Marion's 50 Walk Challenge

I hadn’t planned to walk today but following a 3 hour 55 minute zoom meeting with just a 5 minute break- I needed fresh air. Watering the garden didn’t quite suffice and it was cold- very autumnal today.

Having driven for two days I decided to set off from home. So off down the lane, which has actually been trimmed back! Along ‘conker alley’ – always a good view from here.

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Through Lockinge and passed the sculpture of ‘Best Mate’ and the driveway to the church.

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The route takes the first left off of the road to Ginge, a quick climb up and then turn right and on to a track which leads towards the next villages.

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This crosses a new bridge over Ginge Brook and turns into a gravel track. This is the Greenway to Harwell site and signs advise that this is a temporary surface. The bridge is a definite improvement but I don’t think I will bother to walk at any time to the scientific site.

The ridgeway can be seen in the distance and all of a sudden these cows all decided this corner of the field was very interesting!

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Luckily a permitted bridleway came up on the left. Choices – continue on the track and then walk down the road into East Hendred, as planned or take a gamble and turn on to the grassy track !

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Reflection – Around about walk 28 I decided to download the Ordnance Survey app onto my phone. So much easier than getting the map out of the rucksack when needing to check the route. Also useful for new places for which I don’t own a map – there are a few places!

This route took me into the west part of East Hendred. A seat has been positioned in a random place with quite a good view.

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There are a couple of good pubs which I have been known to visit part the way through a walk but sadly I missed them on this occasion. Having only met one person and his dog since leaving Wantage it was good to see a sign of life! Very sweet.

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The path goes passed the village school which is really hidden away.

Reflection – I remember taking the team to play football in January / February 2019. Not only did it get a bit dark as we were finishing the game but it started snowing and we were playing with a white ball! I think we won on that occasion!

This school has very little parking space and any parents bringing pupils have to park in the village hall and then walk along this rather novel path.

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There are many wonderful old houses in this village as well as some rather splendid new ones.

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My route took a turn down Mill Lane, the village has a good sports pavilion and fields but my route takes me along a small track and across fields to West Hendred.

Reflection – there used to be a rather eccentric potter who lived in the Mill and also held exhibitions of various crafts there at Christmas / one of my favourite shopping venues.

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I’ve always been fascinated by these ladders on the side of this barn in West Hendred – possibly for apple picking – there used to be a lot of orchards in this area.

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There is also a rather splendid wall with a ‘Flemish Garden Wall Bond’ or ‘Sussex’ bond. A pattern of three stretchers and then one header. Good to see it was continued into a new wall.

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Through the fields back to Ardington and then home. First through the maize, slightly creepy when the wind blew and there was a strong rustling sound!

Not sure but this could be a flax crop. An unusual splash of colour.

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I stopped to have a snack and drink in the last field before reaching Ardington and was somewhat mesmerised by a group of about eight swifts that were swooping across the path. I did wonder if I would be bombarded as I walked through but I escaped unscathed.

Like many villages Ardington no longer has a school but at least the space has been put to good use. Some very good courses.

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Not quite sure what I did to the app today but I guess the walk was about 12 km. Several cyclists using the new track but only met two people with dogs and one friend of one of my son’s before I got close to home when there were a few more people. Definitely a good antidote to zoom – even if it was a good meeting!

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A completely different venue for my walk today. I decided to go to Oxford partly because I wanted some new walking boots – having had to dispose of my old ones in Devon! Also for somewhere I love it is strange to think I hadn’t been there since before the pandemic – bizarre really but not somewhere to walk round with bad hips and then COVID infection was really high in Oxford.

I decided to walk by the river, Port Meadow and along Oxford Canal. The best option for this was to use Seacourt Park and Ride which comes in along the Botley Road and had a stop near the Thames Path that I wanted to use. Such a contrast to the tranquility of the day before!

The river runs between allotments and the back of houses. There are several paths leading off and quaint bridges to cross. The path then runs between the river and a wide drainage ditch. There is a sign warning not to walk along the path when it’s flooded !! There are some canal boats along this stretches that are used as homes.

The path runs passed a mini marina/ boat yard which hosts private boats and some for hire. At this point Port Meadow becomes apparent – a large open space of about 400 acres. It was given to the Freeman of Oxford in the 10th century by King Alfred, who founded Oxford and in return for support against the Danes.

The path goes passed the garden of ‘The Perch’, Binsey. A place visited on several occasions but sadly not recently.

The River Thames has many locks in this area including Godstow Lock which you come to just before the ruins of Godstow Nunnery. There are many stories about ‘Fair Rosamund’. You can look across the meadow and see some of the Oxford spires.

The path meets the road that runs into Wolvercote and the ‘Trout Inn’ nestles next to the river. Once when staying at Hill End Activity Centre with a group of children we had taken the group out for an evening walk and called here, ordering a large number of lemonades to drink in the garden.

Having walked along the road for a short distance it was time to go back on to the meadow. I took a path nearer the edge which I hadn’t ever used before. In doing this I discovered a Nature Reserve between the meadow and the railway line and several memorial stones to past Mayors and Sheriffs of Oxford.

A flock of geese takes off loudly and it is possible to look back over to the river and see Wytham Woods, owned by the University of Oxford; a site of special scientific interest. The occasional splash of colour breaks up the green.

An exit on the left leads into Aristotle Lane, crosses the railway and then a path down to the tow path alongside the Oxford Canal. This goes from the city, north through the county, for 75 miles before linking up with other canals in the Midlands.

Many houses in the Jericho region of Oxford have gardens that back on to the canal. Quite a lot of house and garden envy during this part of the walk. Some sympathetic building of new apartments alongside some remodelled factory/ warehouse buildings.

The canal negotiated a lock, noticeably narrower than the one on the river before finishing in a widened area so boats could turn around. The capstan would have helped with this manoeuvre when boats were pulled by horses rather than powered by engines.

The path goes straight out onto the street and the spire of Nuffield College and the mound of Oxford Castle can be seen.

This was a good walk with far more people than I’d seen for a long time! Just time to go to buy some boots! A reasonable distance, a bit over 10.5 km.

I wanted to go somewhere that was one of my favourite places for the 30th walk! I decided upon White Horse Hill – I live in Vale of White Horse District and the name is also associated with the Primary School Football Association committee I have been on for very many years, currently the treasurer in my retirement!!

As part of the Ridgeway residential trip the last day has often been spent walking between the White Horse and Waylands Smithy – a Neolithic burial chamber. I decided that would be too easy. I realised I hadn’t been over the other side of the Ridgeway from the hill fort so plotted a route which would take me along and back on parts of the Lambourn Valley Way.

I am discovering that there are an enormous number of ‘…. Ways’ that I didn’t realise existed!

I started at the WHH car park – cash or parking app – of course that one wasn’t downloaded on my phone so a long winded procedure- paid in the end! The car park was very busy so I decided that my ultimate goal would be at the end of my walk.

So instead of heading to the White Horse I turned back to the road and continued up hill towards the Ridgeway. I could get a first glimpse of the hill fort – actually named ‘Castle Hill’

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The path continued straight across and was marked as a restricted byway. After a while on concrete (my heart sank), this track petered out after passing some farm buildings, and became more pleasant.

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I was amazed by the open nature of this side of the downs. Some of the fields are enormous. On my left, to the east there are real undulations.

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Just as I was taking this photo I was aware of movement to my right.

The vegetation changed a little and there were more trees. Not unusual to see maize growing but these smaller, obviously related plants are quite unusual.

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Not quite as many flowering plants as usual up until now but then as I turned to cross to the east there was a flurry of colour.

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Everywhere there were crops ready to be harvested, wheat and barley and some areas already cut. The openness of this area is quite breath taking. Open skies and one red kite that proved impossible to film!

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Turning back towards the ridgeway the path closely followed ‘gallops’. Lambourn and this area has a great number of racing stables. The path also passed some neolithic tumuli. The herd of deer appeared in front of me, recognisable by one larger darker animal – possibly a stag.

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The path narrowed and the hedge was ladened with hawthorn berries, rose hips ,some blackberries and these rather spectacular berries. The hill fort began to come into view again.

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Crossing the Ridgeway path again a path led up onto the top of the hill fort. This is somewhere I’ve visited for many years, as a family, with overseas visitors and with school groups. Children particularly like walking round the top and counting to try and work out the circumference. This is a very big fort!

Reflection – There are two particular times that stand out in my visits. The first was with a group of 6 and 7 year olds who were studying the Iron Age. We split the group in two and I was with the half attacking the fort. We crawled up the steep slope on our stomachs trying to surprise the ones at the top!

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Amazing to think these ditches were dug out with deer antlers.

The second more poignant time was whilst accompanying a group of children. My father had died about three weeks before and I got a phone call asking me to proof read the order of service for the funeral, the following week, so it could be printed. Slightly surreal as I set the children off round the fort,counting!

Great to see harebells on the top and then off to see the White Horse. The horse is over 3,000 years old – Bronze Age.

There is a children’s book called ‘Sun horse, Moon horse’ by Rosemary Sutcliffe. This story tells about a child who belongs to the Iceni tribe – sun worshippers and the Attribates tribe – moon worshippers. They were both horse traders.

At the edge of the fort there is a magnificent view down to the ‘manger’ and the rather illustrious horse is positioned at the top of this.

The horse is cut into the chalk and is refurbished every few years when the edges are cleaned and fresh chalk is added.

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The horse was fenced off and was difficult to get close to on this occasion. The best view of it is from the sky which makes you wonder how it was first produced.

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I enjoyed this walk, met two people on my walk on the south side of the Ridgeway and because most people had gone home only a few when I finished my walk. 11 km again today and with a bit of climb this time.

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I had planned to do a walk in Oxford today but then felt guilty for neglecting my garden. Some how the day slipped away a bit so I changed plans and set off from home thinking I would do a shortish walk around the edge of Wantage. The muscles around my left (newer) hip have been a bit sore so also thought perhaps I ought to be more cautious. Visually planned my route but didn’t fuss too much about measuring it. Whoops – turns out it was 11 km!

From the house I went past Charlton Church and into the village – this would once have been separate from Wantage. When I first lived in Larkhill the local farm, Home Farm, was still active from the village. They did outreach for schools and whilst I was on maternity leave with Jack – now 29, my class visited. I pushed the pram across the road to join them!

Part of the reason I wanted to walk along this track which starts at the end of the housing is that there is so much new development on this side of Wantage including a road, that it might soon change.

I wonder if this was a route used long ago between Charlton and old Grove?

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Where this passed for many years just through fields there are now houses, a school and the start of a new link road between the A417 and the A338. Also a solar panel farm a little further on.

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The track crosses the route of the old Wilts and Berks Canal which starts in Abingdon. It should be noted that until the change on 1st April 1974 both Abingdon and Wantage were in Berkshire. My route was now to follow the canal along the old tow path.

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No water but lots of water loving plants and the position of the canal basin is very clear. After a while I reached a bridge marked as Grove bridge and lock and I was able to see the bricks that once lined the lock and the distinct change in depth that necessitated it’s existence.

I could also see the worn rounded marks on the edge of the bridge brick work where the ropes of horses, towing barges, would have rubbed over a period of time.

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The walk through here was really pleasant and there were numerous paths through this wooded area.

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The path comes close to the A338 towards Oxford. This stretch was one of the surprises of the walk. The path was virtually through the back gardens of the cottages which lie between the road and the canal. Loved this sign.

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It then becomes very unused before it meets the complete contrast of roads by traffic lights.

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Crossing over the road and along a stretch of open space before the canal became apparent again. Another bridge and flowers with complementary colours.

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The canal path comes out on Mably Way near the small roundabout which hosts an aeroplane which commemorates the use of the area as an airfield during the 2nd world war.

The path now takes you near the canal but also into a new housing estate. I hope they installed good drainage as this field used to be very boggy! There is water back in the canal and some plastic barriers – to protect newt habitats.

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This path bends round and the canal carries on to East Challow. My route today was through part of the Stockham Estate where I spent a very happy 9 years teaching. I used to teach cycling proficiency on the roads I was now walking along!

Out on to the Denchwirth Road and across down by Belmont and out at the bottom of Mill Street. In order to avoid walking through town I crossed and took the path by Wessex Mill. During lockdown the mill worked on overtime to produces sufficient flour for the influx of home baked bread.

Along this path lies the Betjeman Garden. John Betjman, one time poet laureate, lived for a while very close to the park.

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The paths around here lead in various direction and I took the one to Lock’s Mill and the ford before turning up towards the old Priory Buildings and along Priory Road. Up along Church Street, a quick nip into Waitrose and then a back way home.

This was an enjoyable walk and I felt bad that I didn’t realise all the open ground existed when first turning off from the main road in Grove. Also to think I had driven passed the canal cottages so many times and not realised about the footpath lurking behind them.

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Having looked at the local map I realised I hadn’t ever walked the Thames Path between Culham and Clifton Hampden. Not wishing to just walk there and back I worked out a more circular route. This was a total of 10.5 km.

There is a large free car park by Culham Lock so this was my starting point. Across the main road and along Thame Lane, behind the European School. Once Culham College and my place of study for Teacher Training. This rather unspectacular ‘restricted byway’ continues over the railway line that runs between Didcot and Oxford. I hadn’t ever walked this way before and it is not a very attractive route. It runs next to a large wire fence around a compound which includes the Culham Science Park – this used to include JET which was a joint European project – hence the school. Now part of Science Vale UK.

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This concrete track does go on a long way but there are always positives to find. Several oak trees and sweet chestnut.

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Something to cheer the soul. A great tit flew in front of me and landed in a tree giving me a view of it’s dominant black head.

I am wondering if this area was used during the war perhaps I’ll do some research. Having mentioned rewilding before I did notice how quickly the grassland turns to scrub and then a wooded area. Much of this will probably have happened naturally.

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These teasels caught my attention. Oxfordshire schools used to be well known for using drapes on displays and having calming colours and natural objects to add to the ambience of the classroom. I was fortunate enough to become part of this culture in my second school. The importance of making classrooms and schools welcoming was something I never lost – even if I adapted style over the years.

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The track continued round and I was struck by the enormity of these giant hog weed seed heads and then the colour and shape of a much smaller variety.

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Further on and I could see the source of this spectacular pink, natural piece of art!

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Just when you wonder if a never ending track will cease you find a sign. Hear and see a green woodpecker and go on a bit for some more reassurance.

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Then all of a sudden you are on the main road and queues of cars for the traffic lights. Crossing over there was a narrow signed path which gave an intriguing view to the back gardens of some of the cottages of this little village nestled next to the River Thames.

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The traffic queues again to cross the bridge- only wide enough for single file, and I set off along the Thames Path towards Culham.

This walk has been very quiet so far, met one walker in the first section, spoke to one other that had just emerged from the Path by the river.

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The first stretch leads to the lock, the path is quite close to the edge at this point and there was a lone fisherman who’s kit had to be negotiated!

Some interesting vegetation. Amazing reeds, almost blue, balsam with it’s complex flower and I think wild Michaelmas Daisies. I was reminded of my early days as a head teacher – we always had a church service near to St. Michael’s Day and one of the teachers always brought along these particular daisies.

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About half way along this particular curved stretch of the Thames the river passes under the railway line, so having gone over earlier in the walk, I now go under. Rather giant Meccano like in structure, love the engineering of bridges.

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This next stretch was not very exciting so pleased to have a phone conversation. Just when I was beginning to think ‘Am I nearly there yet..?’, I had a great sighting. A heron was across the field from me and I managed to capture it on my phone.

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Probably sensing I was there it made a squawking cry and took off. I suddenly realised that this was the cry I’d heard earlier and didn’t recognise.

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Not long and the bridge for Culham and signs for the lock came in view. I met three people in total whilst by the river and only about three boats went passed. It’s a strange feeling when you can hear people talking and keeping up with you on the other side of the undergrowth.

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My walk had finished, not very exciting in terms of terrain but a few good sightings.

Today was my longest walk yet 16 km, and from my house. I thought it was about time I got as far as the Ridgeway but rather than go straight up my hill I decided to incorporate part of a route that means quite a lot to me.

Started by walking into town and then cutting through Post Office Lane before reaching the square. Along Church Street and down Priory Road – this used to be called Back Street and the cottages were home to weavers and tanners. So then along the footpath and across to Letcombe Regis. ( There is also a Letcombe Bassett – another pair of Norman place names)

The route is one I walked every other year with mostly Year 3 pupils on their way to their residential. We used to take bags etc up to the Youth Hostel and then drive back to town, visit the museum and town then walk back up to the hostel – about 4 miles. The furthest some of these 7/8 year olds had ever walked – but we did it!!!

As I was walking along the track to Letcombe a boy came to mind – very autistic and never been away from home. He held my hand for most of the route and I had to divide the walk into chunks as the terrain changed and ‘tick off ‘ sections with him. We made it and he stayed all three nights! And we even had a snow flurry at the end of April just as we reached the village!!!

No odd weather today – unlike my previous walk in this direction I turned into the village and soon started walking passed thatched cottages.

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The church is rather quaint – on one walk with children we actually found time to visit but not on this occasion.

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The path continues through the village and in the direction of the Ridgeway, the road leads towards Segsbury Camp but my path diverts to the right and there is a long pleasant stretch. Always a place where school groups could relax a bit more and start chatting to friends as they walked.

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Looking across to the left the larger wood hides Courthill Hostel and did in itself provide a wonderful site for many trails and fun games.

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To the right Hackpen Hill can be seen on the horizon. The planted trees were I believe designed by Lord Wantage to recreate groups of soldiers?!

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This is such a fertile area and the valley and area reached at the end of the path always look so wonderful.

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There is a challenging stile at this point which has two high steps on one side and three plus a big step down on the other. Always a bit of a hold up!

Last time I went over this with a former colleague and her children in preparation for a Ridgeway trip it was very difficult and so painful I couldn’t walk for a while. The next field was always a good ‘biscuit’ stop. I knew what was coming next! The sun was shining and I was reminded that the first time I sat in this field in the sunshine was about 39 years ago – not with a group of children!

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To add variety to the walk the path crosses this field and then cuts through a small wood. Quite a startling moment – a muntjac deer ran towards the path almost in front of me and then turned and darted away. Have to admit to a small scream of surprise. Coming out of the wood there is a steep climb through the next couple of fields. Always a challenge with a group!

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Next across a large field before hitting the Ridgeway. Last time I was here it was covered in cowslips – but not today. Looking back the ‘Vale of the White Horse’ stretches afar. Over another stile and the long haul up to the Ridgeway is completed. Love this dog stile! So far today I’ve only seen one other person out walking or cycling.

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The Ridgeway is a very ancient track which has been used as a communication and trade route for over 5,000 years and some of it really shows the chalk nature of the area.

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Whereas on the previous walk there had been wild cherries this walk had an abundance of hawthorn. Having left it rather late to stop for lunch I diverted slightly to Segsbury Camp – another Hill Fort. Amazing to think the ditches were dug out using deer antlers. Farmers were busy moving some enormous bales of hay – they really are huge.

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Back to the main path until reaching the Hungerford Road. When walking to the hostel we would turn left and drop down the hill a little but today a turn towards the right and across the road to continue along the Ridgeway.

After a while the path is joined by one from the hostel and it goes on towards Latin Kiln Farm. Again I was reminded of walking this way with groups of children to the farm. We used to build shelters, cook toast on an open fire, follow trails and many more activities.

Reflection- walking and talking with groups of children in this informal setting gives such an opportunity to find skills and knowledge that aren’t apparent in the classroom. So important as part of developing whole people not just processing them through an academic machine.

Highlight – By the entrance drive to the farm I was stopped by three red kites playing on the thermals just below the line of the path.

From this point you can see right down towards Wantage, including most of my route back down to home.

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The final stretch crosses the road to Newbury and then the path leaves the main thoroughfare and the path turns left across a field down hill. This goes next to the point to point track. After a left hand turn the track meets the very top end of Larkhill and then home

Enjoyed this longer walk but I did ache a little the next day. I was surprised at how few people I saw even on the main path. And the sun shone!

Starting from Blewbury again, I need to pick someone up late afternoon so went early to do a walk first.

Earlier in my walks I made reference to Pilgrimage Services which we did each May, from school. A few times we went up to Blewburton Hill which is an Iron Age Hill fort overlooking the village and was inhabited before a community was set up by the brooks in the present village.

It did seem a little strange walking in the direction without the chatter of a group of children. Last time was with a year two class and a student teacher who were learning about the Iron Age!

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Reflection – loved supporting teachers with this period of history. My tasks were often setting up a brick kiln to fire pottery, creating a large weaving loom which groups could work at and turfing a bit of the field so we could light a fire and make ‘Iron Age stew’

Walking can provoke strong memories of things you haven’t brought to mind for a while.

Reflection – on one occasion we took two visiting Ugandan teachers with us to the top of the hill for our service and on another occasion at least one European guest. So important for children in a mainly mono cultural school to widen their experiences.

The soil is very chalky at this point – hence the natural springs and the brooks.

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Looking back towards Blewbury and the ridgeway I noticed the strip lunches on the side of the field – really noticeable today.

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This time the path led round the base of the hill until it crossed the road to Aston Uptborpe (Aston Tirrold is the adjoining village – Norman place names). The path is very straight for at least 1.5 k and runs next to a series of meticulous paddocks. This is part of Aston stud and I was reminded of the family that lived there and the four children I had taught.

A thought of Cricket came into my mind and the boy who was in the team the year we won the county final, playing on the sports field in Oxford next to the iconic Iffley Road running track. ( First four minute mile)

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There is an abundance of fruit in the trees this year – wild cherries I think but I also saw damsons and yellow plums during my walk.

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Walking along this path there is a clear view of Wittenham Clumps and Castle Hill, the later is another Hill Fort. It’s position close to the River Thames was significant as it bordered the regions of Mercia and Wessex.

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Enough reminiscing, I was pleased to have my slightly battered 1:25,000 map with me at this point as I need to use all the features to find the right path.

The straight on path wasn’t quite that but I found the way before turning left down a path next to a ditch connecting some brooks. The map shows the site of many mills and this well watered area has obviously been rich arable land for many centuries. There is also the remains of a Roman Villa by the Ridgeway up above this land.

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Another turn to the left as I start on my journey back, only one false start mostly due to crops. The path now runs next to Mill Brook. ( Not quite as an exciting name as another nearby- Hakka’s Brook – I wonder who he was? )

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Very peaceful, I had met two people so far today! I wouldn’t say this was the most well used path but with out the pressure to get back by a certain time there were some tempting spots to cool feet. By this time it had turned out very warm and I was regretting not changing into shorts!

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The path did eventually come out on the Hagbourne road with one of those helpful and reassuring footpath signposts. The one on the opposite side of the road was more hidden. There was a sign, a tiny path and much undergrowth – now glad I’d kept to trousers!

Again some tricky navigating, the crops had been cut but the path!!! Eventually convinced I was on the right track I was able to enjoy the final stretch back into Blewbury. A helpful yellow sign and a decent gate were very reassuring before I popped back out onto one of the ‘main’ roads in Blewbury and the car was a couple of minutes away.

I’d estimated two hours and it took an extra 2 minutes ! Did forget to turn off the app again as I drove round the corner and up the school drive!!

So this walk was marginally over 9km long.

Every time I look at the map I see somewhere else I fancy walking. Perhaps it will have to be Marion’s 75 walk challenge!

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Back at home and setting off from the house again. Along the track and ‘conker alley’ and then veer past the ‘Parkinsons.me garden and turn left into the woods. Further on I found some name plates for various parts of this plantation and was shocked to see it was started in 1994 – can it really be that long ago?

It is a quite well established area with an increasing diversity of bird song, butterflies and wild flowers and shrubbery. A good use of the land – rewilding before it became fashionable.

My path, there are numerous choices, took me across to the Millennium Stones.

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I continued further through the wood than ever before so was not entirely sure where I would emerge in Ardington. I turned towards the end of the village and set off on the track which would eventually lead to East Hendred. That wasn’t my plan for the day and turned right by ‘The red barn’.

Interestingly there are lots of new signs for the Icknield Greenway along some of this route. The Icknield Way is an ancient path but this is different. On researching I find it is part of the Science Vale UK project and is a track that links Wantage to Harwell Science campus. This appears to be different from the Sustrans route.

Having met a track at right angles which goes across Ginge Brook I turned to the right, back towards Lockinge. When this track met the road I turned right again down the steep hill to Ardington.

I almost missed the turn to the left which runs behind Home Farm as I usually go along it the other way! Back passed the woods and the garden and return home.

It was good to be out for a walk today after being in the car back from Devon and then doing laundry on return!!

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What a difference from Thursday’s walk, only 1 km less, but took 2 rather than 3 hours. Perhaps the biggest contrast is the 24 floors climbed as against more than 180!!

Very sadly since doing this walk Franky’s dad has died. This will be a tough time for her and Jack as they pick up their keys to their first ‘owned’ house on Wednesday. Sending them both my love.

I’ve called this walk 24.5 because I wanted to include it but it was probably only just 4.5 km – so not really long enough.

The day started with Franky sadly receiving a phone call to say her dad had been rushed to hospital. Luckily her godmother lives in Paignton and came to collect her to take her down to Cornwall.

So with not brilliant weather and a rather distressing start to the day we set off for Dartmouth. Big hint to anybody visiting using the park and ride straight away !

We caught the ferry up to the castle and Jack , Pete and I visited. Alex declined and dipped his legs in the sea instead.

The castle information suggested a walk passed coastguard cottages and then cutting back to the coastal path. First a quite steep climb up – of course!

This part of the coastal path did undulate but not as extremely as the day before and it was partly through woods. This is great when you can glance to your right and glimpse the sea.

The South West Coastal path then continues back from the castle into the town, which we did rather than catch the ferry back.

I wanted to include this as it would be the last part of the path that I completed for a while and I’m not sure when I’ll next go on a walk with both of my sons.

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The day started with a drive to Bigbury-on-Sea, using the ‘Tidal road’ from Aveton Gifford – the water was very close even though it was low tide! Risks have to be taken sometimes!

The first very short walk was to visit Burgh Island, this is reached by a causeway which is only passable at low tide. The rocks around the island are quite impressive and there is a shelter where fisherman would have looked out for shoals of pilchards and then set sail in their boats.

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After a walk around the island we returned to the causeway and already the water was beginning to cover the way.

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The mist was beginning to close in more and more but Alex and Pete decided that they would still accompany me on the planned coastal walk whilst the other two opted for the beach.

This was a walk and a half! An extreme combination of continuous steep up and down hill climbs and very poor visibility – who doesn’t like a challenge on a Thursday?

The beach at Bigbury and Burgh Island had all but disappeared as we set off for Challaborough. This beach and area was quite busy mostly due to a huge caravan site. The steep climbs now started to kick in.

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Realised I hadn’t eaten so had to stop for a refuel, the other two had eaten whilst I struggled with flaky WiFi signals to pay for the car park!! Onwards and upwards and down and up again!

We had had a thought to get to Wonwell Beach but had also suggested we would be back in three hours. Just before we got to a point where we felt we ought to turn round the sea mist did almost clear.

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Frustrating to not quite reach our goal but this was a tough walk of 10.5 km and we gave it a good attempt. Frustratingly the last part might have been easier and it was a little quicker on the way back, probably because the mist did eventually lift.

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As we returned towards Bigbury-on-Sea we could at last see Burgh Island again but alas no causeway!

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This walk was quite a test and probably the toughest terrain I have attempted since my new hips! Great experience and thank you to my two companions.

This walk took over three hours and the pace helps to indicate the severity of the inclines. In fit bit terms over 180 floors during the walk !

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