21/6/2023 Clovelly to Hartland Quay (11.8mls)

Walking at the summer solstice seemed special and although there had been a light shower early on, by the time we arrived at the Visitor Centre at Clovelly it was fine and warm. Justine and I just wanted to use the facilities before we set off but this involved getting a special wrist band to make sure that we didn't try and get free access down to Clovelly harbour! Fiona wanted to get down to the harbour using the landrover shuttle service (pay the driver) but this didn't start until later so the next question was, had we all come in the same car etc etc. Not a very friendly service - almost made us want to go somewhere else!

David A had opted out again, because of his ankle problem, so Justine and David set off for Mouth Mill. Soon after setting off we passed a rest area with a building called Angel's Wings where we met a couple from Cardiff who were doing the same walk as us. They had arrived at Clovelly from Westward Ho! the previous evening and, being frustrated at the possibility of having to jump through hoops at the Visitor Centre, described to us a way of getting access to the car park without going through the Spanish Inquisition! We noted this for our walk to Clovelly on the next day.

We had expected that the first part of the walk as far as Hartland Point would be fairly gentle but this was not to be the case as there were several steep climbs and then a rather boring section of several miles of walking around the edges of fields in the now baking sunshine until passing the Hartland Point radar dome we reached Hartland Point where fortunately the seasonal cafe was open. Along the way there were a couple of memorials to aircraft, one a Wellington bomber and the other a US aircraft, which had crashed on the headland during WW2.

At Hartland Point there are good views across to Lundy Island and there were lots of adverts for day trips from either Bideford and Ilfracombe. Looks very interesting and maybe a trip for the future?

After drinks and a hug of the signpost ...

... we set off on what is billed in the SWCP leaflet as a very strenuous 3mls to Hartland Quay which 'takes longer than you think'. Lots of people at Hartland Point were making the trek around the headland to see the lighthouse and we nearly got caught up following them! but Justine spotted the error in time and we set off in the direction of Hartland Quay and viewed the lighthouse from afar ...

The walk from here was not too difficult as we were now well used to all the ups and downs but on climbing up to a headland, where there was a good view to Hartland Quay, we were puzzled as David was about to continue past a way post when Justine realised that this path went straight over the edge and in fact the correct route was to turn sharp left and scramble up a loose rocky hill until reaching some occasional steps before finally getting to the headland at the top.

Having had such a clear view of Hartland Quay we thought we were nearly home and dry but it took some time before we finally dropped down into Hartland Quay where Fiona was waiting for us. We were expecting to have a drink here but Fiona whisked us away as she had a surprise for us. She had earlier been to Hartland Abbey and spotted that there was a film crew there making a series of Mallory Towers. She knew we would be arriving shortly after 4pm and asked if she could have 3 free passes for us to get back in to see the action and have afternoon tea in the tea rooms there. And so that is what we did. The tea rooms were excellent and so we sat outside and watched the film crew packing up for the day - they had been there for 5wks and had one more week to go. In the exhibition it was fascinating to see the number of cinema films and TV films that have used Hartland Abbey over the last 70+ years - well worth a visit.

A perfect end to a perfect days walking.