There are not enough daylight hours to cover the 25 miles to Bridgwater, so I wind my way down the country lanes in the dark, foxes’ eyes shining in my head torch light. I would love to see a badger.
It’s a gorgeous sunrise, making the Hinkley Point power station almost attractive. My second station after Dungeness; only six more to go.
There is a long diversion inland, around the building work for Hinkley Point C, the next generation of reactors. I encounter diversions to the diversion, and am soon no longer on the main path. I’ll just follow some footpaths marked on my OS map. After climbing over a couple of locked gates, falling backwards when scrambling across an overgrown bramble ditch, and startling three deer, I am back on a pretty farmland walk to Stolford village.
The path takes me through the Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve and into the bleak marshes round Stert Point.
There is an impressive bird hide at Stert Point. I would go in, but it looks busy, and I don’t have my binoculars with me.
The path along the bank of the River Parrett is well maintained and clearly designed for bird watchers, with several viewing spots. There are a few splashes of colour to break up the grey horizon.
Combwich village is the 17 mile mark, and I’ve been dreaming about taking my boots off, and enjoying a beer, for the last few miles. I’m gutted to find the Anchor pub closed until 4pm. My mood is not helped by the cold, grey, eight mile trek to Bridgwater, along a poorly maintained embankment track, with long wet grass. I resort to doing the Sunday Times crossword while I trudge along. I can’t see the path at times, and my feet are soaking wet by the end of the day. It’s a relief to make it to my accommodation, just as the sun is setting, for a well earned hot shower and dinner.
Walk distance: 25 miles.
Total distance: 1,051 miles.
Wow, that’s a serious distance Tony! Great photos of the Nuclear PS. Although I personally object to them, for leaving waste for the next 200 generations, they are quite photogenic!
It felt pretty good walking on the flat without my camping gear, after the climbs of the SWCP. A lot more scope to explore off the path, which is nice.
I really envy you Tony being able to carry on walking the coast path beyond the SWCP. Fabulous photos which are giving me itchy feet.
Hi Phil. I only have one more week for hiking before the end of the year, due to pre-Christmas activities, but looking forward to picking it up again in January. Unleash those itchy feet!