Time Departed: 9.00 am

Time Arrived: 1.15pm

Distance: 13 kms 

Weather: Sunny  - Min  12, Max 18 

Accommodation:  The Saunton Sands Hotel, Croyde Bay 

Feelings: Henk - Good, Di - Good

We took a much slower approach to the walk today as it was going to be another shorter day and less changelling. Once again we woke to a sunny day and the strong winds of yesterday had gone. 

Last evening from our room’s window we noticed large machinery moving sand and constructing, what it seemed to us, a large levee on Woolacombe Beach. When we woke this morning work was continuing. We learned from our host that the sand was being built up for the construction of beach huts for the summer season. Because the winter tide is so high (up to 10m) the huts have to be removed in winter and replaced in summer. 

We decided to deviate off the SW Coast Path and visit the small village of Croyde. We walked the 3.2 kms length of the long Woolacombe Beach, initially with sand dunes on our right side and high cliffs on our left. For the second time on this walk I saw a common viper/adder and this time I was able to film it. Apparently, bites are rarely fatal but painful. The last one I saw was walking to Huners Inn and was a copper coloured one which is the female.

Walking on the sand dune path was hard going so we took a path onto the harder beach. The tide was way out. We had a good view of the beach and Woolacombe when we climbed the far cliff. 

Before we descended we were warned to be careful!. The sand dunes and beach were used by the American army for assault training in preparation for the D-Day landings. 

When we diverted from the path at Baggy Hill we descended alongside fields of black-faced sheep, ancient dry-stone fences covered with ivy and old narrow lanes leading down to the small seaside village of Croyde. Many of the houses had thatched roofs. We had morning tea at 11.00am and enjoyed slices of bread and butter pudding

When we resumed our walk we walked along country lanes alongside more farmland before we arrived at the cliffs. 

On the hillside overlooking Croyde Beach Henk recognised a large house he had seen on Grand Designs. Called Chesil Cliff House it was one of the saddest stories in the series as the couple went bankrupt and broke up. It was enormous and seemed to be vacant but apparently it did sell in 2025. The house sits beside a derelict house which I liked.

On the final cliff for the day we looked over the long beach of Saunton Sands and we could see where we had walked 17 years ago on our Land’s End to John O’Groat’s walk along the Nth Devon coastline. Our hotel for the night is a spa resort with pools, ocean view spas, bars, lounges and a popular restaurant. It’s located in an ideal, isolated position overlooking the long beach.

We arrived early and our room wasn’t ready so we waited for an hour in the comfortable lounge. We didn’t mind as it was interesting to watch the well-dressed hotel patrons coming and going. That, of course, wasn’t us! 

We booked dinner at the restaurant for 6.30pm. Our table overlooked the beach and the far side of the bay. We had a delicious meal, lamb for me and chicken for Henk, prepared by a Michelin chef. We overlooked the beach and the 6 metre high tide had just reached its peak. It was another lovely day. It’s now only two days to go until we finish our walk. 

Today’s profile looked like this: