19/6/2023 Hartland Quay to Morwenstowe (9.69mls)

The SWCP Guide #13 details the walk as 15.2mls from Hartland Quay to Bude with a 9hrs walking time but we took the option to split the walk at Morwenstowe. Overall the walk is classed as 'severe' and David A decided that the strenuous ups and downs were not for him on the first day so Fiona drove Justine and David to the start at Hartland Quay.

Hartland Quay is attractive and it was a fine day so we decided to have a drink in the sunshine before setting off. The row of buildings on 'The Street' include a hotel, shop, museum etc. Notices indicated we had to order our drinks at the hotel bar specifying table number etc. To cut a long story short it took nearly half an hour to get our drinks, involved 2 visits and the drinks had to be delivered by the guy on the till which meant there were long queues - all very comical.

Anyway, we eventually set off, later than planned, with an immediate steep climb up to the headland leaving David out of breath before we had really got going!, but the views were as good as ever over the interesting rock formations on the shore ...

We were both quickly back in the groove and made good progress to Speke's Mill waterfall ...

After the waterfall we went inland on a track as instructed but did not find fingerpost SS226234 and therefore missed the turnoff on the right to a footbridge. We had to backtrack - the turnoff is actually not far from the start of the track and is at a slight angle and down to cross the footbridge to an old signpost ...

We noted that for some miles after this we saw few people, probably because of the steep ups and downs of Welcome Mouth and then Marsland Mouth. On the way down to Marsland Mouth we visited Ronald Duncan's Hut which was very interesting both in its history and the display of information panels and poetry. We particularly enjoyed his poem called "The Horse" ...

David was not looking forward to the next downhill into Litter Mouth as the guide had indicated that great care should be taken as the drop is sheer. In fact there did not seem to be any more risk than with the other 'Mouths' and the stream feeding the waterfall was more like a babbling brook, presumably due to the long dry spell the SW had experienced for the previous 6weeks or so.

After that the walk was straightforward and as we were meeting Fiona at Morwenstowe we diverted off the path using the inland path that follows the valley bottom for the best part of a mile before climbing up to the church and the excellent Old Rectory Tea Rooms for a welcome drink.