Today is our first day on the Jurassic Coast. We wake up in Exmouth after a good night. Happy that it is going to be a less strenuous day. But it is windy and very cold. Especially when we get out to the beach front and look back over the River Exe where we were yesterday - brrrr.
But the sun is out and it is a very beautiful morning looking down the promenade. This is 2 miles - the longest seafront in Devon.
The beach is full of people excercising their dogs on the last day they will be allowed on it until the end of September. Harry and I join in.
I know where I would rather be on a Monday morning!
At the end of the beach, we reach the official start of the Jurassic Coast. This now stretches for 95 miles from here to Studland on the Purbecks, where hopefully we will be on Sunday! It starts here with the red rocks from 250 million years ago. Each step we take transports us through 1,000 years of geological time.
There is a “geoneedle” landmark at the top of our first climb here. It has all the different rocks set into it but you can’t see them because the sun is too strong for me to take a good picture 😎
The redness of the cliffs is imediate and Harry is already developing a red hue on his white hair on his feet and tummy from the mud.
We get to the first of two MASSIVE caravan parks here at Sandy Bay. It looks like a deserted posh shanty town. There seems to be no-one here except for a few staff. Bet that won’t be the case this coming bank holiday weekend!
From here is some nice cliff walking.
Until we get to Buddleigh Salterton which is a really lovely looking place.
Some local fisherman are just landing their catch here on the beach. I am sorry I can’t buy any as it can’t get any fresher.
Here they even have an old phone box - with a phone in!
At the end of Buddleigh Salterton, there is a nature reserve we have to walk around.
Seems like a long way when we could have just crossed a metre of water here to save us the mile or so detour - but that is the coast path 😀
The red rock is really showing on the cliffs now.
There is another massive deserted caravan park at Ladram Bay, where these stacks are famous...
We can see Sidmouth in between the two large hills (and some of the challenges of our tough walk tomorrow) in the distance. But first we have to scale that Hill...
The effort is worth it as we are rewarded with fantastic views back ove our last week’s work when we get up the top...
We descend to Jacob’s Ladder beach on the edge of Sidmouth. Which is pretty breathtaking.
And another deserted beach at Sidmouth for us to play ball on...
We climb off the coast and up the River Sid about 1/2 mile to our accomodation. Sidmouth also seems like a lovely place - great vibe to it.
Our hotel has a stunning Magnolia in full blossom for us to look at while sitting in the sun and writing this blog...
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