Maidencombe

29 May 2019

This walk has been loitering at the back of my mind for some time. Just a few miles from home but graded as strenuous in places so I’ve put it off. An overcast day with a slight sea breeze seemed to be a good omen so off I went. Close to home but 3 bus journeys to get there – feeling tired before even starting! Walking down to the village I missed the footpath sign and ended up on the beach which meant an unwanted climb back to the start of my walk. If I’d come from Babbacombe and not tried to slip in half way along the section I think I would have found the path more easily. There I was thinking 3 miles would be easier than 6. The first part was moderate, so feeling chirpy I took photos and admired the stunning red cliffs below and ahead. I’m sure it wasn’t in the forecast but nonetheless the sun came out and I was soon divesting and lathering on the sunblock. This definitely wasn’t in my plan and I knew there wasn’t really an escape route along the walk. It got hotter and hotter, seemingly in conjunction with the angle of the path, and no shade for the steepest bits either. Usually on walks what goes up then has to go down but this walk is very much on the up bit. I trudged slowly, stopped frequently and took on water but doubts were creeping in about doing any more of the coast path – ever! After the steepest section I lay on the grass and pondered. A helpful way marker told me that I was exactly half way but I knew that a road and car park were not too far above me. I could go on, I could go back or maybe I could crawl up to the road and find a bus stop. I even considered crawling up to the car park and sprawling there in the hope someone would offer me a lift home. At my age that wasn’t high on the probability spectrum. Anyone would think I’d just climbed Everest. Breathing and heart rate returning to normal I ate my sandwich and felt a whole lot better. The car park option faded and the forward option seemed the best plan although I knew there were still a few steep sections. As it happened the worst part was over even though the next section took me almost down to sea level before a long run of steps up to the top again. Hundreds of them! Whilst steps aren’t much fun for the knees they do get you to the other end faster than a slope. I had a pleasant rest half way where I came across a step repair man, as you do. After I got my breath back I joined in the conversation, even felt a bit sorry for him as he described getting along the path with his tools, sand, sleepers and other bits and pieces. The next flight I positively skipped up, until I was out of sight of step repair man, and then plodded on. Without warning I was suddenly on top of the world, looking down at Teignmouth on the other side of the river and only the long downward home straight left. A little treat slithered across infront of me and I helped him on his way safely off the pathway. I had a fair bit of leg wobble on the gentle ascent to Shaldon but I still enjoyed the lookout point above the Ness. Never been up there before, and never going again, from that direction at least. A ferry links to the next walk at Teignmouth, a section which I’ve done, so I extended my walk by about a mile, walking through the village, across the long bridge and on to the nearest bus stop. I did find the middle section tough, but the memory of that faded somewhat as the elation at completing my first strenuous section kicked in. Over the next few days I contemplated going straight back to do the first 3 miles from Babbacombe to Maidencombe. Common sense prevailed but it is going to happen so keep following………..