Starting from Higher Clovelly, today's route sees us return to the upward and the downward slope for most of the day. The early part of the walk is beneath a canopy of trees for two or three miles and includes the highest point of the day (over one hundred and eighty metres) on top of The Hobby. Just after Peppercombe we will exit the forest environment and go back on to the open cliff where we will stay right up to the entry to Westward Ho!, apart from two descents at Buck's Mills and Fairy Cross.
The weather forecast is for the hottest day of the year so far, with thunderstorms later. While we would like to think the tree canopy will keep us cool, experieince tells us it will be a choice between close and humid heat under the trees and hot and dry on the cliff top. While we dressed accordingly, we made sure to slap on plenty of sunscreen. When you are of the redhaired (long time ago) and fair skinned variety, coupled with Irish / Scottish ancestry, sunshine is not your best friend!
stone bench at the side of the path recording the completion of the last section (eight hundred and thirty-three yards) of the Hobby by Frederick and Christine Hamyln in 1901. Just by the turn-off to Hobby House (a private road), the coast path comes out from beneath the trees to turn left and pass along behind another forest known as Barton Wood. While it was nice to get out from the humidity, in the open it was just as hot and this was to continue for most of the day. There is a short rise up the hill just before you reach a holiday park, with a handy bench near the top. We stopped here for an early coffee break and an opportunity to sit in the shade and catch the breath. It was from here that we said goodbye to Rafal, having enjoyed his company for the duration he was with us. The truth of the matter is we were walking too slow for him.
We stopped here for lunch, a lovely packed lunch that had been provided to us by our hostess, Debbie, at last night's accommodation stop. It was a lovely little interlude, with the chorus of the local songbirds tinkling down from the treetops and the undergrowth. There is a path here that runs on down to the beach where, I believe there are beautiful red cliff faces to be seen and a nice little pebble beach to while away the hours. Regrettably, we never made it, too hot and bothered to stir too far.
We heard later that someone's dog had gone some way down the cliff and couldn't get back up. Bad enough, but the owner tried to rescue the dog and then they couldn't get back up, hence all the drama. We read in the paper the next morning that it all went well with dog and owner rescued. But what a cost! We were so taken up with the kerfuffle of the rescue we quite forgot to take photographs of our approach to the town.
Fortunately, we were in Airbnb where we were able to re-hydrate, clean up, rest and then feel good enough to go down the town to a very nice Thai restaurant (Morans) where I enjoyed the best Beef Massaman I have had in a long time. Having suffered in the heat all day, it was with regret that on our return we demured on the invitation of our three young bikini-clad hostesses to share their hot tub with them. I know! I can hardly believe it myself.