LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

South West Coastal Path No. 66              Total: 543.5 miles

Time Taken:     Cycle:     Distance:   Enjoyment:    Weather:  
5.5 hours                n/a          7 miles         80%         Drizzle &
Nature: Pheasants & Squirrels				Chilly Wind

 Temp:     Cloud:     Rain:    Visibility:    Ground Conditions:  
  12oC       100%         60%      Good          Muddy Underfoot

General:
Drove to B3179 at Littleham and caught no.157 bus to Sidmouth. 
Started walking from Sidmouth triangle bus station to promenade. 
Good to see the sea again, although it looked rough and cold. 
Crossed the river Sid at Alma bridge, under reconstruction. Up the 
zig zags to the residential area. Care required negotiating the 
streets, wooden sign explaining the street names to be used very 
old and broken. Steep ascent across fields to wood where wooden 
zig zag steps climb to the summit. Direction finder at viewpoint 
supplied by the national trust. Crossed the plateau on the summit 
of Salcombe Hill Cliff to the descent into Salcombe mouth. Steep 
descent using more wooden steps, then grassy fields to a new 
wooden bridge crossing the gully. Climbed out of the valley across 
another grassy field to another wood with yet more wooden steps 
to the summit, this time Higher Dunscombe Cliff. Hug the edge of 
the cliff and the fields, to the Lincombe Valley, a wild and over 
overgrown hollow. Walked around this hollow keeping more or 
less on the same level. The path meandered through some old 
lime pits before the edge of lower Dunscombe Cliffs and the zig 
zag path through Dunscombe Coppice down to western combe. 
Long steady descent to beach, passing gate to Weston plats, a 
thriving market garden until 50 years ago. A short distance along 
the shingle beach, over the stream before ascending again past 
the gully to the low cliff top and eventually to the top of Weston 
Cliff for welcome refreshments out of the rucksack. Discussed 
the coastal path with a couple from Cornwall half way up to the 
clifftop. The easy walking path was made difficult by the huge 
amounts of mud. Crossed the low electric fence to walk in the 
field for a short period, had to double back for a short distance, 
almost missed the diagonal path across the field passing herds 
of cows & flocks of sheep Path returns to cliff top bu Berry Camp 
Fort (pre roman) and Berry Cliff.  More drizzle and chilly wind on 
cliff top. Path turns inland by discussed quarries to good tractor 
track which runs parallel with cliffs. Passed three parked vehicles 
at start of tractor track, very strange. As recommended by Cornish 
couple earlier, I took small alternative path on right instead of trying 
to negotiate the deep mud and water of the track. Past footpath to 
Branscombe church pheasants, and clearing with Branscombe 
village below to kissing gate for national trust entrance to west cliff.
Faded memories of my previous visit to Branscombe, where the 
'AA' circular walk coincided with the walk over west cliff, 
My memories of West Cliff was a very open steep grassy bank, 
but there are now lots of trees & bushes obscuring the wonderful 
views. Descended to Branscombe mouth tea rooms for welcome 
refreshments over a cup of tea I decided to curtail the walk due 
to lack of time in the very muddy conditions. Turned in and towards 
Branscombe up an excellent path by a swollen stream. Waited
 for bus no. 899 by village hall and village forge. Bus arrived right 
on time and i'm pleased to say reached Sidmouth only one minute  
late. This was achieved because the bus only met one vehicle head 
on along the single track roads. I just caught bus no 157 to Littleham 
because the timetable of the buses only gave me two minutes to 
make the connection otherwise I would have a 1 1/4 hour  wait. An 
excellent walk tainted by the mud, drizzle and very misty visibility. 
Strenuous walk.