Day 37 - Thursday 15 June 2017
Bantham to Salcombe (12.9 miles)
My 55th Birthday today and what better way to celebrate it than walking over to Salcombe. Had a lovely Breakfast in the B&B, opening cards which were delivered with my Full English by the waitress. After Breakfast we said goodbye to Lee & Karen who were off home but very kindly dropped off a bag of kit in Salcombe for us therefore a light Rucksack day today. The weather again was just perfect and those wet days in and around Falmouth seemed a long time ago. The walking from Bantham to Hope Cove was fantastic and it seemed only right that we stopped for a birthday drink in one of Hope Cove's pubs.
Whilst we were at Bolt Tail we saw a familiar figure chugging up the hill - it was Chris who was also off to Salcombe therefore he joined us for the day. The excellent walking continued and the section between Bolt Tail & Bolt Head was just stunning. Nearing Salcombe there was a never ending supply of '2 miles to Salcombe" signs spread all along the coast. We said goodbye to Chris just before The Winking Prawn where we had a nice cool drink. Really hilly entrance to Salcombe - found the B&B ok but we did not take to Salcombe at all. Nice birthday meal in The Victoria and then an early night as the 3 of us were quite tired.
Whilst we were at Bolt Tail we saw a familiar figure chugging up the hill - it was Chris who was also off to Salcombe therefore he joined us for the day. The excellent walking continued and the section between Bolt Tail & Bolt Head was just stunning. Nearing Salcombe there was a never ending supply of '2 miles to Salcombe" signs spread all along the coast. We said goodbye to Chris just before The Winking Prawn where we had a nice cool drink. Really hilly entrance to Salcombe - found the B&B ok but we did not take to Salcombe at all. Nice birthday meal in The Victoria and then an early night as the 3 of us were quite tired.
It's a lovely day for it as we leave The Sloop Inn
Rejoining the path near the Ferry Point
Bantham Beach & Hams End
Bigbury & Burgh Island as we turn the corner towards Butter Cove
Headland near Butter Cove
Thurlestone & the Golf course ahead with Warren Point to the right
Thurlestone Beach
Thurlestone Rock & Bolt Tail
Descending into Hope Cove
The huge Anchor & Cannon near the Harbour at Hope Cove
8 miles to go - only one thing for it on such a lovely day......
..... well it is my Birthday. Fudge couldn't have cared less.
The beach at Hope Cove
Bolt Tail is the site of an Iron Age promontory fort although little evidence now remains of this structure.
It occupied a classic promontory defended from inland by a linear earthwork at some 60 metres above sea level.
It occupied a classic promontory defended from inland by a linear earthwork at some 60 metres above sea level.
Bolt Tail ahead
Up on Bolt Tail
What's that coming over the hill, is it a monster, is it a monsterrrrrr - no, just Chris
A lovely view back to Hope Cove from Bolt Tail
A lovely bimble over Bolberry Down towards Bolt Head
Bolberry Down looking to Soar Mill Cove
We thought the rock formation on the right bore a more than passing resemblance to Margaret Thatcher's Spitting Image Puppet
Approaching the rocky crags above Steeple Cove
Looking back to Soar Mill Cove
This was superb walking today
Angie & Chris making their way up the slope above Steeple Cove
Nearing Bolt Head - not far now until we make the turn north to Salcombe
Bolt Head
Why the long face? - Nyuk, nyuk
Bolt Head & Starehole Bay from Sharp Tor
The Toposcope on Sharp Tor
Up on Sharp Tor
A Sharp Tor panoramic
Salcombe
The memorial to the Salcombe Lifeboat Disaster near Sharp Tor
The Lifeboat William & Emma capsized in atrocious conditions off Salcombe Bar with the loss of 13 crew.
The Lifeboat William & Emma capsized in atrocious conditions off Salcombe Bar with the loss of 13 crew.
Looks like we have just teleported ourselves to Hawaii - we haven't honest
South Sands, Salcombe
The curiously named Winking Prawn Cafe in Salcombe. Good job the sign writer could spell.
Day 37 Data
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Cumulative Time
Total Ascent
Cumulative Ascent
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Cumulative Time
Total Ascent
Cumulative Ascent
12.9 miles
477.5 miles
6 hrs 50 mins
234 hrs 50 mins
2805 ft
110977 ft
477.5 miles
6 hrs 50 mins
234 hrs 50 mins
2805 ft
110977 ft