What is the South West Coast Path?
The South West Coast Path (SWCP) goes from Minehead to Poole. It goes from Poole to Minehead as well of course, but most guidebooks have you walking counter-clockwise. No idea why. It's hugely confusing trying to follow the guidebook backward. Now we know.
The 640-mile coast path carves around a particularly rugged section of the UK—stone buildings and hardy people that have battled storms and rough living for centuries—and offers everything: history, geology, wildlife, art, fantastic weather and wild storms, pubs and villages, tea and scones, and some of the most spectacular scenery ever. Tons of people walk the whole thing in one fell swoop; tons more do bits and pieces here and there. Our original plan was to walk the whole path, mile by mile, over a five-year period. As of our September 2016 trip—our fourth year—we've hiked just under 400 miles, meaning the aforementioned goal clearly won't be happening. So our new plan is to just finish. Goals and plans and objectives can be so overrated. We had a few decisions to make in planning this really long walk. Mostly: what to do about luggage? As the paths are linear, not circular, we will end up away from our hotel. Eventually, we'll be far, far away. The thought passes through my mind—oh so fleetingly—that we would simply backpack our stuff around. Hahaha. In the end, we decide on the homebase plan: choose one town to stay in for each week of our two-week stay—making sure the town has good bus service and proximity to food and drink, preferably a Marks & Spencer—and use buses to get back and forth. Thanks for the idea, mom! |
Saturday 9/21
Land at Heathrow, train to paddington, train to Exeter, train to barnstaple, walk to The Old Vicarage—where we are staying until Thursday.
After our tea we walk to the bus station to pick up bus schedules. Hop the 21 to Fremington, which is where we left off last time.
Sunday, 9/22 Morning
Ate a marvelous breakfast, then walked straight out of Barnstaple to pick up the path heading northwest.
Sunday, 9/22 Afternoon
We walk Braunton to Saunton, intending to catch bus at Saunton, except I read Saturday’s bus schedule instead of Sunday’s because it’s so easy to do that and we soon find out there is no Sunday bus service in Saunton.
Saturday, 9/22 Evening
Our main goal on Sunday every time we come to England is it to make it to a Sunday Roast Dinner. Usually we miss it. Today though we are lucky: we find a good place in Braunton and end the walk on a full-belly note. Total miles today: 11.5.
