Newton Abbott to Teigngrace

It was a mild November day so we wanted to make the most of it and go for a long walk, but we thought footpaths would be muddy after all the rain we have had recently, so we chose to walk along the Templar Way as this is a cycle path a lot of the way.

We caught the train to Newton Abbott and then walked down past Tuckers Maltings to the cycle path that led along the River Lemon.  This led into Jetty Marsh Nature Reserve and then along the old canal up to Teignbridge.  Most of the time there was a good path, although it did get very muddy at the end.  It was a pleasant flat walk, but nothing special to see except the occasional mushrooms and berries on the trees.

Tree full of berries

Close up of berries.

Topsham

It was a lovely bright November day.  The sky was blue and although the wind was blowing at times and there was a nip in the air first thing it was a perfect day to get out exploring.  We took the train to Exeter  and then changed to the train to Exmouth and went as far as Topsham.

To begin with we walked inland to Dartsfarm that is on the outskirts of Topsham and just a 15 minute walk from the station.   It was good to see all the variety of specialist foods and home products but we did not buy anything except our lunch of fish and chips.  A sparrow kept us company at the next table.

After lunch we followed the cycle path to Exon.  It was a lovely walk in the country, but we only occasionally got glimpses of the river.  At Exton a train was due so we caught it back to Topsham.  The railway platform at Exton must have one of the best views in the country.

Back in Topsham we wandered down the main street looking at all the independent shops and cafes.  Eventually we came to the quay and then we walked on to Goat Walk, where the land comes to an end.  We then walked back along the estuary until we were back at the top of the town and the railway station.  From here is was back home on the train with a change at Exeter

Photographing Dartmoor

On Saturday 10 September we attended an excursion operated by Dartmoor National Park Authority called "Capturing Dartmoor at Sunset".  We were picked up at Newton Abbott railway station by the Haytor Hoppa and taken to Hound Tor where we met photographer Rob Hutchinson. We walked around Hound Tor as he explained how best to capture the light and landscape of Dartmoor. We were then taken to the Old Inn in 

Widecombe-in-the-Moor for a meal and drinks.  While we ate Rob showed some of his photos and equipment.  The Haytor Hoppa then took us back to Newton Abbot in time to catch the 10 o'clock train back to Plymouth.  It was a most interesting evening.

Some of the photos I took on Hound Tor:

Flowers growing around granite

The sun coming through clouds

Gorse giving colour to landscapes

Interesting shapes of granite at the top of Hound Tor

Edges of granite often look like faces

The sun came up and shone in the distance 

The sun shining on the medieval village near Hound Tor

Hound Tor from the Kist (burial chamber)

Torquay to Brixham

We caught the train to Torquay and it was just a stone's throw from the station to Torquay beach.  This is where we stopped walking earlier in the year when we walked from Torquay to Meadfoot Beach. We followed the road  towards Paignton and for a short while had to walk on the pavement by the main road. Although it is not pleasant to have cars rushing past you, before long we had views over the sea, and this made up for it.  Soon able to turn off to go through a park at Hollicombe, and from then on we were off-road the whole of the way.

We did not see the sign for the SW coast path and continued walking down to Hollicombe beach.  It was low tide and we saw that other people were walking across the rocks to the beach beyond, so we decided to follow them.  To begin with it was easy as the rocks were flat and encrusted with barnicles so there was plenty of grip.  However, near Preston Sands there was no alternative but to walk across seaweed covered rocks and through shallow pools, but we made it to the other side.   With the tide out we were then able to walk all the way to the end of Paignton Sands without having to go up to the road.

We walked around the harbour and then through the park down to Goodrington.  The views on this walk were spectacular with long views around the bay and beautiful beaches and covers.  Photos cannot capture this.

Goodrington

Up to this point the walk had been easy but from now on there were many ups and downs, with rough steps, but the views were worth it.  Broad Sands was a lovely beach that I had never been to before.  After Elberry Cove we walked through woodland that was pleasantly cool, although the path had roots and stones sticking out of it which meant you had to watch your feet.  We could see the blue of the sea through the trees but there was no view of the bay with all the leaves on the trees.

As we walked down to Churston Cove we were struck by how lovely it looked with all the boats and Brixham in the distance, although the beach itself was not very attractive as stony.

After climbing up from this cove it was just a short walk on to Brixham.  We could look back and see Torquay with its balloon and realise how far we had walked (about 6 1/2 miles).  We were glad that there was a frequent bus service from Brixham to Torquay so we did not have to walk back!

Truro to Tresillian

The train to Truro was crowded and ran late, but it was still preferrable to driving.   We had never been to Truro before so started by exploring the town, with its mixture of small shops and national chains.  The station is at the top of the town and we made our way down to Lemon Quay then crossed the roads by subway to Malpas Road.  Before long we were walking along the riverside.  This walk took us all the way to Malpas, a small village at the junction of the river and creek. 

We continued walking as far as we could along the road then followed the footpath into woods.  When we came to 2 bridges we ignored the sign to St Clements that went up a hill through a field and instead turned left through the woods.  This path followed the creek through woods and was a long way around to St Clement but it was a waterside walk.  Taking this path we missed the main part of the village and just saw the houses on the waterside, one of which had a lovely garden.

From St Clement we walked along a carriage drive which was flat and easy walking along the creek and took us to just outside Tresillian.  When we reached the road we walked along until we came to a bus stop and then caught the bus back to Truro and from there the train to Plymouth.

Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren

On Saturday 21  May we took the train to Teignmouth and it was only a stone's throw from the station to the sea front.  The South West Coastal path runs along the sea wall.  It was nearly high tide and the waves were hitting the sea wall at times but we were able to walk along in the dry.  On the other side of the path was the railway line, and at times trains rushed past us.

Looking back to Teignmouth, with train coming along

View in the opposite direction with another train

At the end of Teignmouth beach we had to turn inland and go along roads and a footpath between hedges before coming out above Dawlish and wind our way down to the town.

View over Dawlish

Heading towards Dawlish

Looking back around the coast which we had skirted by going inland

We wandered through Dawlish town and found an excellent bakery, Gays Creamery where we bought pasty's and ate them by the river in a very pleasant park. 

Dawlish is famous for their black swans

From Dawlish we continued to walk along the path above the beach to Dawlish Warren.  We continued on from the South West Path into the nature reserve at the end of Dawlish Warren, but at the visitor centre turned back and made our way back to Dawlish Warren railway station from where we caught the train back to Plymouth.

Totnes to Ashprington

On Tuesday 24 May we caught the train to Totnes and walked down from the station to the River Dart, where we started to follow the Dart Valley Trail.  However, after a short while we could not see where to go.  We walked through an industrial estate before realising we had missed the path.  When we retraced our steps we saw  the cycle path which we intended to return on, so decided to take this path and come back on the footpath.

The cycle path was a good path to walk on and no cyclist used it while we were walking along it.  It climbed slowly up a hill while following the direction of the river, which we could see occasionally below.  Eventually we joined up with the footpath and continued on that way.  Above Ashprington we turned left to divert to Sharpham Vineyard.  It was a steep hill down and as we did not want to pay £4.75 to look around the vineyard it was a bit of a waste of time.  However, by taking this road down we got wonderful views back to Totnes along the river.

We climbed back up the hill and continued on to Ashprington.  Initially there was a footpath at the side of the road and then through a playing field but then we had to walk down the narow road.  Ashprington was a pretty village, but we did not stop but walked down the hill to Bow Bridge, where there was a pub with tables outside at the side of the creek.  Very pretty and a welcome rest.

On the way back we kept to the Dart Valley Trail, which was well marked and a flatter route than the cycle route.  Once back in Totnes we saw how we had missed our way at the beginning - we should have walked through the higher part of the industrial estate, not the lower part next to the river!


It was then the walk back to the station, with stopoffs in Morrisons for supplies and China Blue for a browse.