Combe Martin to Ilfracombe - 6 miles

Woolacombe to Ilfracombe - 8 miles

Wow weeeeeee what a lovely sunny walk I’ve had in November.

I’m staying in Ilfracombe so I had to get the bus to Woolacombe which was the start of our walk.  We got the No. 31 bus at 10.06am which cost £2.95 for Ann and 70p for a ‘doggie day rider’ ticket for me.  It only took us about 25 mins to get to Woolacombe and there was only 2 other people on the bus.  Makes you wonder why they actually run this bus service?!

There is a massive beach at Woolacombe and I was desperate to go and play on it but Ann said I’d had my play there when I walked from Woolacombe to Braunton in Feb. And we were going in the opposite direction to the beach.  There were loads of surfers on the beach though and the waves were massive.

The first part of the walk was relatively easy.  But then we were faced with quite a few up and down bits.  I had to keep running back to check that Ann was coming. I was allowed off my lead for the first 5 miles.  However, there was a bit of a problem with this walk – there was nowhere for me to have a drink.  I’d been walking for almost 2 hours before I found a really nice stream to have a wallow and drink in.  I didn’t go thirsty though cos Ann had water and she’d also brought my super duper travel water bowl with her – but I like to have lots of streams on the walk so that I can wallow in them to get cool.

Once we got to ‘Lee Bay’ I had to go back on my lead for approx. the next two miles.  First we were walking along a little road which was part of the ‘Tarka Trail’ and then we had to walk through loads of fields that had lots of sheep in them.  I can’t be trusted with sheep.  I chase them (well I am a sheep dog after all) so I had to go on my lead.  I was desperate to go chasing but I just wasn’t allowed.

The walk from Lee Bay to Ilfracombe wasn’t as scenic as the first part of the walk.  In fact it was pretty uneventful so not much more to report.

The walk took us approx. three and a half hours and there wasn’t anywhere en-route to stop for a coffee etc.  We’re staying at a B&B which is right on the coastal path in Ilfracombe.  It’s OK but nothing special.  It’s cheap - £32 for B&B and I’m free.

We’re in a double room which in my opinion should be a single as it’s very small.  I’ve put my bed in between the wardrobe and the chair but that means that we can’t use the wardrobe.  Well that’s Ok because Ann has nothing to hang up.  The carpets are very poor quality and the cleaning isn’t exactly ‘top notch’, ie the tiles in the shower room are a little smeary and it looks as if someone has tipped a cup of coffee down the bedside cabinet.  Not that we know how we're supposed to fill the kettle as the wash basin is so small the kettle doesn't fit under the taps!  On the plus side there’s a nice balcony and if it were summer we could sit out there with a glass of wine and enjoy the view over the town – except there’s no balcony furniture?!!    For two nights it’s passable but:-

1)       Ann tried to have a shower this morning but couldn’t get any hot water.  She mentioned this to owner at breakfast. The reply was, ‘Nobody’s mentioned it before – are you sure you’ve put the main switch on?  When we came in tonight we were told that ‘yes’ there was a problem with it and she gave Ann keys for another room so she could use the shower in there.  Problem solved?!!  Apparently not – today Ann’s had two showers and both of them were cold.  And also the shower room in the extra room hadn’t been cleaned. And the towels are minute, the complimentary shampoo stuck to the little bottle because it had been there so long and the shower head appeared to be welded to the holder because it’s obviously not been taken out and cleaned – ever!

2)      The other thing that was not good at this B&B was Ann’s breakfast – full English which included an over-cooked fried egg, bacon which had obviously been pre-cooked and reheated in a microwave, a cheap sausage and a frozen potato hash brown thing.  Also no mention of what cereals were available.  And none of the disgusting yellow tablecloths had been ironed.

3)      The hot chocolate sachets on the hospitality tray are out of date.  Not that it bothers so - we don't like hot chocolate.

As mentioned above it’s adequate here but the last three B&B’s we’ve stayed in - ‘Westward Ho’, Crackington Haven and Hartland have been loads better, loads friendlier and loads cheaper. 

But I’m here to walk the SWCP so I’m having fun.

Place to Portscatho - 6 miles

What a beautiful sunny warm November day for a walk.  The official SWCP walk should have been from Falmouth to Portloe.  Well that would have meant taking two ferries and as the ferry from St Mawes to Place doesn't run in the winter we thought we might as well start the walk at Place.  And anyway ferries don't count as walks.

Today's walk was easy.  It was described as being easy to strenuous but we can only think that the strenuous bit is the 8 miles from Portscatho to Portloe.

We passed a couple of really nice beaches where I had a lovely play and a swim about in the sea. 

The only trouble with this walk was .................. there wasn't many streams for me to have a drink out of and because it was a relatively short walk Ann hadn't brought any water for me.  However we had lunch in the 'Plume of Feathers' at Portscatho so I was able to have a drink there. 

I've had a lovely day.