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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD


Derek Harwood's Walking Records

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SOUTH WEST COASTAL PATH
DAWLISH to STARCROSS


15th June 2012
..................................................Walk No. 957
19 July 2009 - SWCP - Map Courtesy www.streetmap.co.uk

South West Coastal Path No. 63             Total: 522 miles

Time Taken:     Cycle:     Distance:   Enjoyment:   Weather:Dull:  
2 hours                  n/a          4 miles         95%       and Very Windy
Nature: Sea washing over promenade

 Temp:     Cloud:      Rain:     Visibility:       Ground Conditions:  
  14oC        100%         0%         Grey             Pavement Underfoot
Compantions:  Ann
General:
Ann & I drove to Starcross Village by the Exmouth Ferry and near Dawlish Warren. We parked in 'Royal Way' and walked the short distance to the A379, 'The Strand', bus stop towards Dawlish. We alighted from the bus very close to where we had parked on the previous South West Coastal Path (SWCP) day's walk the day before (Walk 956). We crossed to the sea wall via the same footpath and crossed the railway by the same footbridge, near the 'Coastguard Cottages'. At the sea wall we turned left, away from Dawlish towards Dawlish Warren, approximately northeast, following the Groynes protecting the beach. As we walked we looked for evidence of a new wall and sea defences, by the railway and in front of the three storey terraced houses on Sea Lawn Terrace. A storm and high tide severely damaged the railway and completely eroded the sea wall on Wednesday 5 February 2014. We did see some evidence of the repairs but only because we were looking very closely. See Photograph attached to this walk. We continued along the sea wall towards Dawlish Warren with the landscape changing from the buildings on the outskirts of Dawlish, to a high almost vertical red sandstone continuous cliff. This was a wonderful view with the sea, the railway and the high cliff, especially when a train went by at speed. The high stone wall protecting the railway slowly reduced in height as we walked towards Langstone Rock and The Warren. Soon after the Rockstone footbridge we passed a few workers repairing the small stone wall between the footpath on the sea wall and the railway. Take a note of the positioning of the lifebuoys along the wall in case of any unexpected emergencies. As we approached Langstone Rock the stone beach became larger and just after the interesting Langstone Rock, the sea wall was replaced with huge stone rocks protecting the coastline. As the path forked right away from the railway we crossed a footbridge near St Mary's Church Hall, into Dawlish Warren. Then we crossed a builders yard car park to join a path from the left and turned right around the Church Hall, passing Red Rock Holiday building on the left. The path continued alongside 'Beach Road' to a traffic island. We turned left and immediately came to a mini island on the A379 and turned right along Dawlish Warren Road, within the village of Dawlish Warren. We were heading towards the Ferry crossing the Exe Estuary to Exmouth at Starcross, so we continued north through the village on the A379. We passed the lovely hamlets of Eastdon & Cockwood, then entered Starcross on the A379. We walked through the centre of the charming little village, along the very narrow main road to the Ferry Terminal and the Railway Station on the right. The SWCP finishes at the ferry terminal and continues from Exmouth, so we walked back along A379 to 'Royal Way' and the car, to finish another good and different walk. Every day's walking on the SWCP has something different, interesting and always wonderful views of the coastline. I'm always looking forward to the next section of the 'Way'. Bring it on!!!!

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