Devon

My final week on the SWCP, and the weather forecast is grim. I have a short walk today, which is just as well, as two buses to Ilfracombe are cancelled due to staff shortages, meaning a 90 minute wait. Perhaps

A short walk today, so I can linger over breakfast. Rations are a little thin. Then, joy, I discover a piece of squished carrot cake, that I bought yesterday and forgot about. It is a lovely, still morning, and the

It is a damp, misty morning, as I walk back into Braunton, to pick up the path into the marshes. A cheerful splash of colour before the gloom. I’m glad I deferred the marshes until today, wonderfully atmospheric in the

There are no hills to climb today, just a gentle walk along the banks of the River Torridge and River Taw. It should be a nice change of pace, taking me back to the start of my walk, around the

The new sleeping mat is a big success, as I had a great night’s sleep, despite still waking at 5am. My breath sends trails through the cold air, so I rustle up my first ever camping breakfast, porridge with raspberries,

The bus drops me off in Hartland village, along with two other hikers, Mark and Adam. We are heading in opposite directions along the coast, but walk the few miles to Hartland Quay together. More tales of wet weather hiking

An inquisitive cat peers into the tent, too timid to come any closer. A bowl of freezing water to wake me up and I’m on my way. My back is stiff after two nights of camping, but the path is

The alarm goes off at 4 am — not that I needed it. I woke up every couple of hours to find myself squished at the bottom of the slope. Thankfully, it’s a relatively short day, as my back is

After last week’s successful camping test, I’ve stepped up to a three-day hike. It is a logistical challenge with three rivers to cross. Two have tiny ferries, operating limited hours, and the third can only be crossed on foot at