We returned to open countryside, rising above the beach with a climb on to Lester Cliff. From the start the views on this section were to be nothing short of stunning, as light, colour and texture constantly came to together to present us with one breathtaking view after another. Also, from the start, it was hard going in the heat, with the deceptively named Little Hangman stretching the calves and the lungs early on. The colours in the early morning light were vivid and, with just a light touch of haze over distant hills it had an added sense of mystery about it. The initial walk on a hard-packed, earth path, often in the dappled shade of trees and shrubs, was a welcome haven from an already bright and hot sun (and it was still not yet 9.00am). As we gained height on the cliff we could see up the ribbon-like development of the coombe and across Coombe Martin Bay to the rock features that run off Golden Cove.
As we moved on the path narrowed and lost the 'one I prepared earlier' look. It seemed as it narrowed that it moved ever-closer to the edge of the cliff. The location for a picnic was too good to pass up and we stopped on the cliff for an hour and enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the sun. Other walkers passed by looking, we thought, enviously as we brewed up coffee and lay back to enjoy the day.