Day 48 – Bideford to Bridgwater

Almost there!  One day to go until we complete the circumference of mainland Britain.  Today we will continue along the north Devon coastline and into Somerset.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Valley of Rocks, Lynton, Wringcliff Bay
White Lady in the Valley of Rocks near Lynton.

 

Westward Ho!

Coastal Road Trip, Westward Ho!, Beach, Devon, Julian, Jarno
We made our first stop of the day at Westward Ho! Beach, still looking a little sleepy. 😉   The unusual village name came from the local author Charles Kingsley’s book Westward Ho!
Coastal Road Trip, Westward Ho!, Beach, Big Pebbles
We don’t normally photograph pebbles, but these were lovely pebbles…. if you can call pebbles ‘lovely’?!

 

Appledore

Coastal Road Trip, Appledore Quay, Churchfields Slipway, River Toridge, Taw Torridge Estuary
Overlooking the River Toridge at Appledore.  We briefly parked up on the Churchfields Slipway, but there was a parking attendant lurking around, so we moved on…

 

Bideford

Coastal Road Trip, Bideford, River Torridge, Fishing Boats
Fishing boats moored at Bideford.
Coastal Road Trip, Bideford, River Torridge, Old Bideford Bridge
The medieval Bideford Long Bridge reflecting in the calm River Torridge.   The stone bridge is one of the longest of its age in the country.

 

Braunton Burrows

Coastal Road Trip, Braunton Burrows, Velator Quay, River Caen, Reflection, Boats, Sunbeam
More reflections, this time on the River Caen at Velator Quay near Braunton Burrows.
Coastal Road Trip, Braunton Burrows, Boundary Drain
Skirting around the flat fields and marshlands of Braunton Great Fields.  The area is Britian’s first Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO.

 

Saunton

Coastal Road Trip, Saunton Sands, Jarno, Sand Graffiti, www.coastalroadtrip.com, Day 48
Jarno busy with a little more sand-graffiti at Saunton Sands.
Coastal Road Trip, Saunton Sands, Surfers, Beach, Waves
There were plenty of surfers taking the day off from work….
Coastal Road Trip, Saunton Sands, Surfers, Beach, Waves, Aerial View, Croyd Road
…and as we left and drove around the headland to Croyde Bay we had a magnificent aerial view of all the surfers at Saunton Sands.

 

Croyde

Coastal Road Trip, Croyde Bay, Baggy Point, Beach
Around the headland Croyde Bay and views to Baggy Point.  A lovely crisp and fresh November morning.
Coastal Road Trip, Croyde Bay, Baggy Point, Beach, Surfers, National Trust
Yet more surfers in Croyde Bay, looking back from Baggy Point.
Coastal Road Trip, Croyde Bay, Baggy Point, Private House Drive
Looking through some house gates at Baggy Point, this was their driveway and view – pretty cool!

 

Woolacombe

Coastal Road Trip, Woolacombe Beach, Morte Bay, Putsborough Beach, Baggy Point
After several country lane diversions which lead us on a long journey inland, we finally ended up back at the coast on the north side of Baggy Point at Woolacombe.  The beautiful wide open sands of Woolacombe Beach in Morte Bay.   The beach is considered one of the best in the world, often winning prizes.
Coastal Road Trip, Woolacombe Beach, Morte Bay, Barricane Beach, Grunta Beach, Morte Point
Then looking north from Woolacombe Beach, past Barricane Beach and Grunta Beach to Morte Point.

 

Ilfracombe

Coastal Road Trip, Ilfracombe, Landmark Theatre, Double Conical, Madonna's Bra
The unusual double conical design of Ilfracombe’s Landmark Theatre, also know by locals as Madonna’s Bra ; -)!
Coastal Road Trip, Ilfracombe, Damien Hirst, Verity, Bronze Sculpture, Back
Ilfracombe was full of surprises, including Damien Hirst’s Verity bronze sculpture on the harbour front.
Coastal Road Trip, Ilfracombe, Damien Hirst, Verity, Bronze Sculpture, Front
To be honest the picture doesn’t do justice to how huge and impressive the Verity statue really was.  We loved that a small town had embraced art like this.
Coastal Road Trip, Ilfracombe, Harbour, Boats, Quay
The more expected and traditional view of Ilfracombe Harbour.

 

Watermouth

Coastal Road Trip, Watermouth Castle, Stocks, Julian
Some dodgy looking character caught in Watermouth Castle’s stocks.
Coastal Road Trip, Watermouth Harbour, Yachts
Yachts below the castle in Watermouth Harbour.

 

Coombe Martin

Coastal Road Trip, Coombe Martin Beach, Bay
Coombe Martin Beach nestled in a narrow valley.   Random fact of the day – the village holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest street party!

 

Parracombe

Coastal Road Trip, Parracombe, St Petrock's Church
As we continued our journey east, we drove slightly inland stopping in the tiny village of Parracombe.  Winding our way through some of the smallest village lanes on our road-trip we finally found St Petrock’s Church up a muddy dirt track.
Coastal Road Trip, Parracombe, St Petrock's Church, Entrance
The calm and quaint church originally dated back 13th century.  In the late 19th century the poet John Ruskin helped save the church from demolition with a £10 donation.

 

Lynton

Coastal Road Trip, Valley of Rocks, Lynton, The White Lady, Wringcliff Bay, Woody Bay
As we arrived in Lynton we first made a little detour through the Valley of Rocks.  Glorious views west from the Valley of Rocks past the White Lady towards Wringcliff Bay and Woody Bay….
Coastal Road Trip, Valley of Rocks, Lynton, SW Coast Path, Telescope, Bristol Channel
…. and north across the Bristol Channel from the South West Coast Path.

 

Lynmouth

Coastal Road Trip, Lynmouth, Glen Lyn Gorge, West Lyn River
The West Lyn River gushing through Glen Lyn Gorge.  In 1890 Lynton & Lynmouth were one of the first places in the country to be powered by hydro-electric power (from the East Lyn River).
Coastal Road Trip, Lynmouth, Pub, Cottages, The Rising Sun, Inn, Thatched Roof
The local thatched-roofed pub built down Lynmouth’s steep hillside.
Coastal Road Trip, Lynmouth Bay, Foreland Point
Foreland Point across from Lynmouth’s seafront.

 

Foreland Point

Coastal Road Trip, Lynmouth Bay, Foreland Point, Countisbury Hill
Looking down on Foreland Point as we drove up Countisbury Hill.
Coastal Road Trip, Lynmouth Bay, Foreland Point, National Trust, Exmoor National Park
Views south across the rolling green Exmoor National Park from the National Trust’s Foreland Point.

 

Porlock

Coastal Road Trip, Porlock, Porlock Manor Estate, Toll Road, Views to Porlock Weir & Hurlstone Point
Crossing from Devon into Somerset, we took another detour from the main road.   We winded down through the picturesque Porlock Manor Estate Toll Road overlooking Porlock Weir and Hurlstone Point.
Coastal Road Trip, Porlock, The Ship Inn, Hish Street. Thatched Roof
Another thatched-roofed pub as we reached Porlock.

 

Bossington

Coastal Road Trip, Bossington, Horner Water, National Trust
Horner Water tumbling through woodland to Bossington Beach.
Coastal Road Trip, Bossington, Allerford, Holnicote Estate, Cottages, Tall Chimneys
Tall chimneyed cottages lining the narrow lane from Bossington to Allerford on the Holnicote Estate.

 

Selworthy

Coastal Road Trip, Selworthy, National Trust, All Saints' Church, Holnicote Estate, Late Afternoon Sun
The warm glow of the late afternoon sun illuminated the All Saints’ Church in the tiny village of Selworthy.
Coastal Road Trip, Selworthy, National Trust, Cottages, Holnicote Estate, Late Afternoon Sun
Wow, this is how we imagined Somerset… and we were bang on.  Selworthy’s cream thatched cottages on the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate.
Coastal Road Trip, Selworthy Green, National Trust, Cottages, Holnicote Estate, Late Afternoon Sun
Selworthy Green, and so so quiet, again we were the only visitors as we wandered around.

 

Minehead

Coastal Road Trip, Minehead Harbour, Sunset, Dusk
If you say Minehead to us, we think of Butlins (for the non-Brits – a holiday camp), but the view at dusk from the harbour couldn’t be more different…
Coastal Road Trip, Minehead, Sculpture, Sarah Ward, Made by Owen Cunningham, Start of South West Coast Path
The sculpture on Minehead’s seafront by Sarah Ward, marking the end (or start!) of the 630-mile South West Coast Path.

 

Blue Anchor

Coastal Road Trip, Blue Anchor Bay
The view across Blue Anchor Bay back to Minehead.

 

Watchet

Coastal Road Trip, Watchet, Car-park Mural
After passing Dunster Castle, we made our final stop of the day at Watchet, where we found the harbour car-park surround by interesting street-art murals.   We then continued our journey via the National Trust’s Coleridge Cottage (which was closed) to Bridgwater for the night.  Just one day to go until we complete our 49-day British Coastal Road Trip!!!

 

Daily video

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Day 48 – Bideford to Bridgwater”

Comments are closed.