Lynmouth BayWe started off with a couple of walks in Lynton/Lynmouth; the first through the Valley of the Rocks, and the second part of the coastal walk. Both were stunning coastal scenery. It rained a little, but mostly it was bright and sunny.

We drove on slowly along the coast – Saturday the plan was to go to Clovelly, so we headed in that direction, taking a detour to Combe Martin and Ilfracombe, both of which I’d visited as a child, and both of which were very disappointing. Ilfracombe in particular has ruined a perfectly good sea front by building a couple of cooling towers there, pretending to be a theatre. It’s incredible what architects think is good design, and what planners think is acceptable.  We decided to drive on…

Driving past Woolacombe, we saw some paragliders flying, so decided to go and have a look (even though we hadn’t brought any gliders with us, intending just to have a walking and sight seeing holiday). It’s ok as a site, coastal flying, not as nice as Rhossili, but much better than the mud flats of Thurstaton. The highlight was watching a hang glider pilot launch with no helmet, and one of his side wires reinforced with glider ties. At least he clipped in….

We then spent the next three hours trying to find a bed and breakfast to stay at; they were either closed, had no vacancies, were full due to a wedding (the entire town of Westward Ho!), or had a festival on. Eventually, we found a hotel in Bideford, where the festival was. Went to the fair, which had possibly the least amusing fun house in any fair anywhere. Back to the hotel via the pub, and bed.

See photos of today.

No comments yet - please add one »