21/10/2020 - Combe Martin to Ilfracombe (5.6mls)

The weather forecast for today was wet, wet, wet and, as we were originally planned to do a tricky walk from Hunters Inn to Combe Martin, we decided to switch to do the easier and shorter walk from Combe Martin to Ilfracombe. Justine was amazed to find out about the change of plan by text from the lounge to her bedroom - well we weren't sure if she was awake but she said she was used to Ben doing this rather than getting up to speak to her!

Fiona dropped us off in Combe Martin and took a picture of the already bedraggled team with David trying to set up Buddy Beacon on ViewRanger so that she would know where to find us if the weather turned nastier ...

The first part was a steady climb up to the coast road and then turning off along a track before turning into the Watermouth Camping Park. We had been following and then overtook a lady walking a dog but when we stopped to look down to Broad Strand she caught us up and then launched into a mini tirade about grockles.

Firstly, in what was a very picturesque area, she objected to the gaudy Camping Park sign placement, but then told us about the problems the locals(aka she) had had with an influx of grockles due to covid-19. The only access to Broad Strand is down 220 steps and the locals regarded it as their private beach. At the time when Bournemouth beach was being overrun with grockles somebody put Broad Strand on social media resulting in a massive influx of people leaving rubbish (and worse) in the area and even having to have the fire brigade called out because somebody had started a fire. She was not happy to say the least but fortunately we were not classed in the same bracket, being professional walkers and all!!

Just as we were about to leave her she, and we, spotted a couple of dolphins down in the bay and she then dropped the grockles tirade in order to phone her friend to gloat as her friend apparently always misses such sightings.

On we went with a lot of up and down steps again passing Watermouth Bay with the tide out ...

... and eventually dropping down into Hele Bay where, despite the weather, there was a family playing in the sea. There we met a couple of chatty elderly ladies who put the other side of the grockles debate in that whilst they didn't approve of the antisocial behaviour they welcomed visitors spending money in the local economy.

Yet more steps brought us to Beacon Hill where there was a wet but good view of Ilfracombe ...

... before dropping down to get full profile view of Verity and Capstone Hill ...

On the way into town we were overtaken by a local gentleman in very ill-fitting sandals who had been for an afternoon swim and wanted to prove that he could run past a group of sprightly walkers. Justine pointed out that as it was only 15:30 Costa would still be open so we were then dragged through the town in very muddy boots to sample the delights of the coffee shop.

All in all, not a very enjoyable walk but it had to be done and we conceded that on a sunny day we would have been more appreciative of the coastline and its views.