SWCP: Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren

A more leisurely pace on our final (half-) day of walking. Mainly a level path sandwiched between the railway line and the beach.  More lovely weather! We got the train back to Teignmouth and set off for home by about 2.30. Traffic jams on the M5.

On the way to Dawlish

Catalogue man

At the end of the sea wall at Holcomb beach. About to walk under the little railway bridge and away from the shore.

Saw these little
Flowers all along the coast.

Looking down onto Dawlish

Red strata. All the beaches here have red sand.

Ice cream pit-stop  in Dawlish

Raspberry and licquorice flavour - incredible colour

Back to reality 😒

SWCP: Babbacombe to Teignmouth

Today it was meant to rain but, as has happened almost every day of my coastal walking adventures, the promised precipitation didn't show up. We had cool breezes, a perfect 19 degree temperature, but according to my phone there was 100% humidity. It was rather sweaty.

It was a woodland path, mostly, with little view of the sea or coastline. The most amazing thing was that the whole time we were in the forest, we could hear a constant low humming engine noise. It was the bees. Like some sort of invisible sci-fi spaceship somewhere out of sight.

Our first stop-off: Maidencombe beach cafe for a cup of tea.

There have been gazillions of these all along the way since Brixham. Sweet n juicy.

We don't think we heard any cirl buntings, but we did see a kestrel hovering. 

And heard lots of robins, a blackcap and possibly a wren.

Sweaty and bad hair

At the top of a bloody long, steep hill near Teignmouth. Please, no more!

Hooray, we made it to the top!

Savouring the fruits of our labour (note sweaty back).

Got the ferry from Shaldon to Teignmouth.

After lunch, we find a shop (name) much to Colin's taste.

Got the bus back to Babbacombe and then hopped in the car, got our togs from the Airbnb and went for a quick swim at Meadfoot beach. The water was really warm but there were a lot of rocks and too much seaweed.

Who needs James Bond?

At one with nature.

 

SWCP: Torquay to Babbacombe

We used Colin’s Strava today and it mysteriously stopped recording (ahem) when he looked at it just past Torquay harbour. That bit shows as a straight line. The true scale of our endeavours today was greater than shown here - nine miles and 1500 feet of ascent. The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny but with a warm breeze. A lovely day.

We started by walking down to Torquay Harbour.

Cruise ships and container ships are moored in the bay

Bit hot - time for a spot of manspreading 

Looking across to Exmouth

Quite a few pines and cedars. In this weather, a little reminiscent of the south of France.

Lovely houses on Daddyhole Plain (I kid ye not). We stopped here for coffee at the Headland Hotel. 

Back to the Airbnb for a night in, watching The Chair. Expecting some rain tomorrow morning so might be forced to go to the very nice local cafe for a slap-up breakfast. 

SWCP: Brixham to Torquay

The first day of our sojourn to Torbay and the weather was perfect for walking. We left our grim boarding-house in Bridgwater early and drive down to Teignmouth for breakfast. Then parked near our Airbnb in Torquay and got the bus to Brixham. 

Here is my boat in Brixham Harbour

Massive container ships in the distance

Churston Cove, through the woods from Brixham

Eberry Cove

The beaches are made of red sand and,
in places, these Jurassic coast-style pebbles

Seclusion

Not tired yet

Eating the blackberries!

The town of Paignton was a bit run-down, but the beach was clean and finely sanded

3pm and only just tucking into lunch - a giant crab sandwich (not made of giant crab though).

They really like their beach huts
all along this stretch of coastline.

I managed to squeeze in my Thursday zoom yoga class when we got back. Ready meal for dinner and an early night. A bit less walking tomorrow and maybe a brave dip in the sea!