BBN Holiday - Ilfracombe, Devon

The BBN holiday this year was centred in Ilfracombe at the Imperial Hotel, close to the harbour and opposite the twin-coned Landmark Theatre which looks more like a Power Station. Not quite in keeping with the Victorian buildings surrounding the area.  Arrangements again were planned through Alfa Travel Self Drive holidays and members booked rooms through Alfa earlier this year. 17x LDWA members booked into the hotel with the luxury of us being together for breakfast and dinner at times we wanted to eat – 7:30am & 7:00pm. The hotel went out of their way to help us.  

Friday afternoons walk began, like all good walks should, at the Rest & Be Thankful Inn in Wheddon Cross, Somerset. Members were travelling from all over the country and this village + car park was on route to Ilfracombe. The nearby attraction of the highest point on Exmoor at Dunkery Beacon was our target. The walk climbed trickily through valley woodland on public and then permissive paths (nav error) to Dunkery Bridge for a group photograph. The Beacon was reached easily where we met Anne & Rachel who’d walked from a nearby car-park close to the 1703ft summit. The walk back was on open moorland with good views of the north Devon coast but only hazy views of the Welsh coastline across the Bristol Channel. As we entered Wheddon Cross we came across a local auction of farm equipment at the opposite end of the spectrum to Sotherby’s. Being auctioned were rusty chains, third-hand chainsaws, buckets and old metal gates and more. We daren't raise our hands or wave although it was rumoured Jill may have got a cow. Driving to Ilfracombe was entertaining on Devon B roads although parking there wasn’t at all easy. But we knew the difficulties of parking prior to arrival since the hotel only had seven parking bays.

Saturday began with breakfast at 7:30 before taking the 09:30 bus to Combe Martin. The plan was to walk up Great Hangman, the highest point on the entire South West Coast Path and descend back into Combe Martin for lunch and then walk back to Ilfracombe on the Coast Path. This we did but not on all paths I’d planned because we were helped in the morning by a local walker who knew better, more interesting footpaths through the Silver mines. The mines are recognised as England’s richest deposits during the Middle Ages, significantly contributing to the Crown’s revenues to fund military campaigns and economic initiatives. All interesting for us on the walk. He departed at lunchtime and left us to follow the SW Coast Path back to Ilfracombe. There was a maritime festival that day in Ilfracombe harbour and we could hear sea chants on approaching the Verity statue created by Damien Hirst in the harbour.

Sunday began with breakfast at 7:30 before walking out the hotel, westward towards Bull Point and Woolacombe as our target. It was not the best of weather with rain in air walking over Tunnels Beaches through to Lee Bay but then gradually improved. The coast is notorious for shipwrecks around Bull Point with it’s lighthouse and at Morte Point, some dolphins were seen. The South West Coast Path then heads south to Woolacombe and on arrival the sun began shining and it was getting warm. We all had a well earned break here before making our way towards Ossaborough to reach Cycleway 27, which uses the old railway bed from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe. It was time to let everyone walk at their own pace from here back to the hotel.

The Monday walk started at Withypool car park back across the border in Somerset. The plan was to walk to Tarr Steps, an ancient clapper bridge across the River Barle and then return along the riverside. A reduced number of us set out on the Exe Valley Way and onto the Two Moors Way to reach the old bridge for photographs. Once crossed it began to rain but within a few steps of the Tarr Farm Inn, so we took advantage to rest there. We had been warned there was a footpath closure along the Two Moors Way on the River Barle section. Luckily, after setting off from the pub we found the diversion and it went in our direction towards Withypool on a path higher up. So, without descending again we stayed high and took the road into Withypool. There was nothing better to round off the weekend than sitting in the Withypool cafe for teas and scones before journeying back home later in the day.

Can I thank everyone on the BBN holiday for making it so enjoyable to lead.

The plan for next year’s weekend is in Weymouth on 29^th August to 1^st September. 

Roy

More information about the trip, details of the each day's walk and maps can be found here  Itinerary

Photos: Lizzie and Norman

Day 1