Week 1 Day 4 - Lynmouth to Combe Martin

We are getting into our stride now and are up early and away to walk to Combe Martin.


We park the Golf in Lynmouth, in the same car park as the bus comes into, and set off along the coast towards the Valley of Rocks. The coast path is spectacular, hugging the cliff edge with a massive drop down to the sea. We pass inland of Castle Rock, past Lee Bay and on to Woody Bay. We are passed by a road sweeper - strange to see in such a remote place - before we dive into the woods and continue on to Heddon's Mouth.


Here we stop for coffee and a chat with visitors walking down from the Hunters Inn further up the valley. Then we tackle Peters Rock where the path is very exposed and high above the sea. The guide book recommends avoidance in bad weather, but we carry on despite the strong winds. In the end, it doesn't seem that bad and we enjoy superb views along the North Devon coast and across the channel to Wales and the Gower peninsula.


The walk across Holdstone Down is easy, on tracks most of the way. We squat on the grass at Sherrycombe to eat our lunch before tackling the highest point on the whole South West Coast Path, Great Hangman at 1043 feet.

The descent into Combe Martin is pleasant with superb views of the town and the coast round Hangman Point. We have tea in Combe Martin and buy a small picnic table for use inside the tent before catching the bus back to Lynmouth. The bus is early arriving in Lynton and waits for about 15 minutes before going down the hill to Lynmouth where we have left the car.



Distance completed today: 13.3 miles
Total distance completed: 41.4 miles (6.6%)