Barnstaple to Westward Ho!

6 September 2009 - Barnstaple to Westward Ho!

Distance - 18.4 miles

Weather - Overcast then sunny

6 September we stayed at - Brockenhurst Guest House, 11 Atlantic Way, Westward Ho!, Bideford, Devon, EX39 1HX Cost - £60.00

The weather during the summer of 2009 hadn't been that great. It had been cold and very rainy. So we were delighted when we got up the next day to find it wasn't raining.We got a taxi back into Barnstaple and walked to the Long Bridge, because for this stage of our journey we had decided to use the South West Coast Path and to join up with it there. The taxi carried on to Westward Ho! to deliver our luggage. Yes, I know we cheated and only carried day sacks.

I can remember being incredibly excited as we started off. I love adventures and here I was at the start of one! I'd bought the South West Coast Path Cicerone Guide by Paddy Dillon for the trip, but to be honest, it's not really necessary. The trail is well marked and as long as you remember to keep the sea on your right hand side you are fine!

The walking is also relatively easy for this stage, quite flat, as it uses an old railway trackbed. We marched on until we got to Fremlington station, where we made use of the cafe facilities. We started off eating outside, but had to move indoors to keep away from the wasps, of which there were plenty. Our next stop was at Instow, where there was a great pasty shop. We sat and ate our pasties at the old Instow station, before carrying on to Bideford where we crossed another Long Bridge. Past Bideford the route leaves the sea and wanders through some suburbs until it crosses Burrough Farm, a National Trust property. We then reached the sea again, but had to divert inland to get round the huge building that is Appledore Shipbuilders. As we reached Northam Burrows Country Park everyone was busy packing up and preparing to go home, as the day was starting to think about becoming night. As the tide was out, we walked on the beach rather than the Pebble Ridge. The sun was really low in the sky and was making the waves glitter and sparkle. It was a magical moment. We soon reached Westward Ho! and found our accommodation for the night, Brockenhurst Guest House.