Log No 252. Fri 21st Feb 2014 - Ilfracombe to Braunton, 17 miles (3833 miles walked)

The weather wasn't as good as yesterday, there were more frequent showers and it was much windier and colder, some of the heavy showers were hailstones.

I couldn't get a phone signal from the car park in Ilfracombe so yesterday's log wouldn't get on the website until we finish today's walk at Braunton.

We left the car park at 08.00 and walked round Capstone Point before climbing up the hill out of Ilfracombe.

The footpath soon joined a good grassy track and then it was a very steep descent on a small road into Lee.

Lee is a very small village built around Lee Bay and yet again we came across a road closure with the sea wall needing rebuilt as a result of the past storms.

Apparently this is an annual exercise in Lee.

It was another very steep climb up the road out of Lee to get back onto the coast path.

In the 1 mile to the lighthouse at Bull Point there were two streams to drop down too, we were impressed watching two men run up the second climb.

This part of the coastline is obviously very well walked, the paths are wide and the grass very short and there are plenty of seats or benches along the way.

Unfortunately they were a bit too exposed for us to stop at them for a break. With a shower of rain being driven in on a strong westerly we had to find shelter behind some gorse bushes.

After Morte Point the path between some houses and the cliffs was closed because of erosion and we were directed onto the road round to Woolacombe.

The long sandy bay here had quite a lot of visitors on it and it was good in the sunshine but definitely not to the liking of smaller children being dragged along in the showers. There were no squeals of delight just cries of "I want to go home".

I had to succumb to the weather and took shelter behind some rocks while I put another jacket on and dug out my thick gloves from the bottom of the rucsac. This was the first time since starting the walk back in March that I needed to wear them.

The open cafe at the south end of the bay provided a welcome respite and a chance to warm up.

The sun came out as we started the gentle climb up to Baggy Point but it wasn't long before a sustained shower of rain and hailstones started.

Very few people were properly dressed for the weather, the mother of one family we passed on the way to the point wishing they had brought waterproofs.

Once the showers passed and the sun came out it was pleasantly warm out of the wind.

We walked along beach at Croyde Bay then back on the footpath to Saunton before taking the road into Braunton to get the bus back to Ilfracombe.

The 17 miles in 7 hours were Mick's last for this break as he is back at work on Monday.

It has been good having him with me for a week, I feel as though I have had a holiday too and am now reinvigorated to carry on until my next break.