End of the Hols

Well, it's only about a week late, but finally the Diary is updated and complete, which would have been a whole lot easier if some stupid clunk hadn't upset a cup of tea into the computer's innards at the beginning of week two. All of the photos are now also edited, titled and captioned, and can of course be found here, http://www.jackiespage.co.uk/ just click on the "Hartland Hols" button. H&M enjoy, and hopefully we might even see some of your NZ images in the not too distant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monday 18th September

Dad again!! This was the day when I conclusively proved that I know squat about OS Map Navigation. But more of that anon. Weather Forecast being for stormy rain later we set out early-ish for another walk, this time for the elusive Coombe Valley, which we sort of thought we’d already done. Parked near the bottom, by the road to Duckpool Beach again, and climbed the road back up to Stowe Barton Farm. Obviously in days gone by an extremely prosperous holding, but now yet another property handed over to the National Trust, and showing the usual symptoms of full blown National Trust decay and sterility, and precious little sign of any farming or maintenance being done. Anyway, a good start to the walk, and clearly way-marked, including a velvet mowed private house foot path diversion. Then down a green lane into the woods, back into NT Stib Wood and out onto a pretty hillside for lunch. After this it started going a little pear shaped, ‘cos when we came out onto a lane there was no sign of where the next path went, so we blagged it. But after losing all semblance of path through the next section of woodland, found ourselves deep in the sylvan depths with not a clue as to where to head off next. So moved off up the remains of a very ancient trackway which slowly became more and more impenetrable, climbed out of the bottom, found a sort of path which seemed to be heading our way (!!!!), and eventually found ourselves back at the end of the NT Stib Wood where we had had lunch. How we managed that without re-crossing our tracks I haven’t a clue. Anyway, now we knew exactly where we were, so the rest should be easy – yeah . . . right!!! A couple of crossings later, and the paths opened out into Forest tracks, so as we need to head back down this long sought for Coombe Valley, we, that is I, decided that bearing left again - because of course I knew exactly where I was this time – would take us back to where we had parked Yuggie. Mother of course stamped her feet and stated her case - of which she was certain - that we should have turned right rather than left, but as I’m the boss, and I knew I was right, we went my way, which quite unfortunately seemed to show that we would have would have indeed found our way back to Yuggie, but only if we had retraced our steps back through the Stowe Barton Farm where we had started, which wasn’t quite what we had in mind. So, having now been oh so gently and sweetly reminded of how Mum had suggested the correct route in the first place, yet another about turn, and this time we definitely found the path down through Coombe Valley, which turned out to be a hardcore Forest track, not dissimilar to last weeks infamous Tonka Trail!!! But the last few metres, past an unrestored Water Mill, with the remains of the Mill Leat, and the Water Wheel still intact made up for it. However, despite the navigation cock-ups by the chief navigator – moi – we had a great day out, the elephant powder worked as usual, and we weren’t even particularly tired, nothing that a brew in the Duckpool car park couldn’t cure, while we watched a trio of skinny young surfers trying to catch a wave in the raging high tide surf. Came back to the site in time to tie the awning down with the Storm Strap as the morning heralded rain squalls blew through.

Tuesday 19th September

Unfortunately, later on Tuesday evening after the Fish & Chips, about which more anon, I caught my little finger in my post-prandial cup of tea, which I had placed beside the ‘pooter, ready to type up the days happenings, and – ‘nuff said!! In spite of instant panic, battery removal, and attempts to dry out, Lady P was effectively drownded, and refused to restart even 24 hrs later. Luckily, as is now self evident, she came back to life late on Friday evening, but ‘fraid the Diary has suffered as a result – however!!! After yesterday’s escapades, today was somewhat of an anti-climax. Looking at the Map for inspiration, a circular stroll down some Bridle Paths and Footpaths around the Tamar Lakes Reservoirs seemed interesting, so taking a somewhat circuitous route via Bradworthy, we started out. Boring Farm track only, but after struggling through some impenetrable jungle we landed up about one field away from the edge of the Lake, so we trespassed our way across, and had a very pleasant Lunch Break sitting on the edge, watching the Canada Geese about their honking business. Decided to abandon circuitousness, and returned the way we had come. Memory now a bit hazy here, but either today, or tomorrow, after our walk, we drove towards Bood to have a look at what I hoped would still be a sandy beach at Northcott Mouth, but the sea was roaring in, and it was nearly high water, so not a lot of sand, but not many peeps either. Tonight seemed like a good night to go for main Hartland Fish & Chips, but forgot that the shop was now closed on Tuesdays as well, so drove over to Chippy at Kilkhampton, and most excellent portions, some of the best for many a long day. Sadly watched Holby and then drowned computer as above, hence memory failure, since we’ve now returned home nearly a week later.

Wednesday 20th September

In view of imminent “Tail End of Hurricane Gordon” warnings, decided to take the awning down early as a precaution against having it blown away, and co-opted the young surfer from a few vans along to give us a hand, in spite of which, detaching the awning from the’ van without serious damage to the awning, the poles, the ‘van, or indeed the helpers, proved to be a tad problematic, so we were quite late leaving for today’s adventures. Which turned out to be an exploration of the top section of the Marsland Water Valley, starting out at a settlement called Avalon, down through the woods, and then back up Marsland Valley to a rather gentrified hamlet called Upcott. Then, through one of Caspar’s and Sasha’s favourite fields, ie one full of young cattle. Fun – Not!!! These woods are really very desolate and peaceful, and on this one I collected quite a nice handful of Hazel nuts, which might or might not last until Christmas. It was pretty windy overnight, but tomorrow should be windier. Dinner was good tonight, excellent steak, with extra low calorie McCain Oven chips!!

Thursday 21st September

Wedding Anniversary, with not a single card in sight – shame on us!! Then, just for a change, a gentle simple day out, another climb down – and back up – to Shipload Bay. This time, the sand was uncovered by low Springs, and Caspar and Sasha went absolutely beresque in mad zoomies round and round all over what had been virgin sands. Went in a couple of times and water still extremely uncold, the TV reckons about 16 or 17 degrees. Did NOT go too far out, no diving through breakers today, pretty big boomphies, but pretty good fun. The seal was still out there bouncing in and out of the waves but he didn’t want to come closer and play. Saw a young couple trying to climb down the wrong way, they gave up and went back, and until just before we left, had the beach to ourselves, and the dogs, all day. YC did reappear, but only as we were leaving, and they were back on top before we left the car park!! Took several photos on the way down, but for some unknown reason, didn’t actually take any while we were down there, while the surf, with the spume blowing back out to sea, was quite spectacular, plus if the light was right, rainbows appearing in the spray. Back to three course dinner, including Apple Crumble for pud’, but decided to move the ‘van with Colin’s tractor to the other side of the field for shelter from the gales, but unfortunately he turned up between courses, so Crumble had to wait. Had a much more peaceful night, and moved the ‘van back over in the morning.

Friday 22nd September

Today, Jackie chose the walk, and it was an inspired choice. Up Coombe Valley, ignoring the first Tonka’ish bit, past Sanctuary Farm, (Holiday Let Conversions) up a “Postman’s” Path, (and cornfield viewed from Stib Wood lunch stop before we got lost a few days ago) past Lee Barton, up a Green Road to have lunch, and through Cannapark Woods, down a lane to Ham Farm, then down on through Woodland Woods and Hollygrove Wood back to Coombe Mill House. Only about six miles, but a magnificent walk through lonely woods with only the odd farmer in sight, not another single walker. Best walk of the Hols so far. Tried for a brew at Duckpool, but too many people around, and still fairly windy. Various insane surfers braving the raging billows!! So on the way back, stopped for a brew on the edge of Bursdon Moor, sat in front of Yuggie, relaxed, and enjoyed the view, and took a couple more photos of Lundy, just for a change. Now had some more Lamb and Crumble for dinner, do we do well, or what???

Saturday 23rd September

Last day!!!! My choice of walk, and rather like the Curate’s Egg it was good in parts. Based around Kilkhampton, the first couple of hundred metres took us past the Sewage Works, then after a short section of woods, lots of Farm Tracks, and yet another field of cattle for the dogs to enjoy, so much so that Caspar banged his head and shoulders on the gate in his excitement to get in there at ‘em. Then in my usual skilful manner, turned left instead of right, and headed away from our planned route!!! However, at Woodlands Farm, looked for the ubiquitous Devon Green Lane, but outside yet another gentrified Farm, the track was completely grown over. Still, by crossing the field alongside, we had lunch, climbed down onto the track, which was still fully passable, and then found ourselves in yet another Woodland Wood, which really showed little sign of having been traversed in recent memory. Even when we found the actual footpath, it showed no sign of regular usage, and it felt as if we were the first walkers for ages. Not as good as Jackie’s choice yesterday, but as I said, in places, very very good. Only downside is that somewhere in said lonely woods, Caspar’s long extendable lead remains, awaiting our return sometime in the future. Chances are, it’ll still be where I dropped it, if only I could remember when last I had had it in my hands.

To Summarise

Home tomorrow, with memories and photos, but certainly a lot more inland exploration, and nowhere near so much cliff and coastal walking. Strangely enough, apart from our first day out to Bowithick, Bodmin Moor and Boscastle, the infamous Tonka Trail and larder stocking up in Bideford, plus the brief visit to Poughill and Northcott Mouth, we probably didn’t stray more than twelve miles away from Stoke Barton the whole time we were away. Our total mileage for the two weeks was only just over two hundred miles, while the walking mileage will have to await being traced out on the Map with the mileage wheel. Just one last thing. Once we were completely packed up and driving out of the Camp Field on Sunday Morning, the view of Lundy was about the clearest ever. Trouble was, it was the one which got away, ‘cos both cameras were buried so deep it simply wasn’t worth unpacking the car!!!