Bideford – Coastal Road Trip

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

Day 47 – Newquay to Bideford

It’s just three days to go before we complete our entire coastal road trip! Today we are finishing off north Cornwall, driving alongside its famous golden sandy beaches, before we re-enter Devon as we drive towards Bideford.

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Hartland Quay, Sunset, Reflection on car bonnet — The sun setting as we headed down to Hartland Quay.

Holywell Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Holywell, Bay, Beach, National Trust, Shadow — Long shadows in the early morning sun. We made our first stop of the day looping back from Newquay to the National Trust’s Holywell Beach.

Coastal Road Trip, Holywell, Bay, Beach, National Trust, Penhale Point — Walking past the sand dunes towards Carter’s Rocks (AKA Gull Rocks) off Penhale Point.

Coastal Road Trip, Holywell, Bay, Beach, National Trust, Sunrise, Shells — Shells and their shadows scattered across Holywell Beach.

Crantock

Coastal Road Trip, Crantock Beach, National Trust, Cornwall, Gannel estuary, Rushy Green — The Gannel Estuary at Crantock Beach, beside Rushy Green.

Newquay

Coastal Road Trip, Newquay, Fistral Beach, Towan Headland — So it was a morning full of beaches… next stop the famous Fistral Beach, a surfers paradise, but none out this morning – yet.

Coastal Road Trip, Newquay, Bay, Lusty Glaze Beach, Views back to Towan Headland — Views back across Newquay Bay from the cliffs above the curiously named Lusty Glaze Beach (The Times Beach of the Year 2017)…

Coastal Road Trip, Bedruthan Steps, Trevose Head, Newquay, Lusty Glaze Beach — …and the view north towards Bedruthan Steps and beyond to Trevose Head.

Watergate Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Watergate Bay, Beach, Cornwall, B3276 — The wide open sands of Watergate Bay, as we headed along the scenic B3276 coastal road.

Coastal Road Trip, Newquay Airport, Plane, Overhead, Blue Sky, Watergate Bay — A small plane flying overhead into nearby Newquay Airport.

Mawgan Porth

Coastal Road Trip, Mawgan Porth, River Menalhyl, Cornwall — The River Menalhyl streaming down Mawgan Porth Beach.

Bedruthan

Coastal Road Trip, Bedruthan Steps, Cliffs, National Trust, Carnewas — Peering over the Carnewas cliffs at Bedruthan.

Coastal Road Trip, Bedruthan Steps, Carnewas, Pendarves Island, Queen Bess Rock, Diggory's Island, Park Head, Trevose Head Lighthouse — Dramatic views north past Pendarves Island, Queen Bess Rock, Diggory’s Island and Park Head. In the distance you can just about make-out Trevose Head Lighthouse.

Treyarnon Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Treyarnon Bay, Beach, Padstow — Another beautiful empty beach west of Padstow at Treyarnon Bay.

Constantine Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Constantine Bay, Chair Cove, Cornwall, South West Coast Path — The South West Coastal Path along Chair Cove, behind some rather expensive looking houses at Constantine Bay. Some locals walking a dog stopped to talk to us, and asked if we were bankers!?… it seemed many locals were!

Harlyn

Coastal Road Trip, Harlyn Bay, Beach, Dog Walking, Padstow, Cornwall — We seemed to be the only people on Cornwall’s beaches this morning not walking a dog 😉

Padstow

Coastal Road Trip, Padstow, Cornwall, Alley, Blue doors — A little alley in Padstow, AKA ‘Padstein’ after its famous local celebrity chef – Rick Stein.

Coastal Road Trip, Padstow, Harbour, Fishing Port — Small fishing boats lining the quay. Quiet at this time of year, but heaving with tourists in the summer.

Coastal Road Trip, Padstow, River Camel, Rock — The coastal village of Rock, beyond the sandbank in the River Camel. We will drive past Rock as we continue northeast, but as we had been last year, we won’t stop this time.

Polzeath

Coastal Road Trip, Polzeath, Padstow Bay, River Camel — Looping all the way around the River Camel, we made a brief stop to watch the surfers on Polzeath’s Beach.

Port Quin

Coastal Road Trip, Port Quin, National Trust, Inlet, Cottage, Fishing Port, Cornwall — Driving past The Rumps we stopped at the cosy Port Quin inlet, taken care of by the National Trust.

Port Isaac

Coastal Road Trip, Port Isaac, Julian, Jarno — Driving to Port Isaac we realised we were going to end up driving right through the tiny village. We had remembered the lanes were really narrow from our trip here last year, so re-routed to park at the top of the village and walk down.

Coastal Road Trip, Port Isaac, Doc Martin, Fore Street — The TV series Doc Martin is filmed in Port Isaac. To be honest we have never watched Doc Martin so weren’t as excited as some visitors….

Coastal Road Trip, Port Isaac, Varley Head — Choppy waters at the mouth of Port Isaac looking towards Varley Head.

Coastal Road Trip, Port Isaac, Port Isaac Bay, Treknow — Port Isaac Bay, with views northeast to Treknow.

St Teath

Coastal Road Trip, St Teath, Green Field, Farm Gate, Port Isaac Bay — Catching another glimpse of Port Isaac Bay over the fields near St Teath.

Tintagel

Coastal Road Trip, Tintagel Castle, Seagull, English Heritage — Wow, what a perfect day to visit. Tintagel Castle is normally packed with tourists, today it was just us and a few seagulls. So if you want to avoid the crowds come on a Monday afternoon in November 😉

Coastal Road Trip, Tintagel Castle, English Heritage, Cove — The remains of the 13th century castle perched on the jagged slate cliffs.

Coastal Road Trip, Tintagel Castle, Julian, Jarno, English Heritage — The castle had been built here by Earl Richard of Cornwall, believing it to be the birthplace of King Arthur.

Boscastle

Coastal Road Trip, Boscastle, River Valency, National Trust, National Trust, Flood — Boscastle had been devastated by the flooding of the River Valency in 2002, but has since been lovingly restored.

Coastal Road Trip, Boscastle, Valency Row, Cottages, Cobbled Lane, Cornwall — Fishing cottages down the cobbled Valency Row in Boscastle.

Widemouth

Coastal Road Trip, Widemouth Bay, Beach, Dizzard Point — Widemouth Beach, popular with surfers, with Dizzard Point in the distance.

Coastal Road Trip, Widemouth Bay, Beach, Blue Sky, White Clouds, Zip — The clouds were parting like a zip to reveal the blue sky above Widemouth Bay.

Bude

Coastal Road Trip, Bude, Beach Huts — At last!…. beach huts again on Summerleaze Beach at Bude, we had been missing beach huts on this stretch of coast.

Coastal Road Trip, Bude Canal, Haven, Lock — The entrance to the Bude Canal. Started in the 1820s with the idea to link the English and Bristol Channels… however it didn’t get very far with the arrival of the railway later in the 19th century.

Coastal Road Trip, GCHQ Bude, Satellite Dishes — Leaving Bude and heading along the Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast towards Morwenstow, the view was dominated by the satellite dishes at GCHQ Bude.

Morwenstow

Coastal Road Trip, Morwenstow, Church, Church of St Morwenna and St John the Baptist, National Trust, Hawker's Hut, Most northernmost point of Cornwall — Before leaving Cornwall we stopped at Morwenstow, Cornwall’s northernmost point. We had intended to walk to the Hawker’s Hut along the cliffs. But a very muddy field was slowing our progress, we weren’t exactly sure we were on the right track, and light was fading fast. So we made do with the Church of St Morwenna and St John the Baptist across the fields.

Hartland Quay

Coastal Road Trip, Hartland Quay, Sunset, Reflection on car bonnet — On the way to Bideford, we made our final stop of the day at Hartland Quay. As we drove down the coastal track the sunset reflected beautifully off the car bonnet. Originally we had planned to also stop further along the coast at Clovelly, but it seems it was probably closed, and it would have been dark by then anyway. Oh well, we will leave Clovelly for another trip!

Daily video