Day 8 - Westward Ho! to Clovelly

Back to familiar territory today with a "strenuous" 12 miler to end our short week - still completed 46 this week, as planned but after our big day yesterday on the flat just this to knock off before the "severe" week next week.

There was a massive storm in the night and we experienced the 50 mph winds in our B&B in Instow (we returned there after arriving at Westward Ho!)

Despite the way it looks in the pic, it was very comfortable and the staff there were amazingly friendly.

An early start and we drove to Clovelly and then by taxi back to Westward Ho! to start where we left off... my only disappointment being that this amazing shop wasn't open for me to pick up some Christmas presents...

By nailing two days in one, we narrowly avoided staying in this establishment - gutted - I'll bet that carvery is something stunning...

Speaking of stunning, the beach is still amazing, and very rough today. The swimming pool looks a bit random built into the rock in the wind and rain but it is actually one of the nicer features of Westward Ho!

High winds and it is chilly!!

And then the rain cometh

Should we be doubly worried??

Err, it's pretty steep again!

On top of the world again today looking back over all we have walked in the last week...

Breakfast of champions, cold bacon, sausage and hash brown baps, courtesy of our accommodation. Delicious after a few miles in the rain!

The scenery has returned to being spectacular...

Here is a our target for today - Clovelly is the white buildings at the bottom of the rainbow half way along the distant headland - perhaps we will also find gold there? The very end is Hartland Point where we will hopefully be on Monday evening.

The path is very difficult, undulating massively and like waking through rainforest. It is wet and muddy, especially in the woods, and our mile times rise significantly as our speed drops for serveral miles.

And then we come out of the trees and see Clovelly through the vegetation in the distance.

Clovelly is a private village owned by a family as part of their estate since 1738. No cars are allowed. You have to park at the top and walk (paying for access, unless you are a walker). Or if you are too lazy, they have land rovers as shuttles...

The streets down to the village are made of cobbles. It is one of "the prettiest villages on the SWCP". Luckily, the sun came out...

This is the inn I would have stayed in on Thursday night to end my weeks walk. Fresh lobster special - yum!

Nice ass...

Clovelly has a small harbour. Legend has it that Arthurian magician Merlin was born at the bottom in a cave behind a waterfall...

Happy to get back to Taunton and on the train. We are nearly a quarter of the way through at 106 miles in a week and a half of walking. Until Monday then... 😀