Time Departed: 9.15am

Time Arrived: 2.45pm 

Distance: 13 kms 

Weather: Sunny and warm. Min 9 Max 20

Accommodation: The Channel Vista Guest House, Combe Martin 

Feelings: Henk - Fine , Di - Fine 

We had our first cooked breakfast this morning. The Hunters Inn offered  a small Full English Breakfast which we enjoyed and it had the usual variety of sausage, bacon, tomato, egg, mushrooms and baked beans. The English do like their baked beans. 

From Hunters Inn we crossed a small stone bridge and walked alongside the pretty, little Heddon River with England’s steepest cliffs either side of us. The path climbed sharply through a pretty wooded area.

We took it slowly getting to the top and as we turned back we could see the inn deep in the valley in the distance.

We looked over the cliff to see Heddon’s Mouth, a rocky cove which was popular with smugglers. 

We climbed about 600m of ascents in today’s walk but it was less arduous with the exception of one area. Once again we had brilliant weather and there were a number of walkers on the path given it was a Sunday. For the first time we really felt like we were on the South West Coast Path as the path kept close to the edge of the cliffs and we had excellent views over the coastline.

We had a fifteen minute morning tea break at 11.00am. It was yesterday’s tasty pastries we bought at Lynton and a packet of crisps. 

For the past few days we have been surrounded by hundreds little black flying insects and today we learned from a woman on the path that they are shortlived Mayflies. Apparently their sole purpose in life is to mate and they die within twenty-four hours as they have no mouth. When I researched them there was a comment which said they are here for a good time, not a long time!

It was easy walking on the top of the cliffs through heathland and gorse and few isolated trees until we got to the seven kilometre mark. 

The challenge for the day was Great Hangman the highest point on the SW Coast Path at 318m and Britain’s highest seacliff. 

Before tackling the climb we had a long, steep descent to a small stream. It was hard going on our feet and legs and my big right toe let me know it was not happy as it hit the front of my boot. We had a break and I quickly added a bandage and more Hikers Wool before making the ascent on Great Hangman. It seemed to do the trick but I doubt my toenail will survive. When we were climbing Great Hangman we looked back to see how steep the descent was on the opposite cliff. We’d rather have a steep climb instead of a steep descent. 

It took us thirty minutes to climb the long, steep cliff path with the aim of having lunch at the summit. When we arrived Henk climbed the huge cairn with 360 degree views. 

Our lunch supplied by the inn was huge and we couldn’t eat it all but we did enjoy the prawn baguette and the BLT. We only stayed for fifteen minutes as a cool breeze had arrived so we set off for the last three kilometres of descent into Combe Martin. We had excellent views of the little seaside town as we descended. 

We both had an afternoon nap before we set out for dinner at six. We opted for the pub which had an outdoor area overlooking the beach.

Tomorrow is a short day of 8kms then we have a rest day at Ilfacrombe. 

And here is today’s walking profile.