And almost identical distance from yesterday but very different. No rain around like the rest of the country seems to be having but we have very moody skies this morning and the wind is up. It is cold!!
This is the view from our balcony first thing. It is where we will walk today. After some sustinence, we get cracking as the first section promises to be quite tough.
Looking back over Daddyhole (seriously!) and our moody skies feel quite autumnal
After some more built up and rural subrubs of Torquay, with their own history and some pretty good descents and climbs to get the thighs and calves really singing, we reach Labrador Bay Nature Reserve.
The views from here are really stunning as we are on top of the world once more...
From here we get a glimpse of Teignmouth. The last place on mainland uk to have been invaded by foreign enemies - this was the French in 1690.
First we have to get the ferry from Shaldon across to Teignmouth. Apparently there has been a ferry here for 100s of years.
We hurry through Teignmouth along the promenade and past the pier that looks like it has seen better days.
At the end of the promenade is where the main line goes along the sea front - I have seen it many times on my journeys down to do this path. Unfortunately, you cannot walk along it the full length any more since it was damaged by storms. So we are forced up to the high-tide route, which is harldy sign posted at all.
It is nice to look back at the distances we have covered today.
The best section involves pretty much walking on a busy A-road for a while which is not what we have to expect but has to be done.
And then eventually we get to Dawlish which is a pretty town with the railway continuing to run along the edge of the beach.
This place is supposed to have amazing ice cream and pasties.
But Dawlish is famous for its swans. Here are some babies in an incubator.
And here is a famous black swan with three cygnets.
We are joined by some lovely people to help us finish the day’s walk.
This is mainly along the very long and high sea wall which is sandwiched between the beach and the railway line.
As we roijdnhe corner into the River Exe estuary, we can see Exmouth in the distance.
We have to pass through Dawlish Warren to get to the last ferry to Exmouth. There are lots of holiday parks and amusements here - some have seen better days.
After a bit of an uninspiring march up the bike track and footpath between the railway line and the road, we make the ferry with only minutes to spare. Missing this would mean a major detour and an hour or so into the day so we are happy.
It’s pretty chilly on the water today!
We arrive in Exmouth and onto our hotel for tonight which, despite its outside appearance, is very comfortable.
We are continuing to raise money for Meningitis Research - very many thanks to all who have donated so far. Please CLICK HERE or copy and paste this link if you would be so kind as to join them: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-schrier
