lucky with the weather!

Logistics: Parked at Kiln car park, Combe Martin and booked a taxi back to Hunter's Inn (cost £15).
GPS Track: 5 - Hunter's Inn to Combe Martin (20100926).kmz
Images: 5 - Hunter's Inn to Combe Martin

4 - Lynmouth to Hunter's Inn

Stage Distance: 7 miles (Total Distance: 28.5 miles)

The second day of our weekend away in Lynton and the weather was clear and sunny.  Starting from Lynmouth, we took the cliff railway up to Lynton and then followed the path out along the cliffs to the Valley of Rocks.  We then continued through the Lee Abbey estate and had lunch on Crock Point with lovely views back to Lee Abbey and the tower on Duty Point.  

There followed a section of woodland walking through Croscombe Wood and Woodybay Wood and then along the cliff path to the impressive Hollow Brook waterfall.  On reaching Heddon's Mouth we followed the coast path inland until we parted company with it at the small stone bridge and continued inland to The Hunter's Inn for nice cuppa and the reunion with the car.

Logistics: Parked at Hunter's Inn and booked a taxi back to Lynmouth (cost £12).
GPS Track: 4 - Lynmouth to Hunter's Inn (20100925).kmz
Images: 4 - Lynmouth to Hunter's Inn

3 - County Gate to Lynmouth

Stage Distance: 6 miles (Total Distance: 21.5 miles)

A bit overcast and very windy at County Gate car park.  First, the long walk down to rejoin the coast path at Sister's Fountain, a small holy well or spring beneath a 19th century stone structure and cross - very atmospheric.

The walk continued through woodland until emerging onto Glenthorne Cliffs and then following the lighthouse access road to the optional walk out to Devon’s most northerly point: the lighthouse at Foreland Point.  On returning from the lighthouse the path climbed up the side of the scree-covered valley and finally onto the cliff tops with our first distant view of Lynmouth.  A quick look around Countisbury Church and then along the cliffs to join the A39 briefly before taking the zig-zagging path down through the woods to Lynmouth beach.

We stayed for 2 nights in Lynton at the  St. Vincent House Hotel.  A lovely house and very good food.  A really civilised end to the day.

Logistics: Parked at Lynmouth and caught the 300 bus back to County Gate.
GPS Track: 3 - County Gate to Lynmouth (20100924).kmz
Images: 3 - County Gate to Lynmouth

2 - Porlock Weir to County Gate

Stage Distance: 6 miles (Total Distance: 15.5 miles)

A dull day with a cold wind blowing.  We had seconds to get from the car to the bus stop and made a very undignified start to the walk by running barefoot clutching our boots, coats and bags, much to the amusement of the passengers.  

This majority of this stage was through woodland.  We ate lunch in Culbone churchyard.  Culbone Church is apparently the smallest complete parish church in England at only 35ft long.  The scenery between Porlock Weir and Lynmouth was thought to be the inspiration for Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Kubla Khan and The Ancient Mariner, both written while staying on Exmoor.  The walk passed through numerous coombes each with their trickling stream; Silcombe Combe, Holmer's Combe, Twitchen Combe.  We came across a recent major landslide that had since been made passable again.  The walk finished with a long climb up to a very windy County Gate carpark just as it was getting dusk. Lovely views over the Doone Valley.

Logistics: Parked at County Gate and caught the 300 bus back to Porlock.
GPS Track: 2 - Porlock Weir to County Gate (20100913).kmz
Images: 2 - Porlock Weir to County Gate