12/3/2023 Torcross to Dartmouth (10.95mls)

To get to Torcross from Brixham involved using the higher ferry on the A379 at Dartmouth. Being a Sunday in March there was very little traffic but I would imagine that in peak season it would be a different story! The walk started at the car park with the WW2 tank where we finished walking last September.

Not having done much walking since then it was good to get back in the groove with 2miles of flat walking alongside the A379 towards Strete Gate. Apart from the noise from the wild fowl on Slapton Ley there was not a lot to see or do.

After Street Gate there is a steep zig-zag path up to the attractive village of Strete and then continues on, still roughly following the line of the A379 via the Landcombe Valley (very steep down and up to rejoin the A379) to Blackpool Sands ...

Blackpool Sands must be very well known as each of us had memories of visiting there from childhood to the current day.

It was then onward to Stoke Fleming where the SWCP goes through the minor roads of the village avoiding the the narrow and busy main road. In doing so it is worth having a look at the 700 year old church and the interesting grave yard which typically illustrates the strong family ties in the area - the Pook family in particular.

The path now leaves the A379 and follows a number of country lanes towards Little Dartmouth before going down right to Combe Point and then follows the coast to reach Dartmouth Castle and St Petrox Church.

Fiona had been to the cafe at Dartmouth Castle earlier in the day and had had a run-in with the parking meter. It seems that most car parks now seem to only take card payments or the use of a multitude of apps. However, Fiona got in a pickle and eventually her credit card was blocked. With APNR on entry to the car park you are now in the situation of, if you decide not to bother parking and leave, you will still be charged £150 for leaving without paying. All very stressful on what is supposed to be an enjoyable day out!

The other change noted was that the castle was open (supposed to be closed), but on talking to the attendant they are apparently struggling to survive because they have not recovered from the effects of the pandemic on visitor numbers. Unfortunately we needed to meet up with Fiona in Dartmouth so did not have time to visit.

We had arranged to meet Fiona in central Dartmouth at a Costa Cafe by Market Street. None of us were able to find the Costa and we eventually established that it had closed, another casualty of the economic situation. So it was a quick cup of tea in the Railway Station Cafe, whilst Justine found a local shop to get a fix of hot chocolate and cream, before Fiona drove us back to Brixham via the Dartmouth Higher Ferry.