The plan for the next five days is to hike from Minehead to Clevedon, closing in on Wales. Most of the walk will be near urban areas, also passing the Hinkley Point nuclear power station, so I’m upgrading from camping to the relative luxury of overnight accommodation.
Minehead is slightly more peaceful than when I left it a couple of weeks ago. The pleasant walk to Blue Anchor tracks the West Somerset heritage railway. It is flat and very easy going, especially without the weight of my camping gear; a reward after the rigours of the SWCP.
The path to Watchet is very overgrown, with hanging, barbed bramble tendrils, snagging on my clothes. I have to climb over a fence across the path, without a stile, which seems a little strange.
The path, and a rickety, wooden fence, have collapsed down the cliff. Is this the right route?
A little further on, the path is blocked by a tall fence, with large red warning signs. There has been a diversion in place since the cliff fall in March 2020. I must have missed the signs at the start.
Watchet is a lovely town. There is a huge mural, on a 30 metre concrete wall, illustrating the town’s industrial and maritime history.
I spend the rest of the day exploring the fascinating Jurassic limestone, and other rock formations, in Helwell Bay and St Audrie’s Bay. Both are inaccessible at high tide, and there is no alternative coastal path, so I’m lucky.
The Hood Arms at Kilve is not open until 6pm, but I have a room booked, so they open the bar early, giving me a table next to a roaring fire. Bliss. Now I need to stock up on calories for the 25 mile hike tomorrow. Cheesecake perhaps?
Walk distance: 13 miles.
Total distance: 1,026 miles.
I remember much of the route from Minehead to Wales being rather difficult with few paths along the coast. In all that I’d forgotten just how beautiful much of it is, as your pictures show. You will see similar scenery on the Glamorgan coast, especially around Naish Point. Lovely photos. I too made my way along the shore at low tide, but I don’t remember the broken path, perhaps it wasn’t broken then! Still at least you could get through.
It was nice to get back to some shoreline walking again.
A lovely walk and that huge mural ia fabulous. I’d like to see more towns and cities allowing this type of art.
I love finding outdoor artwork and sculptures. This mural transforms what would otherwise be a rather grim harbour approach. I took photos of the entire length.