23/6/2023 Barnstaple to Westward Ho! (13.66mls)

This is billed as an easy walk and so David A decided he could manage the first part at least from Barnstaple to Instow. This is along the old railway track (watch out for cyclists!) which was just as well as we needed to walk the 6+ miles quickly to get the ferry from Instow to Appledore. The ferry restarted in 2022 and only operates in the summer when tides permit. On the day we walked the ferry was only operating between 09:30 and 11:40 but we managed to get to Instow by 11:00 just as a ferry was leaving. In case we did not make it in time Fiona was there to meet us and had spotted an amazing deli called Johns which she was waxing lyrical about. But Justine and I needed to make sure we got across to the other side ...

... and when we got there, lo and behold Johns had another deli in Appledore so we stopped for the well needed drink before setting off to walk around the headland by the golf course to reach Westward Ho!

There are several alternative paths signposted as high tide and low alternatives. At West Appledore we found ourselves on Long Lane and after a while realised we had gone too far and so backtracked. We got into conversation with a couple of ladies who we had seen earlier and asked them the way back to the coast path. There was then an amusing conversation because one of the ladies when hearing that we were aiming for Westward Ho! advised us to continue along Long Lane and couldn't understand that we were walking the coast path and wanted to therefore walk the long way around! Eventually she realised we wanted the 'tip road' and so we continued back down Long Lane to where we had seen a Royal Mail van on the corner of a turning and a man cleaning the post box which was partially buried in a hedge. Also buried in the hedge was a coast path sign but the writing on it had disappeared over the years!, so we were not surprised that we had missed the turning.

Now back on the correct path we were able to walk around the coast following the outline of the golf course until finally reaching Westward Ho!

Back at Parkham we finished the week with an enjoyable meal at the excellent Bell Inn in the village and then leaving Parkham early next morning, Justine and David successfully ran the Bideford 5K Parkrun. Another very satisfying and enjoyable week on the South West Coast Path. Just one more week in September to do the 47miles to the finish line.