A hundred miles for fifteen on foot
After a 100-mile drive through mist, drizzle and one brief appearance from the sun, I arrived at the Valley of Rocks at 10.30am.
The walk began with a climb over the rocks in a strong wind. The views were already dramatic, although standing upright required slightly more concentration than usual. I descended towards the road, then followed a mixture of lanes and woodland paths.
A diversion to Woody Bay provided the first essential stop of the day: tea and a sandwich. Refuelled, I joined the South West Coast Path, with the North Devon coastline opening out ahead—steep green cliffs, grey water and the sea crashing far below.
The route continued through woodland, long grass and nettles, with plenty of wildlife along the way, before reaching Hunters Inn. A quick pint and a packet of crisps outside in the drizzle seemed like the right reward. The weather clearly wanted one too.
The return followed a higher path, giving a different view across the coast and valleys. A planned stop at the Roman Fortlet viewpoint turned out to offer mainly bushes, grass and a private campsite. Not every historic landmark arrives with trumpets and a panoramic view.
After roughly five and a half hours, the Valley of Rocks came back into sight. At that point I mistakenly followed the coast path to the left and reached Lynton, adding a couple of extra miles. The detour did at least provide a look at the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway before I finally returned to the car.
The final total was 14.54 miles with 6 hours and 40 minutes of activity time. I finished with sore feet and very tired legs—but also extremely happy with a demanding, beautiful and memorable North Devon circuit.
