Day 4: Ilfracombe to Mortehoe

Each morning Paul and I take a timed group photo. He uses his phone whilst I use a camera. Everyone is very patient as we balance our cameras and rush back to the group for the photo. However, this morning there was almost a disaster as I knocked Paul's stick which knocked his phone off the wall onto a metal grid. Luckily it didn't break or fall through the grid into the drain and he's still smiling in the photo!

We were too tired to go and explore the town last night and as the hotel is close to the path we won't see any of it today except these strange conical shapes of the Landmark theatre. The taxi driver told us they are locally known as Madonna's bra.

We soon found the acorn sign and were back on the South West Coast Path, We then began a steep climb up onto the cliffs. We were all tired from the day before and found climbing again difficult.

Ilfracombe developed as a big sea side town in the 19th century,  with steamships coming into the harbour and a railway, which sadly no longer exists.

We continued the climb up to the viewpoint at the top.

At the top is this toposcope which shows some of the notable landscape features and wildlife that can be seen from here.

The view over Ilfracombe.

We then descended from the top into the first mud we had come across.

Had to negotiate our way around the cows which, as you know, I am not happy in their presence.

At least the path was flat for a while.

The path led onto a road down to Lee Bay.

Paul and Tim enjoying a laugh together.

Once again we had to climb up onto the  top of the cliff. From then on we went up and down and up and down.

We had a clear view of the path snaking its way up to the next cliff.

But before the climb came the descent to sea level.

This is the light house at Bull Point.

The rocks in front of the lighthouse.

A last look at the sea before moving inland for the rest of today's walk.

We  left the path at the lighthouse and walked along the road into the village of Mortehoe.

Here was the reason, a cafe that served cream teas.

A treat courtesy of Jim. A Devon cream tea is the best. Two large scones, homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream with a cup of tea. What could be better! We couldn't stay there all afternoon though, we still had a couple of miles to walk to get to our hotel for the night

The last walk of the day was boring as it was just along the a road.

The Fortescue was a pub/hotel where we were staying for the night. The best part of staying here was the carvery that they served on a Sunday with its choice of four different meats and ten different vegetable choices. The weather had changed. It most much colder and had started to rain as we arrived. At least we didn't have to go out again that evening.