22 December 2019
Tis the season to be jolly and walk through wind, rain, hail and golf courses just to tick off a few more miles. I am decamped to Appledore where my cottage is literally on the coast path. See how seriously I’m taking this challenge! Charlotte, Nick and Malory are here too. Nick is walking to Clovelly today so Charlotte and I are tagging along for the first few miles or so. A day of sunshine and sharp showers but thankfully mild. A very nice, slightly soggy amble from the cottage to Northam Burrows. Our arrival coincided with the sharpest of squalls and the realisation that waterproofs aren’t necessarily so. Much of the area was flooded and with the gale full in the face it was impossible to see where we were going. So, we ended up in the middle of the golf course. Experience has taught me that the safest place is on the fairway and thus we navigated to the seaward side and sanctuary. The Burrows is an SSSI and has also been designated a UN Biosphere Reserve. Grassy coastal plain, salt marsh, sand dunes and unimproved grassland providing grazing for sheep and ponies. On clement days a haven for rare species but today only the foolhardy, sheep and dog walkers to be spotted. Huge waves and some crazies kite surfing but we plod on. Someone needs to invent windscreen wipers for spectacles! I’m sure it would be glorious on a sunny summer’s day. It was invigorating though and the promise of snoozing infront of the fire later was compelling. 4.8 miles according to the SWCP calculator – happy to go with that figure! Nick and Malory turned right for the next 11 miles to Clovelly while Charlotte and I took a left for home. Who made the best choice – you decide!
114.1 miles completed 😉
Trailing acorns 