Port Isaac to Tintagel - 9 miles



It's a long way down & a long way up

 This walk was described on the SWCP website as severe.  It was very hard in that there were loads of very, very steep up and down sections – but there were also loads of sections where we were just walking along the tops of cliffs.  Haven’t a clue who grades these walks but I would have said that yesterday’s walk was the hardest and that was the one that was described as moderate to strenuous.

Ann parked her car at Tintagel (£2 for the whole day) & then Angela drove us to Port Isaac where we parked all day for £4.80.  It was incredibly misty when we started our walk.    We could hardly see a few feet in front of us, let alone see where we were going to end up.  There was no one else about.  Well why would there be?  We set off from Port Isaac at about 10.45am and it was misty, horrible, windy & cold.  Ann & Angela had their anoraks on.  No tanning for them first thing?  However after about an hour or so the mist lifted and it turned into a really nice day.  Nowhere near as hot as yesterday because it was very windy but it was certainly a lot better than it was when we set off. 

There were a lot of signs on this walk saying that there was livestock grazing & dogs had to be kept under control but we didn’t see any livestock grazing.  I was off lead for pretty much all of the walk.  The only time Ann put me back on my lead was when we were walking past a field of black sheep that had a lone llama in the middle of them.  I couldn’t get to them and to be honest I hadn’t even spotted them until Ann told me I had to go on my lead as a precaution.

Ann’s friend, Angela that we were walking with, was very paranoid about keeping me safe.  She hated me going to the edge of the cliff to look over.  Ann was OK though, she knows that I know my limitations.



I had a lovely play in the water



Just about at Trebarwith Strand

We stopped at a really nice cafe in Trebarwith Strand which was just over 2 miles from Tintagel.  I had a lovely rest and a whole bowl of water all to myself.  Then when Ann & Angela had finished lunch they took me down to the beach so I could have a play & a swim.  It was great fun.

We didn’t see many people on the first part of our walk but by the time we got to Trebarwith Strand there were loads of people about and between there and Tintagel there were lots of people walking.

After our stop at Trebarwith Strand it was only another couple of miles to Tintagel.  And we only had to go up one more steep bit and then it was easy walking along the top of cliffs until the descent into Tintagel and then the walk up the hill into Tintagel village.

What a lovely three days of walking I've had.  I'm such a lucky little collie dog to be taken on such nice walking weekends.

Crackington Haven to Tintagel - 11 miles



At the start of our walk

 What a hot, hard walk I’ve had today.  This walk was described as moderate to strenuous on the official SWCP website.  The majority of it was strenuous – even for a super fit collie like me.  Ann parked her car at Tintagel (£2 for all day) and then Angela drove us to Crackington Haven where we also parked for £2.



Cooling down in the trough



It was very, very hot today and unlike our walk yesterday there wasn’t much of a breeze.  As there hasn’t been very much rain recently a lot of the streams had dried up so I found it really difficult to keep cool.  I found a little bit of mud to wallow in but that just made me feel sticky and uncomfortable.  Ann shared her water with me and I had my super duper travel water bowl with me so having a drink wasn’t a problem – but keeping cool was.  I found a little bit of mud to wallow in but it didn't really cool me down - it just made me feel sticky and uncomfortable until I found a trough to wallow in.  



Relaxing



Between Boscastle and Tintagel there was about 4 stream so that section of the walk was much better for me.



What a lovely herd of goats!



I was allowed off my lead for pretty much the whole of this walk.  There were a few sections that had notices up saying that livestock may be grazing but apart from a field of cows there wasn’t any livestock in the fields.  The only time I had to go on my lead was just after we’d started our walk.  I’d only been walking for about half an hour when we came upon a whole herd of goats with babies.  I was desperate to go chasing but fortunately I came back to Ann when she called me.   She was pleased with me because there were loads of people about so they all saw how obedient I was.  In fact there were loads of people on all sections of this walk.  There again it was a very hot sunny Sunday.

This walk was hard though.  There were sections of it where we were just walking along the top of very high cliffs.  But, there were an awful lot of up and down bits which were very steep.  Normally I’m super speedy and race up and down them no bother but even I was glad of the many rests we had today.

We started the walk at about 10.30am and got to Boscastle just after 3pm.  Admittedly we stopped for water/rests after most steep ascents but it was only just over 6 miles from Crackington Haven to Boscastle so almost 5 hours walking just shows how hard it was.

At Boscastle we went into the National Trust Cafe and sat in their courtyard area (though I was allowed indoors as well).  The humans had a pasty & drink and I had a huge bowl of water all to myself and I also got a bit of pasty.  We must have been in Boscastle for about an hour.



The end of our walk



Then I got to have a really nice wallow in the water.  Then we had to walk the remaining 4-5 miles to Tintagel.  Fortunately in this section there were about 4 streams that I could wallow in.  But that also meant there were four steep ascents/descents that we had to go up and down.

The humans, especially Ann, were getting really tired.  She was also getting very burnt on her shoulders and the back of her neck.  Her own fault really for trying to get a tan too quickly?

Anyway, we eventually made it back to the car in Tintagel at about 6.45pm.

I love my walking holidays – but I have to say they make me very exhausted.  I’ve had no sleep time today at all so now I’m flaked out in the B&B we’re staying in.

Crackington Haven to Bude - 10 miles

What a lovely day for a walk.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a very slight breeze which made for very good walking conditions.

We parked our car in the long stay car park down by the beach at Bude (£4.80 for more than 4 hours) and then went in our friend Angela’s car to Crackington Haven (only £2 to park all day there). 

Ann always thinks it a good idea if we get into our car at the end of the walk because quite often I’m very muddy by then and at least the back of our car is kitted out for mucky pups!



At the start of the walk



Today’s walk is described on the official SWCP website as strenuous and while some parts of it were very definitely strenuous I would have said the majority of it was moderate.  However, the strenuous parts were very strenuous. There were some very steep cliff ascents and descents. I zoom up them really quickly but inevitably the humans take forever so I end up having to come back down again to see why they’re taking too long.  I think they’re just old and unfit?!



It's a long way down there!



I was able to stay off lead for most of this walk – we walked through two fields of sheep when I had to go back on my lead and also we had to walk along the road for a very short distance.  But apart from these two areas and a very small section of the path just outside Bude where there were signs saying that doggies had to stay on their leads I was allowed to run free. 

Because it was so hot the humans kept stopping for drinks, and also Angela had a new camera so she kept stopping to take photos.  To be honest I was quite glad of the rests because I was very hot.  Ann was glad that there were a lot of streams on this walk because she didn’t want to share her water with me.  However when we got to Widemouth Beach the humans stopped for an ice cream and because we weren’t near a stream at that point Ann gave me some of her water in my super duper travel water bowl – it tasted lovely – and I could see a spaniel watching me jealously?!

I’ve had a great time today and I only did one teeny weeny naughty thing.  We got back to Bude at the end of our walk and Ann told Angela that I never went into water without checking if I could get out or not – and then I jumped into the canal.  Well it was ever so hot and I need to cool down!  Unfortunately I hadn’t realised that the side of the canal didn’t have anything for me to grip on to get out.  Ann wasn’t worried about me – she just thought I’d swim to the other side, get out there & then race across the bridge and come back to her.  Angela however, panicked, lay down on her tummy on the path and pulled me out.  There were a few people giving her funny looks – but I guess it means she cares about me.

Anyway I’ve had a great time today.  I’m hoping my walk tomorrow will be just as fantastic.

Westward Ho to Instow - 11 miles

I’ve had another lovely walk today – in the sunshine and pretty much on the flat.  When Ann took me for a little walk around the block before breakfast she wasn’t very happy.  It was raining, windy and generally felt rather cold.  ......But she was determined to do this walk come rain or shine, so I’d resigned myself to the fact that I was going to be a soggy doggie today.

Ann left her car in Instow for free and then Angela parked hers (£2.50 for the day) at Westward Ho.  Angela had worked out what direction the wind would be blowing so thought that we’d be best walking from Westward Ho rather than vice versa.  It was raining a lot when we were in the car however by the time we’d driven to Instow and then back to Westward Ho it had stopped.  In fact today turned out to be the best day of the whole weekend. 

On the beach at Westward Ho

I've found a tennis ball

First we had to walk round the Royal North Devon Golf Club and Northam Burrows Country Park.  Almost as soon as I got let off my lead I found a tennis ball.  Ann said she wasn’t going to throw it for me but I knew if I did my ‘appealing look’ Angela would.  I had about an hour and a half playing with it.  I was zooming about all over.  It was such fun.  But then we had to walk along a road into Appledore.  I had to go on my lead.  Ann said I could carry the ball if I wanted to keep it.  However, I accidently dropped it and I wasn’t allowed to go back for it, so that was the end of that. 

Me - in Bideford

Once we got through Appledore I was allowed to go off lead again as the coastal path went down by the Torridge Estuary and then up a little hill and through woods.  However once we got to the outskirts of Bideford I had to go back on my lead.  In fact I had to stay on my lead all the way from Bideford back to Instow.  On this section we were back on the Tarka Trail again but the path was running parallel to a very busy road so Ann said just to be on the safe side I had to stay on my lead. 

Today’s walk took us just under 5 hours.

Almost at the end of 50 miles walking

It’s been lovely having Angela walking with us.  It’s so much easier when we don’t have to get public transport to the start of our walks. 

Also ‘Sundene House’ has to be the best B&B in the world.  I’ve had a lovely time here.  I’m not sure what section of the SWCP we’ll be walking next.  I know I’m a super fit collie but 50 miles of walking in just four days is tiring even for me!

Woolacombe to Braunton - 15 miles

Woolacombe Beach

Today we walked 15 miles in 6 hours.  It was a relatively easy walk today apart from the wind.  We had to walk along three very big beaches and it was very, very windy on all of them.  However apart from that I’ve had a lovely day and now I’m very tired.



On my best behaviour beside the sheep.



Ann parked her car at Braunton and then Angela drove us to Woolacombe.  We were able to park both cars for free.  There were lots of people walking on Woolacombe beach and the tide was going out so I was able to have a good run.  That was fun.  It took us about an hour to get to the end of the beach and then I had to go back on my lead because we had to walk round the headland to Baggy Point and there were lots of sheep grazing.  I can’t be trusted not to go chasing when there are sheep about.  However, I was a very good girl.  I just trotted along sensibly by Ann’s side.  Angela was very impressed with me. 

I need the loo now!



Fun on the beach

   After we’d walked round the Baggy Point headland we got to Croyde beach.  Angela wanted to go to the toilet but lots of sand had blown off the beach and made a little sand dune that she had to climb over to get in.  It was quite funny – and no way could she shut the door so I had to stand guard.

Braunton Burrows

I found a tennis ball on Croyde beach.  Even though I’d been walking for 2 hours at this point I still had loads of energy left for running.  In fact I got to play with the ball for the whole of the time on the beach.  Then Ann said I had to leave it there for another doggie to enjoy.  I wasn’t really very keen on that idea but she took it off me, put me on my lead and threw the ball back on the beach.  I had to stay on my lead until we got to the Saunton Sands Hotel because the SWCP went along the road for a little while.  I was a very good girl and walked sensibly. 

From Saunton Sands Hotel we went down onto the beach at Braunton Burrows.  The beach there was ever so long.  It was only 1pm at this point which lulled us into a false sense of security.  Even though Ann knew this walk was 15 miles she thought it would just be a gentle stroll along the beach and then we’d be back in Braunton.  Actually it was a three hour walk along the beach, back to the car, with us walking directly into the wind!  It was ever so hard to walk & I started to get a little bit tired.  I didn’t do any running because I was concentrating on how to stop the sand blowing in my eyes.  There weren’t any streams for me to have a drink out of so Ann had to stop to give me some water because I was very thirsty.  If the tide had been in we would have had to have walked along the path which went behind the dunes.  In retrospect this would have been a better option as it probably wouldn’t have been so windy. 

When we got to the end of the beach we then had to follow the path through the dunes which ran alongside the River Taw, then we had to walk alongside a much smaller river; the River Caen, until we got back to Braunton.  I was a little bit naughty in this last section – I’d managed to stay lovely and clean for the whole of the walk and then about 15 mins before we got back to the car I went wallowing in a muddy pool.  Well, I needed to cool down a bit, though I have to say Ann wasn’t too pleased with me.  However, she likes to see me having fun so she wasn’t too angry with me.

Today’s walk has been great and I really enjoyed it but I have to admit I am getting very tired.  Ann says we have one more long walk to do tomorrow – Westward Ho to Instow which is 11 miles – and then I can spend the rest of the week relaxing.

 

At the end of our walk




 

Braunton to Instow - 13 miles

On the Tarka Trail

Today’s walk was so, so much easier than yesterdays.  Originally we thought we might walk from Combe Martin to Woolacombe but as that part of the SWCP is described as moderate to strenuous we decided against it.  At least Ann decided against it.  She said she couldn’t cope with another day of hard walking.  Instead we walked along the Tarka Trail from Braunton to Instow which was easy peasy.

Ann parked her car (for free) by the beach in Instow and then Angela drove us to Braunton where we also parked for free – one of the advantages of doing our walks out of season.  When walking with friends, Ann prefers us to be the driver at the end of the walk because she says I often stink.  I suppose I do have a habit of wallowing in mud and swimming in every bit of water I can find.  I’m ever such a good girl if I have to go in some one else’s car – I just sit by Ann’s feet in the foot well.  But in my own car the boot is all kitted out for me with towels, etc, so Ann doesn’t mind how muddy I get.

This walk wasn’t as exciting as yesterdays walk for me – there were no pheasants to chase.  But compared to yesterday, this walk was like a stroll in the park!  Because the Tarka Trail (which is part of the SWCP) follows what used to be a railway line around the coast it was all very flat.  No hills at all which I have to say pleased Ann.  The only problem with this walk was that it was very, very windy, but compared to the strenuous ups and downs of yesterday, it wasn’t a problem at all.

The never ending road!

We had to walk up one side of the River Taw to Barnstaple and then back down the other side to Instow.  I was off my lead for most of the way although when we got to the section around Barnstaple, Ann said I had to go on my lead just to be on the safe side.  I didn’t do anything naughty on this walk.  Well, actually there wasn’t any opportunity for me to do anything naughty?!

As far as walks go it was pretty boring as far as I was concerned – walking along an old railway route doesn’t leave much room for deviation.

Also it was a pretty dismal day.  It didn’t rain but the sun never shone.  We think the views would have been so much better if it had been a nice day.  However, I’ve had another lovely day.  Our walk today took us about 5 hours and now I’m very tired.

Clovelly to Westward Ho - 11 miles

This has got to be one of the hardest walks we have ever done.  Almost 7 hours of walking nonstop.  We started our walk at 9.45am and got back to the car at 4.30pm.  The official SWCP website describes this walk as 11 miles of easy to strenuous walking.  We are starting to wonder just exactly who measures the length of these walks?  And who puts up the sign posts.  This walk was very confusing!  Firstly, it definitely seemed to be much, much, longer than 11 miles.  And secondly, the signposts were not very accurate.  For example, we regularly passed signposts saying it was a certain distance to a place; we would walk half a mile to a mile, and then see another signpost saying that it was further than the original one.  Very odd!

At the start of our walk

Anyway I have had a lovely day.  Ann left her car at Westaward Ho (£2.50 to park it all day – out of season) & then her friend, Angela, drove us to Clovelly.   We didn’t have to pay there because we arrived before 10am.  Normally we would have had to purchase a ticket to park, enter the tiny one street pedestrian village, etc. etc.  It was extremely windy in the car park.  Ann had forgotten to bring a hat and her ears were getting cold.  However once we got into the woods it was lovely.

For some reason Ann thought that the first bit of the walk was going to be the strenuous part (she obviously didn’t read the map properly) but the first couple of hours were actually very easy as we were walking along a made up track.  We were walking through woods.  In fact we walked through woods for at least four hours of this walk.  It was fab.  There were zillions of pheasants in the woods and I went zooming about chasing them.  Ann told me I had to pace myself but I didn’t really know what that meant so I must have run more than 10 miles in a couple of hours. 

Poorly sheep

This was a hard walk

Bucks Mills



Another steep hill!

 Ann had brought water for me but there were loads of little streams for me to wallow in and have a drink out of.  Unfortunately there was absolutely nowhere on this walk for Ann & Angela to stop for a coffee or have something to eat.  However they knew this, so they’d had a big breakfast before we left.

               After we’d been walking for a couple of hours we came out of the woods and had to cross a field before going back into the woods.  Ann said I had to go on my lead ‘just to be on the safe side’.  We couldn’t see any sheep but there were sheep in a neighbouring field and because we couldn’t see the whole field we didn’t know if there might be sheep further on.  There wasn’t – but then we spotted a sheep just lying by the fence.  We were able to go right up to it.  It wasn’t very well.  I had to sit by Ann’s side while Angela went to see what was wrong with it.  The sheep didn’t move while Angela felt all over it to see if she could work out what was wrong.  We think it might have had a broken leg.  We didn’t really know what to do so me & Ann stayed and looked after the sheep and Angela’s rucksack & walking sticks while she went to the next field where the other sheep were, to see if she could see anyone (we’d spotted a guy riding around on a bike that we’d thought was maybe a ‘modern day’ shepherd) but she couldn’t.  Then she walked up the hill to some barns and a couple of houses but no one was there.  We had no option but to leave the sheep where it was.   However, the one and only couple that we met on this walk, soon after, said they’d try and contact someone once they got to Clovelly.  We actually must have spent at least half an hour trying to find someone to help.  We diverged off the path to go to the ‘Bideford Bay Holiday Village’ looking for someone to help us (it was closed for winter and no one was about).  We also spoke to some guys just outside Buck’s Mills who were erecting a new seat and some guys in Buck’s Mills village.  But no-one knew who the farmer was.  We’re hoping the couple we met, who were walking to Clovelly, managed to contact someone.  The sheep was really sweet – I liked it.

Once we got past Buck’s Mills the walk got really, really hard.  We were still walking through woods for a lot of the way but the path went up and down constantly – until we were about 2 miles from Westward Ho.  I pretty much ran about for the entire walk.  In fact I was off my lead for the whole walk (apart from a few times when we walked past fields of sheep) until we got back to Westward Ho and had to walk along the road back to the car.  Ann & Angela started to get quite tired but they knew they had to keep going.  We weren’t near any civilisation, we only saw a couple of other people walking and this walk was actually quite isolated.  Ann said she was glad that Angela was walking with us.  She was glad she wasn’t doing it by herself.  Well, she’s never by herself – I’m always with her.

Today’s walk was brilliant.   I have had such fun. 

Ann and Angela were thinking of walking from Combe Martin to Woolacombe tomorrow which is 15 miles of moderate/strenuous walking.  They’re tired so have told me we are going to do an easy section of the SWCP tomorrow instead.  I don’t mind where we go. 

Actually I have to admit I’m very tired too.  I’ve been asleep on my duvet since about 6pm.  Ann & Angela went out for something to eat and I was allowed to stay here by myself and snooze.  Ann took me out for a quick wee when she came back and then I went straight back to bed.  Well, a collie does have to conserve ones energy for another long walk tomorrow. 

Just in case anyone is interested – we’re staying at ‘Sundene House’ in ‘Northam’ (just outside Westward Ho).  This is the best B&B we have ever stayed in.  Absolutely great location for walking in North Devon.  We have a ground floor suite (Angela has a first floor suite).  Ann has a double bedroom all for herself, and then Ann & I share the living room which has a TV, microwave & fridge.  I have my travelling duvet in this room.  And we’ve also got an en-suite shower room.  The owners, Harry & Louise are lovely, their children are lovely (they like me) & the breakfasts are lovely.  There are no rules or regulations.  I think they only have 3 letting rooms/suites and as there’s only us and Angela here I’m allowed in the breakfast/sitting room.  Also I’m allowed to stay in the suite by myself.  Just how good is that?  And all this for £35 per night.  This really is the best place to be.  I love it!

I'm exhausted.