Combe Martin to Mortehoe – Ache on Ache

The night under my tarp was very difficult. I’ve coped better at minus 18c under the tarp in the Highlands. Well I haven’t because I nearly cried all night and had to build a fire that had no effect. I just mentioned it to generate kudos.

It was cold last neet though. I’ve slipt into my Yorkshire dialect. Last neet I slept fitfully and struggled to get out of bed this morning. When I did the tarp was soaked with dew and my condensed breath. So I stuffed it in my rucksack and went for a full English in Combe Martin! Boy was it good. So was the morning.

I set off after the FE (full English) at 10 am hundred etc etc. Looking back the Great Hangman is just to the right of the photo below and its junior apprentice, the Little Hangman, is to its left.

The day warmed up and my muscles weren’t too bad despite yesterday’s exertions. Today is a grueller too.

Unless I’m mistaken this is a Cuckoo Pint. I haven’t seen one like this for years.

Passing along the coast, and then slightly inland to cross streams and rivers, brings amazing diversity of stunning sights.

Devon does history too. Watermouth Castle is quite impressive.

There are lovely, small, deserted beaches and bays along the way.

And the first view of Ilfracombe is another stunner. And the second, from a hilltop, is too.

For some bizarre reason there is a 20 metres statue of a pregnant woman holding a sword, made by Damien Hirst, and on loan to Ilfracombe harbour for 20 years.

It took a long time to climb up the cliffs along the coast beyond Ilfracombe. I’m cutting the day a bit short as it’s too big a target I set myself and I’m feeling it muscularly today.

Lee Bay was another cracker, and the Path dropped all the way down to the beach. Kicking up the other side I cut across footpaths through the hills leading up to Mortehoe.

This is a great bank of bells. Blue, White and some kind of pinky purple.

It was a good move to get up to Mortehoe, I could pitch the tarp before it got too cold and I’ll get back down to the Path tomorrow to continue my journey.

The sun decided to illuminate the sea around Lundy. This is a beautiful coast.

Night night.