3/10/2022 Plymouth to Wembury (14.46 mls)

Whilst initially we were not looking forward to walking for so long on roads and pavements, the first half of this walk along the Plymouth coastline was fascinating and very informative. It really brought home how, as a maritime nation, Plymouth was so important in the history and development of the UK in so many areas.

The walk starts at Admiral's Hard which is where the passenger ferry from Cremyll arrives at ...

We were promised beautiful autumn walking weather and so we set off to explore the city. There is so much to see, and so much that would have been missed if we had not been using the SWCP Walking Guide #47. For Justine, having been born in Plymouth and then visiting again on many occasions with her parents during her early years, this was a trip down memory lane and she was able to see the, now sadly closed, lido and nearby playgrounds etc. Also, as her father was in the Royal Marines, Stonehouse Barracks was also an important landmark. Just before there in Durnford Street there were lots of quotations from Sherlock Holmes stories set into the pavements - Arthur Conan Doyle had his medical practice there.

The SWCP signs are different from elsewhere, some very elaborate and bespoke ...

... whilst others are large cast iron diamond shapes in red or cast iron finger post signs, again painted red.

The heritage of the place is illustrated by many of the wall plaques ...

... whilst near the Sutton Harbour bridge is a memorial to the Mayflower ...

These are just a few of the many interesting sights on the journey which, after Sutton Harbour, becomes more industrial and then towards Mount Batten more countryfied. However, this part of the walk took at east 3hrs with all the stopping and starting and we decided it would have been more comfortable to wear trainers and then swap to walking boots for the second half of the journey to Wembury.

At Mount Batten there are a couple of cafes - we visited the one on the main road up to Mount Batten and bought drinks and then sat outside on their picnic tables to eat our snap.

Time was now passing so we set off back down from Mount Batten and along the coast path to Bovisand Bay Chalet Park where we met Fiona who had had a very enjoyable morning at the NT Saltram property at Plympton. The chalet park seemed pretty deserted at this time of year and was noticeable for the many signs telling the visitor what they were NOT allowed to do! David A decided to call it a day at this point and he and Fiona left leaving Justine and I to walk the final 3.5 miles to Wembury, after rescuing an enormous Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar from imminent destruction on the car park.

Unfortunately, part way to Wembury the weather clouded over and we arrived at Wembury Beach in drizzle. It soon cleared though but due to lack of road access to the ferry crossing at Warren Point, and the fact that we did not need to cross the river, we decided to return to Modbury.