Seaton to Lyme Regis

We almost didn't walk today. It poured down rain all night, and the howling window woke us up several times. During one of those times I googled "what wind speed is too dangerous to hike?" and learned all about the Beaufort Scale, which I never knew existed. Bottom line: near gale force winds were expected today, which means we'd be crazy to hike on exposed cliff tops.

After studying the guidebook and Google Earth, we determined that we would mostly be in Undercliff, which provides a deep, natural shelter of trees and rock that will keep us protected from the worst of the Atlantic gusts. Except for getting wet, we'd be OK. So we caught the 9:25 bus to Seaton.

Lunch includes Melton Mowbray pork pies!

Today we take our poles. It will be muddy and slippery and poles can save your ankles and knees and backside from falls.

It's cold and rainy as we start over the bridge, which was built in 1877. It's no longer used for cars, only walkers like us.

This is one of the most unique stretches of the South West Coast Path: the Axe Estuary and the famous Undercliffs National Nature Reserve.

This isn't your typical clifftop walk. Following a massive landslide in 1839, a "chasm" was created that is now a dense, humid, and verdant woodland. It feels more like a tropical rainforest than the English coast. Because the ground is constantly (but slowly) shifting, it’s a wild, tangled sanctuary for ferns and wildlife.

Constant movement (a bit like a glacier) means that between the back cliff and the sea, deep fissures open up. There are warnings posted all over advising you to not to wander off the path. We heed those warnings.