SWCP Day 37 Strete to Brixham 4K

Having had a good nights sleep I packed up camp early, expecting another long challenging day. A gentle start in the early morning light was short lived and I was soon faced with a steep sided grassy valley at Landcombe Cove. The climb was rewarded with a view down to Blackpool Sands. A long climb parallel to a road saw me leave Blackpool Sands and reach the quiet village of Stoke Flemming, passing by a church and a pub. This is the start of a large inland section of the coast path. I wouldn't see the sea again until I reached Little Dartmouth where the path leads back to the coastline. Heading on towards the mouth of the River Dart I had my first views across the river to Kingswear. Turning inland and following the river on to the remains of Dartmouth Castle where I stopped for a cup of tea. A short walk from the castle and I arrived at the bustling town of Dartmouth with its Naval College looking down on me from up on the hill. I caught the ferry across to Kingswear and saw a fingerboard advertising 10 miles to Brixham, not normally too much of a challenge but I knew this was a hard stretch. A pleasant walk through a pine woodland bought me to Brownstone Battery, a WWII coastal defence. On towards the National Trust property of Coleton Fishacre where the path was busy with families and dog walkers. Shortly after, I reached Scabbacombe Sands which was the first big hill of the day followed quickly by the tougher climb out of Man Sands. A welcome bench at the top of Man Sands gave me the opportunity to find my legs before I pushed on to Sharkham Point happy in the knowledge that the rest of the walk was an easy one. The crowds soon returned as I arrived at Bury Head and on into Brixham, surrounded by colourful buildings and families crabbing off the harbour wall. I raced around the harbour just in time to catch the final ferry of the day back to Torquay bringing an end to this leg of my coastal pilgrimage.

Music:
Golden Things, Kylie Dailey
Til All That’s Left Is Ash, Ludlow
Don’t Need An Answer, Ten Towers
Waking Up To Another Day, Ten Towers