20/10/2021 - Seaton to Lyme Regis (7.55mls)

Joy of joys, after 2 days of cloud and dampness the sun re-appeared today. Returning to Seaton we walked along the esplanade to the Axmouth road bridge built in 1990 to carry the current main road but the original concrete bridge still stands, as does the oldest concrete house in the UK which used to be the toll house for the original road ...

Soon after crossing the concrete bridge and walking up the main road the walk goes up a lane and across a golf course and then up a lane before the walk proper starts with dire warning that there is no escape route between here and Lyme Regis! ...

Not long after we started walking we were rapidly overtaken by an elderly couple with poles with the lady striding out in front and her dutiful husband staggering along behind. They commented that they had done this walk many times - we need to up our game!

After some easy walking the area of the Rousdon Landslip was reached and the path continued above the coast eventually reaching a grassy area called Goat Island before the start of the walk along the undercliff was reached. From here the path goes up and down through fairly dense trees and foliage for the best part of the 5 miles to Lyme Regis.

It was like walking through a tropical jungle and after the recent rain the path and steps were slippery and the ground very uneven with tree roots and stones etc. So much so that when DavidL tried an ambitious hand brake turn on the path he lost his footing and disappeared into the foliage and had to be helped back on to the path!

Eventually the path becomes more of a wide track as signs of civilisation appear and at a viewpoint where a good view of Charlton Bay could be seen ...

At last we dropped down into the middle of the Monmouth Beach car park at Lyme Regis where we met Fiona and wandered around the town to find the COSTA for afternoon tea and some shopping before walking back to the car through the well maintained municipal gardens above the seafront.