What a brilliant day today has been. My body may finally getting into the groove, because there were no hurty feet or achy shoulders/hips! Or maybe it was just because I had a decent night’s sleep in a proper bed and a cooked breakfast to send me on my way!
I left Clovelly at 9am and walked past Clovelly Court ( the home of the owners of Clovelly village).
After about a couple of miles, there was a steep descent to Mouthmill where there are some old lime kilns
and also Blackchurch Rock!
Of course, what goes down, normally goes straight back up and it certainly did. It was a strenuous climb back up, shortly followed by another steep descent and climb to Windbury Head.
However, although they were steep climbs, my fitness must be improving, because I quite enjoyed them ( not being wet and slippy helps!)
I then walked along a headland, through various fields until we reached Hartland Point, where this strange object was.
Some people say it looks like a giant penis, but I think that’s a phallacy😜
Another object appeared like a mirage, which was a shack selling hot drinks, so I was able to get my caffeine fix, while I ate my lunch.
There is also a lighthouse at Hartland Point, tucked under the cliff.
Hartland Point is a significant spot, because we start heading south, pretty much for the first time. It was also significant in that all of a sudden we were walking into a strong wind blowing in off the sea. It was quite difficult to stay upright at times. However, the views started coming thick and fast.
(Some thicker than others!)
After a while I reached Hartland Quay. There’s no longer a quay there, it has been washed away, but there is a hotel where I was able to grab a pint and swap stories with several other hikers I have bumped into along the way.
I decided to continue on, looking for somewhere to wild camp, but although there were some lovely spots, they were all far too exposed to the strong wind.
Instead, I made my way to my first Youth Hostel of the walk, at Elmscott. I have a dorm to myself and Steve and Anna who I met in Braunton are also staying here, so we’ve had a good catch up!
Tomorrow is allegedly the toughest stage of the whole coast path. It involves multiple steep sided valleys to traverse. I will see how I go, as to whether I carry on all the way to Bude or split it into two stages.
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