Dartmouth to Starcross

Fri 11th Sept 2015

Alison dropped us at a bus stop near Exeter so we could get the bus back to Dartmouth and resume our walk. Arrived in Kingswear about 3.30pm and set off towards Brixham. Enjoyable walk through wooded areas and finally found a spot next to a bench to wild camp the night about 7.30pm. It has started to get darker earlier now.

Saturday 

Rained and blowing all night so didn't sleep too well. Luckily the rain stopped by 9am to let us pack away dry. Lovely views but a couple of steep up and downs to negotiate. Great view from Berry Head (could almost see the finish line in the distance!) Brixham was a great fishing harbour and when we left we were again walking through some gorgeous wooded areas. Paignton Tor Bay and Torquay were spread out in front of us with not much chance of a wild camp spot. So, at Paignton we booked into a Fawlty Towers come Old peoples home! Type B&B. We were able to negotiate down to £50 as it is now low season. Walked to the local fish n chip shop for dinner before a couple of drinks back at the B&B.

Sunday

Had breakfast with Mal-who with his wife and 2 girlfriends had been out all night at a "swingers" party with 120 other couples! Said he had 2 Viagra's that kept him going all night!!! He has made a documentary on Channel 4 about this scene (will look it up!) We think everyone thought he was a 70's rockstar but was in fact a landscaper from Bournemouth!!! 

Easily and pleasant walk through Tor Bay and Torquay- better than we expected. Then more wooded areas around the head to Babbacombe. Then onto a tiny village called Maidencombe. When we arrived their annual fundraiser day was going on so we joined in. Had a few pints in the lovely pub The Thatched Tavern then set up the tent opposite. 

Monday

Rained very heavily all night but again stopped by 9am so we could pack away dry. Really tough section to Teignmouth where we stopped for a great breakfast before an easier walk following the railway line which acts as the sea wall along the beach. Ended up walking just over 11miles today finishing at Starcross. Threw ourselves at the mercy of our friend Stephanie who kindly let us use her floor for the night after catching a free! Train to Exeter. Lovely to catch up with her again. Bus back to Okehampton again tomorrow to see Alison on her days off. Rain forecast for Wednesday so not a bad move.

Had a great Face Time with my sis in Oz. got the bad news that Mum is sick with Bronchitis but is slowly on the mend.

Ali dropped us off at the bus stop and we arrived in Dartmouth - had a cream tea then got the ferry across to Kingswear.

A fantastic scenic walk

Bye bye Dartmouth

A slight detour when u lose the Coast Path

Wild camped the night above Mansands

Rained all night but had a fantastic sleep

Leaving Mansands

Berry Head-cannons from The Napoleonic Wars

Heading into Brixham

Brixham harbour

Brixham

The Golden Hind in Brixham

Morris Dancers in Brixham

Torquay in the distance

Paignton

Found a B&B in Paignton-Redcliffe Hotel Lodge £50

Breakfast at the B&B - met Mal!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming into Torquay

Torquay Harbour

Beautiful woods on way to Babbacombe

Landslide in Babbacombe -house lost and another one soon to go!

The Thatchers Inn Maidencombe

Walked into the dog show on the village green then when it was over pitched the tent up for the night.

Ping pong ball race down the hill.

Rained all night but we kept dry-very muddy packing away!

Just after this pic I slipped down some steps! 

From Maidencombe to Shaldon the walking was like a roller coaster- very tough

Ferry-Shaldon to Teignmouth oldest and longest running continuous running ferry in the UK. From here very flat all the way to Starcross along the sea wall and railway line. No pics as my phone memory is full!

At Stephs in Exeter.