Walk 19 (Day 1) - 1st September 2013 - Minehead (Somerset, England) to Porlock (Somerset, England)

 This was an exciting day! We drove down to Somerset in Julie's recently purchased camper van. We felt like Thelma and Louise!!!! We plan to use the camper van for more and more of our walks, as it will provide a useful base for overnight stays. So we parked up at the campsite in Porlock and took a taxi to the start of our walk by Station of the West Somerset Railway. This linked with the end point of our walk from Williton to Minehead on 1st October 2012.

Looking towards Higher Ground from The Strand at Minehead.

Looking towards the holiday village at Warren Point.

We walked past the official start of the South West Coast Path National Trail. The trail stretches for 630 miles running from Minehead (Somerset) to Poole (Dorset). Since the walk rises and falls with each river mouth, it is one of the most challenging trails. The total height climbed is calculated to be 114,931 feet, almost four times the height of Mount Everest!

The South West Coast Path Sculpture by sculptor Owen Cunningham.  

 Beautiful heather in bloom on the cliffs edge.

 Julie taking a break to look at the stunning view.

 Looking towards Porlock Bay.

Our walk took us to a vantage point near Hurlstone Point. In the distance can be seen Porlock Bay and the village of Porlock nestled inland.

 We spotted an magnificent Emperor Moth Catapillar, taking a huge risk crawling across the footpath. We gave it a helping hand and moved to a place of safety! :-)

A very steep ascent towards Porlock, down the side of Bossington Hill. We were glad we were going down and not up!

 Walking further down the side of Bossington Hill, with Bossington Beach coming clearly into view.

Bossington Beach, covered in large flat pebbles has flat marshlands behind, and supports rare flora and fauna.

 Kitnors tea room in Bossington, nearing the end of our walk, Julie and I felt it appropriate to stop for a savoury cream tea! Very nice it was too!!!

 Back to base and the camper van our base for the night.

The Ship Inn in Porlock, a short stroll from the campsite, where we enjoyed a very delicious and well deserved vegetarian roast.

Walk 18 (Day 2) - 14th July 2013 - Redwick (Gwent, Wales) to Chepstow (Gwent, Wales)

 After a good nights sleep and a lovely breakfast in very genteel surroundings, we left our lodgings The Brick House Guest House at Ridwick. See their website
www.brickhouseguesthouse.co.uk

 We retraced our steps from the previous evening until we found ourselves once again on the mouth of the Severn near to Portland Grounds. The photograph on the left taken from this point, captures the blue, blue sky merging with the calm water of the river. The temperatures promised to top 30C and proved to be challenging walking conditions as there was no cover from the blazing sun. This necessitated regular stops to take on fluid and rest, especially as Julie was feeling under the weather.

After walking alongside the river past Pennycloud and Chapel Farm, the path took us inland until we crossed the busy M4.

Onwards towards the new Severn Bridge.

The New Severn Crossing taken from just inland of Caldicote Pill.

The end point of the New Severn Crossing viewed from Sudbrook Point.

Having just walked under the New Severn Crossing, we could just about see the Old Severn Crossing in the distance.

Our path then took us inland through golf course belonging to The San Pierre Golf and Country Club.

Metal fish sculpture on the outskirts of Chepstow, near the banks of The River Wye. The last few miles of our walk took us further inland along the banks of the Wye, through residential areas, until we reached our final destination the railway station at Chepstow. This end point linked to the start point of Walk 7 - Chepstow to Lydney, that we completed on 8th August 2012.

Walk 18 (Day 1) - 13th July 2013 - Newport (Gwent, Wales) to Redwick (Gwent, Wales)

After the train journey from Gloucester to Newport, we caught the bus from the bus station in the centre of Newport to St Stephens Church, a short walk away from the Newport transporter bridge. The transporter bridge is one of only six operational transporter bridges left in the world. The bridge opened in 1906 and is basically a suspended ferry. A high level boom that allows ships to pass underneath is suspended from towers at each end. The boom carries a rail track on which a moving carriage or 'traveller' runs. A gondola or platform is suspended from the carriage and can be pulled from one side of the river Usk to the other by means of a hauling cable. For more information see the website: -
www.newport.gov.uk/heritage/index.cfm/TransporterBridge.

It was the transporter bridge that Julie and I spotted across the waterlogged fields when we walked from Newport to Cardiff earlier in the year in March (walk 15). 

The sign on the left shows the bridge in all is glory!

The gondola working it's way towards us.

Julie and I happily seated on the gondola, looking forwards to the short journey over the river to the start of our walk.

On reaching the far side of the river, we walked a short while through an industrialised area along side the waters of Cold Harbour Reach.

Sculpture of bull rushes in the area of the Newport Wetland Nature Reserve.

We walked past the diminutive East Usk lighthouse in the grounds of the Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve. It dates from 1893 and stands guard at the eastern entrance to the River Usk in the Severn Estuary.

After walking along side Goldcliff Pill, we discovered The Farmers Arms in the village of Goldcliff. A perfect opportunity for brief refreshment.

The sea wall looking away from Goldcliff Point and the last section of todays walk.

A wooden groyne (a man-made sea defence) just before Porton House.

Another groyne. From this point we continued to walk along the banks of the River Severn, until we reached a footpath leading to Redwick and our overnight stay.

Walk 17 (Day 2) - 2nd June 2013 - Sidmouth (Devon, England) to Seaton (Devon, England)

 After a good nights sleep and a delicious breakfast, we started day 2 of our walk by walking out of Sidmouth along the Esplanade towards Salcombe Hill Cliff. 

After a steep assent up Salcombe Hill Cliff through fields of buttercups, we were met with the reward of this glorious of Sidmouth nestled below the cliff and way beyond. 

 After our steep assent, we were met with a equally steep and somewhat treacherous descent down to Salcombe Mouth Beach. 

Sidmouth in the distance peeking out from behind Dunscombe Cliff. 

Looking back to Branscombe Mouth and The Sea Shanty Cafe, where we enjoyed refreshing tea and delicious cake! 

Walking towards Beer. 

The Lovely roof tops of Beer. 

Leaving Beer behind and onward to our final destination Seaton. 

The very quirky pedalabout roundabout in Seaton! A partnership between Seaton Town Council and Axe Valley Pedallers Cycle Club. 

Walk 17 (Day 1) - 1st June 2013 - Exmouth (Devon ,England) to Sidmouth (Devon, England)

We started day one of our two day walk, on the Esplanade at Exmouth by the clock tower built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.  

Looking west up the beach to where the River Exe enters the English Channel, with Dawlish Warren in the distance 

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The Orcombe Point Geoneedle (look its got arms). The Geoneedle marks the western end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It was unveiled by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in 2002, at the inauguration of the World Heritage Site. The sculpture was designed and built by Michael Fairfax. The Geoneedle is constructed from a variety of different stones, representing the major building stones to be found on the Jurassic Coast and the sequence of rocks that form this part of the coastline. 

The panoramic view over Sandy Bay from the South Beach Cafe (part of the Devon Cliffs Holiday Park). The day was so gloriously warm, we felt compelled to sit awhile with a chilled libation!  

Our drinks finished, we left the holiday park behind and walked towards the dramatic cliffs called The Floors. The buildings of Budleigh Salterton can just be seen in the distance. 

The dramatic Floors Cliff. 

The dramatic Floors Cliff - the place of many significant landslides. The cliffs are 250 million years old. 

Looking back from the highest point of Floors Cliff towards Exmouth in the distance. 

Our ascent into Budleigh Salterton. 

Looking through the trees to the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve. 

Looking back towards Budleigh Salterton, with the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve in the foreground. 

Looking towards Ladram Bay Caravan Park. 

Some of the stunning flora growing on the edge of the cliffs. 

 Big and Little Picket Rock from High Peak. 

Looking towards Sidmouth and in the very far distance can just be seen the white cliffs of Beer Head. 

With the end of our first days walk in sight, we ascended into Sidmouth. 

Julie enjoying a well-earned cup of tea at our bed and breakfast The Cheriton Guest House, which we would very much recommend! See their website: 

http://www.cheriton-guesthouse.co.uk/