Distance: 16 miles
Severity: Moderate to strenuous
Time it took us: 7hrs
Steps: 33,585
The small fishing village of Appledore is a maze of narrow lanes lined with brightly coloured picture postcard cottages and is a great base for this stretch of cliffs and woods. We stayed in a quirky little cottage just off Irsha Street so literally re-joined the Path from our doorstep.
Heading past the lifeboat station, the path follows the edge of low cliffs until it reaches the marshland of Northam Burrows, past its golf course and on to Westward Ho!
With the tide out we were able to walk along the beach, out the other side and past a row of decorated holiday chalets before following the path along the disused railway track which originally ran from Bideford to Westward Ho!
Passing a sign for Greencliff, we head across what is indeed a green cliff. The path takes us steeply down to a tiny pebble beach littered with driftwood. And of course, after a steep decline follows a steep climb back up the other side before continuing along the cliff. Soon, a solitary cottage comes into view in the distance just above Peppercombe beach.
It turns out my husband's family used to holiday in the cottage when he was a small boy so it brought back many a happy memory for him.
Turning inland we head through Worthygate Woods, an enchanting, twisted and tough trail, but it's nice and cool. Eventually we spot a Coast Path mile marker where it reads 99 miles to Minehead so, its not long before we can tick off the 100 mile mark of our epic journey to walk the entire The South West Coast Path. Only another 530 miles to go!
Eventually we arrive at Bucks Mills, a gorgeous village of about six or seven cottages, before a long slog upwards through more enchanting woodland (Barton Wood).
With 4.5 miles to Clovelly and with more than 10 miles under our belt, this last section seemed particularly tough. Eventually we reach the old carriage road of Hobby Drive, and a seemingly endless three-mile walk to Clovelly.
For some time we could spy the village in the distance, and it just felt like we weren’t getting anywhere fast. Finally, our extremely weary legs manage to carry us to the gate above Clovelly. On any other day we would have taken a walk around this picturesque village but were too shattered to bother with the steep descent into the village so headed to the bus stop for the last bus to Bideford. Clovelly, we’ll come back to explore you on another day!
Just four minutes’ walk from the beach at Widemouth Bay, north Cornwall, Gwelmor is a luxurious, self-catering holiday cottage which sleeps six (plus travel cot).
Our property welcomes three dogs and has a host of provisions to make your dog's stay as relaxing as yours.
Gwelmor was named the South West’s Best Dog Friendly Business of the Year 2021/2022 and won Gold at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2021/2022.
Why not take our virtual tour and book your stay today!
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