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Today was the day after my rest day spent with my sister and Leeds at Clovelly, where unusually there were very few visitors. I warn you now that the next picture is the first one of me in this blog, at Clovelly with Leeds wearing my favourite trousers. There’s a much nicer one of Jo as well.

Jo very kindly got up early on her holidays and drove me to Crackington Haven for 8 am. Today I was walking without my pack. I felt as if I was walking on the moon. I headed off towards Bude with rockets in my feet. I waved at Jo and Leeds on the beach below from the cliff above Crackington Haven but they didn’t see me. You can just make them out in the photo.

All morning and all afternoon the views were stupendous. This section of the coastal path is renowned for it’s beauty it’s remoteness and it’s difficulty. I’m going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

I wasn’t counting, but there must’ve been at least 10 steep, decents and ascents like the one pictured above. My provisional timing for my rendez-boys with Jo at Hartland Quay by 5 pm was ridiculously optimistic, backpack or no backpack. I struggled to contact my sister as whenever I had a mobile signal she did not. So I left her a message to say I’d be at Hartland at seven. 

At 5 to 7 I climbed to the top of another beautiful hill expecting to see Hartland Quay in the distance. It wasn’t there. Instead, I walked down into my favourite place on the walk so far, a stunning place with waterfalls bathed in the early evening sunshine. It would’ve made a magnificent place to camp. Others obviously thought so too as I spotted two young people climbing down to the cove carrying handfuls of driftwood, for a fire no doubt. 

I climbed another cliff and was relieved to see the wonderful Hartland Quay hotel below. I descended quickly, half an hour late to find Jo chatting happily to some of the guests. We headed back home to the cottage for a curry.

Day Summary

Best day so far. Amazing views. Walking on air. 27 miles walked.