This was the easiest day’s walking so far. Like yesterday I had the light pack as I was returning to the Darwins’ farm for a third night. The terrain had no steep hills, and the weather was sunny but breezy and relatively cool. And for the whole day my hostess, Heather, was walking with me. We covered 15.4 miles - it will be some time before anyone else walks that far with me – the Lakes at least.
Having fallen short of Bude yesterday, it was sensible to abandon being near the coast completely and head NE in a direct line towards Bideford (tomorrow’s target), which meant aiming for the small town of Bradworthy. This was essentially cutting out the whole of the Hartland Peninsula, but was the only sensible way not to overreach the sensible mileage.
This took us along part of the Bude canal, and then later along a long stretch of a former canal, called the Bude Aqueduct, which was not any kind of raised bridge as I expected. We came across and information centre related to this – a single room building, unmanned, lit only by windows in the roof, but nevertheless informative.
By this time, I had finally, after ten days, left Cornwall for Devon. I doubt I shall spend as many days in any other single county while on this trip.
The other great thing about today was that we finished walking by 4.15, the earliest so far. Today was the first day when I actually achieved a short sleep on my return.
As it is the 10th day now, the walk is beginning no longer to feel like a holiday, and to feel like what it actually is, the first part of an 11 week trek. There are some flatter days, and shorter days coming, but a few days that still worry me – how will I manage Lynton to Minehead, for instance – the steep hill walking is more taxing and time consuming than I thought. Still, one day at a time…….
I am immensely grateful to Christopher and Heather Darwin for amazing warmth and hospitality- they did not know me from Adam, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay.
To support any of the four charities go to https://linktr.ee/guygoesnorth
Daily Data
Days left until John O’Groats | 66 |
Route miles walked | 150.46 |
Estimated miles until John O’Groats | 900 |
Evening and rest day walking | 3.5 |
Counties walked through | 2 |
Ferry miles | 0.4 |
Number of walking companions so far | 3 |
Number of stiles crossed | 37 |
Current sponsorship total | £12,183.82 |
Cast of characters | Jeremy Pemberton, Laurence Cunnington, Brad Poulson, Adele Poulson, Graeme Parkhill, Andy Hellwig, Patrick Lynn, Esther Lynn, Emma Rayner, Quentin Rayner, Sara Low, Robbie Low, Christopher Darwin, Heather Darwin |
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I have appreciated all the lovely photos of Cornwall.. Thank you,
Wendy.
The kindness of strangers! What lovely people to have welcomed you into their home for 3 nights and then walked alongside you. Your ‘cast of characters’ is certainly growing.
Dear Guy,
I used to live in Minehead. Once you have climbed after Porlock, not too bad along the top and lovely engineered path down to Minehead.; You seem to have a short day from Hunters Inn to Lynmouth. Can you "borrow a bit of tomorrow" and climb the Countisbury Hill path and continue to County Gate on the A39 GR794486 approx and have a pre-arranged lift back into Lynmouth and then a 'taxi' back in the morning?
When I was 13, with my dad and my brother, we pushed our bikes up the coast path track from the Hunters Inn. It was a very windy day. When the track eased off a bit, virtually above Heddon's Mouth cove, but…