Knowstone to Exford

Still in shock after the price of last nights meal, £19 for a bit of pork belly, not much choice as it was the only pub in the village. 

The b&b hospitality certainly made up for the cost of the food.

After a few miles, I arrived at the start of Exmoor, marked by the second commemorative stone to to the founder of the walk. Looking back Dartmoor was still prominent in the distance.

The walk continued to be undulating, until I meet up with the River Barle, at the Tarr Steps, a crossing of the river and picnic area which was full of visitors and an ice cream van.

Supporting local industry, I participated in a chocolate cone.

The walk up the river to Whitypool was reasonably flat, but the terrain reminded me of the walk along side Loch Lomond, on the West Highland Way, full concentration needed.

Staying some two miles off the path at the Exford YHA, so some extra miles needed to get back on path tomorrow.

Morchard Road to Knowstone

Wednesday

After leaving Morchard Road with a hefty bar/food bill from the night before, I walk to the next village called Morchard Bishop. Here memories came flooding back, as I passed thro the village on my LEJOG four years ago. 

Entering the village from a different direction I was above the memorial and seat were I sat to rest. The next few miles I criss crossed the route I previously took. Leaving it just short of Black Dog.

On my LEJOG, I'd walk west to east across the centre of Cornwall and Devon, on undulating hills. I had alway thought the hills ran north to South as it always felt like I was up and down all the time. Given that logic I would the have an easier walk, when walking south to north. Since leaving the heights of Dartmoor, I have crossed countless hills, always seeming like I was either  ascending or descending, so much for an easier Mid-Devon section!!

At times today I have had views in front to Exmoor and views to the rear of the mightier Dartmoor.

Sandy Park to Morchard Road

The first uphill after leaving on Tuesday was onto the hill which houses castle drogo. Although I'd been seeing the castle  for half the previous day, the views when I was closest were masked by the hill and trees. It wasn't till I was past it than the big scaffold tent came into view. The £1.5m tent covering it puts my £200 tent to shame. 

It was not too much longer before I arrived at the A30 and the end of Dartmoor. 

The walk is made up of a day from the sea to the edge of Dartmoor, two days over Dartmoor, two days crossing central devon and two days over exmoor.

So now started the walk across mainly pastoral land, finishing the day at nor card road and the Devon Dumpling pub, we're I was joined overnight by my wife.

Holne to Sandy Lane

The walk from Holne to Sandy Park is both the longest and has the most ascent, peaking at 530m, so upon finishing at the Sandy Park Inn, I couldn't believe it when they declared they was no food and no bar on a Monday. Added to which the room is television-less . The stand in hosts were good enough to pay for a taxi back to the village of Chagford, a place I'd past an hour earlier. So the following walk back was a repeat of the earlier walk.

I'd seen on the walk from quite a distance from the end a large white building perched high on the hillside, it seemed to be in view for most the afternoon, but it wasn't until getting close to Chagford I realised it was Castle Drogo, which I'll be passing tomorrow. I've since found out it isn"t white, but the castle is surrounded by scaffolding costing £1.5m whilst the repair the roof for £25m. They being the National Trust. Would have thought it'll be cheaper to build one from scratch.

Devon Coast to Coast

Since the last blog entry I have been busy walking, continuing the glyndwr way, so that only two legs remain. Starting and progressing well on the Staffordshire way and completing the north downs way over two long weekend (video posted).

Now I find myself having complete two of the seven legs of Devon,s Coast to Coast walk. The walk is made up of the 2 moors way and an extending walk from ivybridge down to the south coast at wembury. Couldn't see the stadium though.

Now crossing Dartmoor and loving the emptiness of the moor. Leaving ivybridge this morning climbing up onto the moor the wat weather added to the bleakness, this was later replaced by clear views across the vast expanse. 

The walk draws me nearer to the target of crossing the country from the south west at the lizard to the north east at Berwick. After this just the final walk on the south west coast path remains. Next years 3 week walk. This is going to replace my alps adventure. My knee and a pending operation has seen to that.

The E2 UK walk was completed when I walked into Dover on the moth downs way, so I am seeing that as the opposite diagonal ( north west to the south east) to the one in progress at present.

Hope to do a daily account for the remaining five days

Recent picture at the kirkstone inn as a test