Tag: Walking

Walking the Coast: Sandymouth to Duckpool

Walking the Coast: Sandymouth to Duckpool

One of the reasons we decided to move to Devon was to be closer to the coast, but also close to the moors. We both love the sea and walking the coastline, exploring places and seeing the lovely scenery.

However getting to the coast on a regular basis is tricky, but recently we’ve managed it a bit more regularly.

The Devon and Cornwall coastline is famous for it’s views, so bit by bit, we want to walk it.

Back in September last year we headed to one of the local secluded coves to walk from there is the next and back.

Starting at Sandymouth Bay near Bude. To start with, it has a big car park and easy access to beach, a cafe and toilets. Then heading North towards Duckpool (round trip approx 3 miles)

This is a lovely beach, with expanses of Sand and Rocky Views

As with most Cornish coastlines, there are some hills to climb, but the views are wonderful from the top.

Approaching Duckpool, again the view looking inland a bit is just as wonderful.

Here there is a small car park and toilets for if you wanted to start your next walk from it.

The Duckpool Beach is smaller than Sandymouth, but just as impressive.

I’ve created a page called the South West Coast Path to show photos from along the route that we have currently walked.

Meldon Reservoir to Black Tor… & Back

Meldon Reservoir to Black Tor… & Back


I like to research potential walks for my Photography Day Trips to Dartmoor that I offer.

At the week, I headed of to Meldon Reservoir in search of a circular walk. I didn’t quite manage the circular part due to running out of time, but it still made for a great walk with lots in interesting things to see.

The walk in total was 5 miles long, and took about 4 hours. This is due to taking lots of photos, and having the kids in tow! Starting from Meldon Reservoir I headed up the up the path opposite the car park and up towards South Down.

It gives a great view of the reservoir and the dam from there.

You then walk through and area with lovely wind swept mossy trees.

Further along and after stopping for some food, I headed to the top of South Down and was met with an amazing view and some ponies!

I looked South West towards Sourton Tors and saw the sun just breaking through to light up the fields in the distance with the Tors behind.

Back down the hill and along the path again and headed towards the end of the reservior, there was a great view of Vellake Corner and where I was heading towards, Black Tor.

Looking left gave a lovely view of the reservoir with great reflections.

Heading down to Vellake Corner and I was aware it was going to be quite marshy, but due to recent rain it was also very muddy and the paths and by the time I’d got down there my walking shoes were covered in mud, then washed by the stream and finally mostly submerged in the marshy areas. I don’t think the kids were impressed, but they didn’t moan.

Walking over the weir gave a great view of were I had come from.

Over the weir and turning right, I enter a small wooded area with some amazing moss covered trees. A little like Wistman’s Woods, a very small Wistman’s Wood!

At the end of the wood, there a stone enclosure that you have to go around and navigate a load of rocks and marshy ground, but it created a great foreground for a photo of Black Tor in the distance.

At this point I realised that we wouldn’t have time to navigate the circular walk so I decided to head back along the way we came, but edge along the bottom of Homerton Hill and cut across to the bridge and up the steps.

Getting back on to South Down the sun was starting to get lower in the sky and warmer the clouds, giving this lovely view of Sourton Tors again.

If you fancy visiting Meldon Reservoir, here is the walk I took.
I parked in Meldon Reservoir, where there are toilets and walked across the road and up the side of the reservoir.

If you have the Dartmoor 365 book, this walk covers squares B6 & C6.
More photos on my Dartmoor Gallery

My Dartmoor 365 Map

My Dartmoor 365 Map

 

Dartmoor Gallery

Dartmoor Gallery

 

In Search of Steam

In Search of Steam

The other week we had planned to go in search of steam engines, but we found out that our plans were foiled by a lack of babysitters, but today we were sorted!

The day started off foggy, which meant there would be some nice steam coming from the engines if we could find them! We got to Alresford and headed to the station. The platform was busy, the sign said trains at 11:45, it was 11:50! I heard the platform master say the train had stawled, how does a steam train stawl? and it was being towed by the other and they didn’t know how long it would be.

So, armed with the informtion that we had some time, we headed off to find a better view point along the track. Following train tracks is not easy and alway possible, so walking pararrel to the track along the road I kept an ear open for the train and an eye open for a footpath.

30 minutes later I found a footpath around the edge of a farmers field, just past a bridge that the track went over. We found the track! I could see the signal too and noted it was in the stop position. We waited… 15 mintues later the signal changed, 5 minutes after that the train came by!

I braced myself and took photos until the buffer filled up. We then headed off for something to eat with the knowledge that we had some photos and hoped they were good.

Here is one I have processed and am showing it in a mousemat! I’m very pleased with the result!

Steam Train on the Watercress Line
Steam Train on the Watercress Line