LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I parked at the free picnic area in Valley of Rocks. Sylvia was reading a book in the car and watched a local cricket match. I started/finished the AA32 walk approximately half-way between ‘3’ and ‘4’. There were good views along the coast from the summit of Castle Rock with a steep drop from the road to Wringcliff Bay beach. I returned to the road just before reaching the beach. I saw a black ram with huge horns on the path but he disappeared into the bracken before I got a chance to take a good photo. There was a jersey on the rocks at Mother Meldrum’s Cave, no doubt a mother would be unhappy when a little lad returned to the car. There was no ‘To Sea’ signpost at ‘6’. I turned left uphill away from the sea to the Old Toll House. There was another long drop to Lee Bay beach. I returned to Lee Abbey before reaching the beach. It was a steady ascent up the bridle path from ‘7’ to ‘9’, then a very steep ascent from ‘9’ to the top of South Cliff, with excellent views along the coast and also to Wales, which was only just visible in the misty conditions. I chatted to a couple with a ‘tired’ dog just after the summit of South Cliff. The dog was pulling the couple back to the caravan site at Six Acre Farm. My map was a welcome reassurance that they were on a path which would lead them back to the caravan. It was a steady ascent down the lane in the trees into Lynton. As I hadn’t started from Lynton car park, it was difficult to find my way to North Cliff Walk. I passed a couple of llamas penned in the street near the Lyn & Exmoor Museum. From North Cliff Walk there were excellent views of Lynton Beach and Foreland Point. It was interesting to take time to watch the noisy cables of the cliff railway. The two cars work in unison with the top car carrying gallons of water which is emptied at the bottom. The two cars pass at the same point each time, exactly where the two tracks separate slightly. This avoided excavation of the rocks during construction. I had exceeded my estimated walk time of 2 hours, so will be in the dog house again. Will I be allowed a walk at Bude on Monday? Care was required along North Cliff Walk as there were very steep, unprotected drops down cliffs directly into the sea. This walk brought back memories of the South West Coastal Path with Colin in June 1999. I wondered what the toll fee was 5 years ago?

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
Picnic Area at Valley of the Rocks , Lynton

Hazards: None

Number 765 and Number 868. Also the South West Costal Path Number 437