bath skyline

March 01, 2026 by Mark Seymour in bath skyline

tuesday, 24th february 2026

Map: Explorer 155

We’re staying in Bath for a few days partly as a birthday celebration, partly as a retirement celebration, and most importantly because there are loads of bookshops in Bath and we intend to bring home with us plenty of books.

I haven’t been to Bath in a long time so while I’m here I’m taking the opportunity of walking the Bath Skyline.

We’re staying in an apartment just outside the city centre so I start my walk here and head towards the start of the Bath Skyline on Bathwick Hill.

I head across Lower Bristol Road and join the River Avon where I cross a footbridge over to the other side of the river. I amble along the riverside behind Avon Street, built in the early 1700’s for wealthy spa visitors. Avon Street was cleared in the 1970’s. I pass several industrial buildings.

I pass a bank of primroses before reaching the Kennet and Avon Canal.

I follow the footpath along the canal but it seems to peter out so I get completely lost climbing up Widcombe Hill. I retrace my steps and eventually find my way back to the canal.

I continue ambling along the footpath next to the canal, enjoying the space with dog walkers, cyclists and joggers.

I climb up steps onto a bridge over the canal and start the climb up Bathwick Hill to reach the start of the Bath Skyline at the entrance to National Trust Bathwick Fields where I come across my first marker for the day.

I cross the road over to Cleveland Walk where I continue until I come across a narrow footpath on the right opposite Sham Castle Lane. I follow a path towards North Road where I turn right and continue to a kissing gate on the opposite side of the road with my second marker.

I climb up some steep steps and follow a path through a field. When I reach the top I go through a gate to reach a small road. I could detour to Sham Castle but conditions today are filthy so I’m just going to concentrate on completing the walk.

Sham Castle was built in 1762 for Ralph Allen, one of the key figures responsible for Bath’s Georgian revival.

I’m very high up so have lovely views over Bath.

I take a path down some steps into woodland and follow the path right and right again steeply uphill to kissing gate at the top. It is very muddy so I slip and slide all over the place and it’s very difficult keeping on my feet.

I hear blackbirds, song thrushes, blackcaps, robins, great tits, blue tits and woodpeckers amongst other birds. Spring is definitely around the corner.

I should pass some stone markers and a trough marking some of the natural springs that provided clean drinking water to the city in Georgian times. The only trouble is I’m concentrating so much on staying upright that I fail to notice them.

I turn left onto a track where I come across three robins (presumably male) scrapping away in the woods. I keep woods to my left and leave a wider track on the approach to radio masts and take a smaller grassy path to the left. I walk across two fields and then follow a short slope which bears left where I turn right into a wood through a gate.

I follow a winding path through woods until I reach a junction. I go straight across past large rocks on both sides and up a short slope between two trees where the path splits. I take the wider path in the middle, past a large rocky cliff on the right. I keep to the higher path which ascends gently to a large Y junction, where I bear left and continue to a metal kissing gate.

I pass through the kissing gate into an open field and continue ahead with a fence on my left. At the end of the field, I go through a gate in a wall and bear right. I cross a field keeping the wall on my right before reaching a gate. I go through the gate and turn left along a track. I turn right before some metal gates and go through a wooden gate. I climb over a stone a stile in the wall on the left. It’s rather high up and so I have to ditch my bag and camera and clamber over in an undignified fashion. I then turn right along the road for a bit. I turn left onto a public footpath at a gap in the wall just before the Cats and Dogs Home. I follow a path, which narrows at the end then reaches Claverton Down Road. I go left briefly and then cross the road to reach a small layby.

During the 18th century there was a two-mile race course with marker stones running across Claverton Down and parts of Bushey Norwood providing popular entertainment for Georgian society.

I go through a gate to the left of the layby and follow a fenced path, going through several wooden gates until I reach woodland on the right.

I turn right into woodland, and follow a woodland path where I pass a woodland play area.

I pass a clump of snowdrops and then crocuses.

I reach a wooden gate in a stone wall. I go through the gate and straight over a cycle track. I continue, with a playing field on my right.

The playing field is also known as Monument Field after a memorial tower built in honour of Ralph Allen by his nephew in-law, Bishop Wharburton. It was demolished in the 1950’s after falling into disrepair.

I bear left down a rocky slope, ignoring a wooden stile straight ahead.

I turn right through some stone pillars and continue along a path with views down to the valley on my left.

I go past a pond on my left which has a marsh marigold flowering in it. Mine back home haven’t started flowering yet.

I then climb up steps to my right. I continue straight ahead through trees until I re-join the cycle track. I turn left onto the cycle path and follow it until I reach a metal kissing gate on the left. There is a rather out of place Dott electric scooter next to the gate.

I go through the gate and follow a path down to the main road at the bottom, passing a large clump of snowdrops.

I cross the road and continue down the road with a field and views to the right.

I turn right into a field through a kissing gate and then immediately turn left through a second kissing gate. I walk downhill across a field keeping views ahead. I bear right to reach a kissing gate next to a water trough. I go through the gate and follow a path down steps keeping a fence to my left.

Smallcombe Wood to my right are the most ancient woods in Bath. A great variety of native tree and shrub species provide a home for abundant bird life including nuthatch, wrens and blackcaps.

I go through a kissing gate at the bottom of the hill, cross a lane, and go through a gate opposite. I continue up a steep path with steps, bearing right and bending left. I go through another kissing gate into a field and continue up a slope until Bath is in view.

I bear right then keep left as the path forks and continue to a kissing gate into Richens Orchard.

I cross the top of the orchard to another kissing gate and then bear left and head for a final kissing gate. The waymarking has been fantastic all along the walk but I must have missed one here and took the wrong path down the hill, confusing myself and ending up in the wrong place.

I come out onto a path next to some cherry blossom.

I try to correct myself but get hopelessly lost and wander around aimlessly for a while before correcting myself to reach the National Trust Bus Stop where my walk started. That’s the end of the Bath Skyline.

I retrace my steps from earlier on today and head down Bathwick Hill and along the Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Avon. Unfortunately, I confuse myself again and take the wrong path and end up next to Pulteney Weir and Bridge. Never mind. It’s easy walking from here back through Bath and on to our apartment.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

primroses
celandines
helebores
swans
blackbirds
blackcaps
great tits
blue tits
song thrushes
robins
woodpeckers
snowdrops
crocuses
marsh marigold
woodspurge
cherry
green alkanet

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk will be available shortly. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 11.2 miles which amounts to 28448 steps. The Bath Skyline itself is about 6 miles. It has taken me 5 hours. The weather has been pretty good for February and I soon had to ditch my fleece. It has been very muddy though and I’ve slipped and slid all over the place although I did manage to stay on my feet. Eight out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

map

lyme regis to west bay

June 16, 2025 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

monday, 9th june 2025

Start location: Lyme Regis (SY 34574 92500)

End point: West Bay (SY 46148 90403)

Map: Explorer 116

I should have another lovely day today with no chance of rain.

Lyme Regis low tide: 11:38

Lyme Regis high tide: 18:23

I start the day at the Charmouth Road car park above Lyme Regis. A sign here tells me that there are 114 steps down to the foreshore. I climb the steps down to the foreshore where I have a view of the Black Ven landslip and the coast path walk for the day is laid out in front of me, although a little hazily.

I can see over to Golden Cap and in the distance, East Cliff and West Cliff at West Bay and Burton Bradstock and just beyond those, Chesil Beach stretches out to the Isle of Portland. This is one of my favourite stretches of coast on the whole coast path.

I climb back up to the Charmouth Road car park and head towards Charmouth Road.

Today's walk has typically in the past been dogged by landslips resulting in several inland diversions starting with an inland diversion at Lyme Regis.

I head upwards through fields high above Lyme Regis, photographing the wild flowers and I have a final view over the Cobb.

I enter a wood and the sign posts which were once very confusing, are now OK, so I wander along tracks through the woods until I'm then dumped out onto a busy road above Lyme Regis where I enjoy some of the garden flowers.

I continue along the road until a sign points me to a path through Lyme Regis Golf Club.

I continue walking through the golf course following a stone path. There are some spectacularly bad golfers out on the course.

I come across a patch of common spotted orchids in the middle of the course.

There is now a decent coastal route behind the golf course and down into Charmouth without having to walk along nasty, stinky main roads.

I come across a sculpture of Mary Anning in woods and you can find out all about the making of the sculpture.

It is a thoroughly pleasant walk now next to the golf course before I come across a viewing point looking back over the cliffs to Lyme Regis.

A signpost tells me that I’m two miles from Lyme Regis and just half a mile away from Charmouth.

It’s now time to descend down to Charmouth along a minor road.

I decide today to head through the main part of Charmouth, passing the Royal Oak pub, the Charmouth Community Library, St Andrews Parish Church, Charmouth Stores, Charmouth Pharmacy, Bank House Cafe, Charmouth Bakery and Charmouth Fish Bar and Pizzeria.

I head back the way I came and descend down a road towards the beach where I come across some beach huts and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre.

I wander along the beach here which is surprisingly busy.

I head up from Charmouth Beach and walk towards a bridge above East Beach, where I cross the River Char. With a spring in my step I start to ascend the cliffs out of Charmouth.

I amble along the cliffs enjoying the views back to Charmouth and ahead towards Golden Cap as well as all of the wildflowers.

I come across a coast path sign at Westhay Farm and descend into a meadow full of flowers, including yellow rattle going to seed. It looks absolutely lovely.

I’m now headed towards Golden Cap. I walk through a field full of cows and then climb slowly up on to the top of Golden Cap.

It's a long way up at 627 feet and the highest point on the south coast but it’s a surprisingly easy climb. I enjoy the magnificent views from up here. In one direction I can see out to the Isle of Portland and in the other direction back to Lyme Regis and beyond.

There are several paragliders flying around.

Golden Cap is named after the distinctive outcrop of golden greensand rock at the tip of the cliff and is owned by the National Trust. There is a trigpoint s3752 on the eastern side which must have one of the best views of any of the trigpoints.

I hang around for a while admiring the views before taking the long descent down to the Anchor Inn at Seatown.

I crunch my way across the pebbly beach before heading across a footbridge at the car park and then climb back onto the cliffs.

I climb up Ridge Cliff high above Seatown where I have magnificent views back over Seatown.

It’s getting quite hot now and I’m getting seriously sweaty. After descending the other side of Ridge Cliff there’s an even higher climb up to Thorncombe Beacon.

It's now another long descent, this time down to the village of Eype where there's another pebbly beach at Eype Mouth

I head over the footbridge over a stream where I come across some colourful pebbles.

Another ascent and descent over West Cliff takes me to the charming West Bay.

I've lost count of the number of times I've visited West Bay, but it's an awful lot. I round the harbour passing The George, the Bridport Arms Hotel, The West Bay Hotel, the amusement arcade and all of the food shacks dotted around the harbour. It is very busy.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

oxeye daisy
red clover
knapweed
honeysuckle
roses
hydrangea
foxglove
red campion
red valerian
mexican fleabane
aqualegia
common spotted orchid
poppy
fuchsia
wild carrot
yellow rattle
ribwort plantain
bird’s-foot trefoil

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 11.7 miles which amounts to 30001 steps. It has taken me 5 and a quarter hours. The weather has been lovely and warm and I’ve been walking on one of my favourite stretches of the coast. Ten out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

west bexington to the hardy monument

June 16, 2025 by Mark Seymour in south dorset ridgeway

south dorset ridgeway

sunday, 8TH june 2025

Start location: West Bexington (SY 53077 86409)

End point: Hardy Monument (SY 61296 87600)

Map: Explorer OL15

It looks like I'm in for quite a nice day today. It won’t be baking but there’s no chance of rain.

Bridport low tide 10:37

Bridport high tide 17:37

This is a completely new walk for me. I’m intending to walk the South Dorset Ridgeway over a couple of days. Although I can find some decent information about some of the features along the walk I can’t find any descriptions so I’m winging it a bit over the next couple of days.

I’ll be walking through an ancient landscape and one of the most diverse Neolithic and Bronze Age landscapes consisting of Neolithic causewayed enclosures, bank barrows, henge monuments and stone circles, an awful lot of Bronze Age barrows and later Iron Age hillforts.

I start the day in the car park at West Bexington and wander down to Chesil Beach to join all of the anglers.

I head up through the village and pass The Club House and the Chesil Beach Manor House Hotel.

I leave the village and follow a South Dorset Ridgeway sign which tells me the the Hardy Monument is only six miles away so it’s just a short walk today.

I walk steadily up a track heading towards the B3157 at Limekiln Hill admiring all of the wildflowers in the verges.

I walk alongside the B3157 for a bit and then along a track through fields next to the road where I come across a sign telling me that a hill fort is half a mile away.

I pass a barrow before crossing the B3157 at Tulk’s Hill.

I head towards Abbotsbury Castle Hillfort where I have stunning views across the Jurassic Coast.

Abbotsbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort in a prominent position overlooking the coastline.

The hillfort is a triangle shaped enclosure covering about 1.8 hectares with a large Bronze Age round barrow sitting in one corner. From here I can see the remains of the medieval abbey in Abbotsbury village as well as St Catherine’s Chapel.

The signs have completely run out so I’ve no idea which way I’m supposed to be going. I end up clambering on muddy paths up and down the hillfort before finally finding a path that takes me back down to the coast road.

I climb up a minor road and finally come across a South Dorset Ridgeway signpost but it’s only telling me where I should have come from.

I follow a path through fields passing several barrows along the way. I have lovely views over Chesil Beach and towards the Isle of Portland.

I cross a minor road, Bishop’s Road, and enter a stinker of a path, covered in nettles, gorse and brambles which carries on for quite a while.

I had intended to divert slightly off of the ridgeway to visit Grey Mare and Her Colts and Kingston Russell Stone Circle but there was a complete lack of signage and I hadn’t consulted my map properly.

Grey Mare and Her Colts is a long rectangular mound, a Neolithic burial monument, probably built around 5000 years ago and is likely to have been used for generations by a local community who lived close by. The barrow was built high on the ridge, with views to the coastline and beyond.

Kingston Russell Stone Circle is a late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones. This is the largest of three stone circles in the South Dorset Ridgeway area, at about 30 metres in diameter, but easily missed if the grass is long as all 18 stones are lying down! The location of this stone circle is very prominent - this was clearly a place to see and be seen, most likely of deep significance to the people who constructed it.

I would have diverted again off of the ridgeway to visit the Valley of Stones Natural Nature Reserve. This National Nature Reserve has an unusual train of sarsen stones, boulders strewn across the valley, tumbled down from the ridge during the last Ice Age. It is very likely that some of the stones used in stone circles and standing stones on the Ridgeway came from here.

Unfortunately, the lack of signage meant that I didn’t visit any of these features.

I fight my way through this stinker of a pathway where I have views over strip lynchets, a form of a medieval field system.

I continue along the stinky ridgeway and the going gets better before I come to Hampton Down Stone Circle.

This small circle was constructed on the ridge above Portesham about 4000 years ago and has been greatly altered over its life. In 1908 a photo shows 16 stones but in 1964 it had grown to 28 stones. However, excavation at this time revealed that many of the stones were out of place so it was shifted slightly west and restored with 10 stones to the correct site, now measuring about 6 metres across.

I like my archaeology but it looks to me like somebody has just chucked a few boulders in a corner of a field!

I cross a road and continue along the path to reach Hell Stone. Only I don’t because it is a terribly overgrown path covered in nettles, gorse and brambles and I can’t even see the path so I have to gingerly make my way along it hoping that I don’t turn my ankle on the flint pebbles underfoot, which I can’t see.

The Hell Stone long barrow was constructed around the same time as Grey Mare and her Colts. However, antiquarians in 1866 decided to (badly!) reconstruct the stone chamber at the front of the long earthen mound, setting these huge stones upright with a cap on top.

Needless to say, I was so concentrating on (and swearing a lot) staying upright on the path that I completely missed Hell Stone.

I come across a sign pointing to my left but it’s just pointing at a wall and some thick woods so it’s clearly positioned in the wrong place.

I retrace my steps and walk steeply through woods to come across Black Down and the Hardy Monument.

This area around the Hardy Monument is rare for the South Dorset Ridgeway in being mainly heathland.

The Hardy Monument was built in 1844 in memory of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, born close by the here in 1769. He was Flag Captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar when Nelson was fatally wounded as they paced the decks together.

The National Trust became owners of the site in 1938 and have maintained it ever since. When the tower is open visitors can climb the 84 steps inside for wonderful views from the top.

I expected to be at Black Down Car Park at this point which doesn’t show on my Ordnance Survey map and as far as I can tell doesn’t even show up on my Ordnance Survey app so my lift has to drive up from the Black Down Car Park up to the Hardy Monument to pick me up.

I was expecting to visit the Black Down Stone Circle, presumably next to the Black Down Car Park, but this is another feature that I completely missed.

This newish stone circle, built in, I think, 2016, has been designed by artist Amanda Moore to celebrate the ‘land of bone and stone'.

The stone blocks are arranged with one facing true north and the others aligning with the summer and winter solstice sunrises and sunsets. The square windows cut into each for viewing the sunrises and sunsets also allow light to shine onto the central Portland Stone during the solstices. For the rest of the year you can enjoy views out across Dorset's amazing landscape and Jurassic Coast.

I had intended to continue along the South Dorset Ridgeway tomorrow from the Hardy Monument to Ossmington Mills but the signposting has been terrible at times and a couple of long stretches of the path have been terrible and clearly neglected all of this year so I’ve abandoned my plans.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

red valerian
white valerian
roses
common mallow
lavender
wild carrot
stinking iris
pheasants
stone chats
speckled wood butterflies
nettles
gorse
brambles

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 7 miles which amounts to 17817 steps. It has taken me three and a half hours. The weather has been beautiful but the signposting has been dreadful at times and a couple of long stretches of the path have been awful. I have been stung to buggery by nettles and brambles and scratched by gorse. One out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

hallsands to blackpool sands

May 24, 2025 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

wednesday, 14TH MAY 2025

Start location: Hallsands (SX 81574 38494)

End point: Blackpool Sands (SX 85484 47843)

Map: Explorer OL20

It looks like I'm in for another day of beautiful spring weather today.

Dartmouth high tide 07:58

Dartmouth low tide 13:41

I walk down from the village car park, past a tennis court, and down to reach Hallsands.

I amble along the path through Hallsands, enjoying all of the spring wildflowers.

The path continues to Greenstraight Beach and then on to Tinsey Head.

I enjoy the wildflowers on Tinsey Head before dropping down to Beesands.

I walk along the road at Beesands to reach the Cricket Inn, birthplace of the Rolling Stones, before continuing on my way past St Andrew's Church.

I wander along the beach at Beesands before heading off towards Torcross.

beesands

I climb up the wooded slopes of the cliff where I photograph the wildflowers and come across a clump of early purple orchids.

A short walk takes me to Torcross where I climb down steps, admiring the view across Slapton Sands, to reach the promenade. I walk past the Start Bay Inn and the Sherman tank next to the car park, honouring the memory of servicemen.

I drop down onto Slapton Sands and trudge along the sandy and shingly beach, although there is not much in the way of sand today.

I reach the picnic site at Strete Gate and it is suddenly quite busy. My boots are full of pebbles so I empty them next to the toilet block by the car park.

I continue on the path climbing up towards Strete where the verges are covered in wildflowers.

I pass a sign pointing up the bridleway where I used to come down onto Slapton Sands.The path continues upwards away from Strete Gate picnic site and I pass a bench with magnificent views over Slapton Sands. The bench is dedicated to the memory of Philip and Mary Carter. Thank you Philip and Mary.

“In memory of Philip and Mary Carter. Tireless campaigners for South West Coast Path and founders of the South West Coast Path Association.”

It's rather nice on this newish section and I enjoy the wildflowers here and walk below some HUGE echiums.

I briefly follow the A379 into Strete where I pass the Parish Church of St. Michael, Strete Post Office and Stores, Strete Chapel and the King's Arms but everything seems to be covered in scaffolding.

A sign at a junction tells me that Torcross is three miles away and that Blackpool Sands is one mile away.

A rather circuitous route follows fields and paths heading towards Blackpool Sands and there are plenty of wildflowers to enjoy.

I now have some lovely views over Blackpool Sands. My camera is playing up though and most of the photos from here are over exposed. I’ve had this new camera a couple of years now but I still can’t work out what it is doing at times.

I cross a steep grassy valley and have some lovely views over a beach I don’t know but must be Landcombe Cove. You can definitely get down there as I can see footprints in the sand.

I wander down Widewell Lane smothered in wildflowers and I have a lovely view over Blackpool Sands.

I wander downhill to the beach and have a potter around the sandy, shingly beach before wandering back to the Blackpool Sands Cafe where my lift awaits. Only it doesn’t because the car park machines are out of order so you have to buy a ticket online even though there is no phone signal around here so my lift is driving from Torcross as soon as I reach here.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

red hot poker
bladder campion
gladioli
iris
alexanders
hogweed
three-cornered garlic
red campion
bird’s-foot trefoil
common dog-violet
scarlet pimpernel
gorse
germander speedwell
primroses
bluebells
greater stitchwort
herb robert
ribwort plantain
red admiral butterfly
navelwort
early purple orchids
foxgloves
wild garlic
comfrey
white valerian
honesty
green alkanet
red valerian
herb bennet
echiums
cow parsley
garlic mustard

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 8 miles which amounts to 22311 steps. It has taken me 4 hours. The weather has been beautiful although my camera has been playing up around Torcross and Blackpool Sands. Nine out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

salcombe to hallsands

May 24, 2025 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

tuesday, 13TH MAY 2025

Start location: Salcombe (SX 74046 39082)

End point: Hallsands (SX 81574 38494)

Map: Explorer OL20

Today's weather forecast for today and the rest of the week looks to be fantastic.

Start Point high tide 07:15

Start Point low tide 13:12

I start the day back in Salcombe and walk around to the Ferry Inn. It is very confusing walking through Salcombe but I eventually make my way through and climb down to the jetty where I catch the ferry over from Salcombe to East Portlemouth. The ferry turns up straight away and I’m the only passenger. The ferry fare is £2.70. The ferry turns up so quickly that I don’t really have any time to take any decent photographs.

I come ashore at East Portlemouth where I have lovely views back to Salcombe.

I turn right and amble along the road enjoying the wildflowers and immediately come across a clump of stumpy echiums.

I follow a minor road to reach Mill Bay, where I enjoy fine views back across to Salcombe.

A mass of sand from the beach has blown onto the road. The road verges are covered in wildflowers. I come across masses of a bell like plant which I don’t come across very often but is the three-cornered garlic (allium triquetrum) and I come across it throughout my walk today.

mill bay

I walk along the cliffs along Portlemouth Down towards Gara Rock. There are bluebells everywhere! I also come across a lone early purple orchid.

I come across a small pearl-bordered fritillary and I will continue to come across them throughout the day.

I reach a plaque commemorating the centenary of the Salcombe lifeboat disaster, when the RNLI lifeboat William and Emma capsized off Salcombe Bar with the loss of thirteen crew on the 27th of October 1916.

I have lovely views ahead of me towards Gara Rock and Gammon Head.

The paths are covered in foxgloves just coming into flower. I love foxgloves!

I come across stonechats clacking away in the gorse.

I come across common bird's-foot trefoil, a scabious of some kind and something I don't recognize. I've come across it at home as well but it doesn't seem to feature in my wildflower book.

I spot a beach with some people on it. The beach doesn't seem to be marked on my map but is known as Seacombe Sand and a very nice place it is.

seacombe sand

As I leave Seacombe Sand I come across large clumps of seathrift and bloody crane’s-bill.

I cross a footbridge and enter West Prawle, Higher House and Borough farms and there are foxgloves and spurges everywhere. They look like wood spurges to me but it's not particularly woody.

I continue along Deckler's Cliff passing Deckler's Island, Shag Rock and Bullock Cove.

I spot another lovely looking beach, this time at Venerick's Cove. I know it's accessible so I scramble down myself but I don't quite make it to the beach as my heavy rucksack is making things a little unsafe.

I scramble back up and come across more bloody crane's-bill. It seems to like it around here.

I come across a tiny adder but it disappears into the undergrowth before I have a chance to photograph it.

I continue along the coast path past Pig's Nose, Ham Stone and Bull Rock. I head out on to Gammon Head, given to the National Trust by the Rose family on the 5th of January 1965.

The view over Gammon Head is magnificent.

I come across yet another lovely beach, this time at Maceley Cove. It is a very steep descent to the beach but my rucksack makes the decision not to descend easy.

The path zig zags to reach Prawle Point National Coastwatch Station.

I have lovely views over towards Start Point. I continue along the path which takes me past Cobstone Cove, Western Cove, Landing Cove and Wollow Cove.

The path verges are full of wildflowers so I amble along taking photographs.

I round Langerstone Point and pass Sharper's Cove and Horseley Cove and on reaching Maelcombe House I come across a speckled wood butterfly and a stonechat.

The path passes in front of Maelcombe House and crosses Woodcombe Point, covered in wildflowers.

I reach Lannacombe Beach which I wander down to to enjoy the sandy beach.

I leave the beach and enter Down Farm and then pass Limpet Cove.

I pass Great Mattiscombe Sand which I must visit one day as it looks lovely and out to sea are Frenchman's Rock, Barler Rock, Little Sleaden Rock and Great Sleaden Rock.

I head round Start Point and pass the Start Point Lighthouse.

I now have magnificent views over Start Bay and over to Slapton Sands.

I have one last chance to capture the wildflowers before reaching Hallsands.

I follow the path down a steep slope to reach Hallsands, the village that fell into the sea. In May 2012, an access road, viewing platform and two houses were affected by a 200 tonne landslide.

FLORA AND FAUNA

skylarks
whitethroats
stonechats
pheasants
hydrangeas
white valerian
three-cornered garlic
echiums
red valerian
bluebells
greater stitchwort
early purple orchid
gorse
small pearl-bordered fritillary
foxgloves
ribwort plantain
bladder campion
scarlet pimpernel
bird’s-foot trefoil
herb robert
cat’s-ear
sea thrift
bloody crane’s-bill
red admiral
kidney vetch
wild carrot
alexanders
speckled wood butterfly
common vetch
primrose
herb robert
navelwort

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 11.8 miles which amounts to 31487 steps. It has taken me 5 hours 40 minutes. The weather has been beautiful. Ten out of ten!