The South West Coastal Path Chronicles

Saturday, 17 July 2021

Beer to Lyme Regis

Date: 17th July 2021

Distance: 10.37 miles
Time: 4:04:42
Ascent: 1631 feet

Total SWCP so far: 569.27 miles

Route

Progress

Profile

Martin and Marina's Bit

And... one week after our last SWCP trip, we're back again! We lost so much time last year and we've missed the SWCP so much, we decided to do two weekends in a row. So here we are.

Accommodation was hard to find by the coast so we ended up booking a cottage in the middle of Somerset, about a 45 minute drive from the coast. And we loved it. A beautiful place in quiet, lush countryside, filled with birdsong. Thanks goodness for the British obsession with seaside holidays!

Once again we saw the coastal environment changing as we walked. Pebbled beaches with their colourful beach huts, woodland (also filled with singing birds), farmland which included the most lovely meadows and.... jungle. Yes, you read that right. Jungle. Or something very much like it.

Another great day.

Derek and Lesley's Bit

We're back, Martin & Marina in Marina's little car!

It's a squeeze but we just about fit!

It's a hot & very humid day but luckily it is a wooded shady stretch.

Not many people on the path but gets busy as we come into lyme regis which is busy quite crowded which is not a comfortable feeling as the pandemic is still a concern.

Martin and Marina's Photographs

Walk the whole SWCP?! Pure Madness :-)

Derek's Photographs

Monday, 12 July 2021

Sidmouth to Beer

Date: 12th July 2021

Distance: 9.16 miles
Time: 3:55:18
Ascent: 2037 feet

Total SWCP so far: 558.9 miles

Route

Progress

Profile

Martin and Marina's Bit

Day 4 and the final day of this trip. And.... almost certainly the best day. The scenery had been steadily improving over the days and this day was lovely and really felt like we were back on the SWCP once again. Beautiful countryside and wonderful coastal views. There was even ice cream. What more could you ask for?

Derek did well by spotting a dead dolphin on the beach from the cliffs above. It's my great pleasure therefore to award Derek the highly desirable Spotting a Dead Dolphin From Afar badge for his achievement.

Despite the slight whiff of decaying dolphin, it was declared to be Sandwich O'clock and we sat on the beach for a while munching sandwiches. Martin's sandwich of choice for this trip was Cheese and Blackberry Jam by the way. Don't knock it unless you've tried it!

We finished the day's walk in the small town of Beer and that was that for this trip. All that remained was to drive the three and a half hours home.

Oh and one more thing. Sixty miles from home, Martin and Marina's car broke down on the motorway! A rescue service was called and eventually.... about four hours later.... they were home. Not a great end to the trip, but these things happen. C'est la vie and all that.

Derek and Lesley's Bit

Last day of this trip, 4 days of very different scenery although the Ghost ships (cruise liners with no passengers & skeleton crew anchored out in the bay) were visible the whole time.

We were saddened by a dead Dolphin on the beach but still able to eat sandwiches sat on the pebbles taking in the view.

We sadly finish the days walking & journey on home to rest up only to come back the following weekend to continue....

Sadly Martin's car broke down just 60 miles from home.