Rambling and Right of way

I decided after a week of fitness that I would go out for a walk today as it was my afternoon off. I had bought a book of walks for the motorist which was very useful, as it had a circular walk and clearly identifies where you can park your car. Unfortunately today, even though it is the 5th March I was beaten by Snow! yes i did say Snow!.

Not wanting to be beaten and the roads locally clearing nicely due to a bit of Spring sunshine, I chose a walk I knew of but had never really done fully before (which wasnt in the book by the way). It was starting in Westward Ho! by the Braddicks owned Elizabethan pub and then following the coast Path towards Bucks Mills (Bideford bay area). The ground for the first mile is tarmac but then goes to open land and obviously with the weather it was very wet underfoot. I had my new ish North Face trainers on (only wore on the high street), but really should have opted for boots given the conditions. Anyway the sun was out and at one stage I even had to put my sunglassess on (though this was short lived), and I also decided a hat would be a good thing too.

After plodding on at a nice pace and not seeing hardly anyone I was enjoying the walk, I had set Runkeeper up (my Iphone Application) and that had picked up the GPS and was following my route. The only person I came across was a Mountain Biker with 3 dogs not on a lead, who sped past me as I started and again when he was on his return. He had no consideration for other path users and on both occasions I had to give way to his dogs that were taking up the whole path. If you are reading this Mate then have some respect for others!

I came to a signpost in a particularly boggy area after I had already navigated many others, which told me I had done 2 miles, there was 4 miles to Bucks Mills and 1 mile to Abbotsham(if I came off the path). Unfortunately as you read on I made the wrong decision here and decided to head off the path and do a circular route, hoping to pick up one of the other footpaths around Abbotsham and come back on.

Anyway this footpath brought me into a village area of a few houses which I think was called Green cliff, by now very wet and muddy I had taken my eye off the surroundings. I followed the road for a little way, then as you can see if you look at my map, (http://bit.ly/TeQ4V) around the 3 mile point, I had a little detour. It had a footpath sign on the farmers field so I could see in the distance a well worn path going up the hill and through a gate which would take me back onto the cliff path. So I follow the path and nothing! it comes to a fence, no method of getting across and no sign of any further paths which lead to the one I saw at the start of the path. So back I trudge. A little stop on a farmers gate to take some nice picturse of the fields and to have a quick coffee from my flask and I'm moving again.

Onto the road, I end up by the paper shop / post office / shop in Abbotsham I know where I am now, driving this road very regulary (its always a pain in this village as school / church goers park either side of the road for about 200m and its very difficult to see something coming the other way. I'm suprised someone has never been hurt here). I'm drifting, Through the village I have a plan now as I said I know the area reasonably well, but I am distracted by another one of those footpath signs aaaarrrgggghhh!

Anyway I take the road which looks like someones drive and go down it, this can be seen on the map around the 4 mile point where I go off road in zigzags. There was a stlye so over I go and through the field where the next gate the farmer had put up a sign saying it was this way the path and for the Ramblers association not to be so pig headed and take the sign down spoiling other walkers routes. (obviously been probs there before). I walked in the direction getting extremely wet in my feet as it was the bottom of the field so alot of the water had settled there, another style over I went a little way and a gate? The gate gave no indication that was the next part of the route except for a Devon County Council sign saying keep dogs under control, but a look at the field which was all cut up said you are going no further!

I took a path which lay between the two fields I walked and headed on, a signpost stating that I would soon end up in Cornborough which again is not far from my destination. I also thought I could get back onto the cliffs from here as in my running days I used to take a route from Westward Ho! to Cornbrough and beyond ending up at a footpath leading to the cliffs. As I was walking down the road again, I bumped into 2 Farmers rescuing a lamb and mother who had done a runner from their field, exchanged small talk and they went on in the motorised jeep thingy whilst I walked on. A downhill stretch was most welcome even though to get to the cliffs I knew I would have to go up at some stage. At the bottom of the hill the road was flooded for about 50 metres (deep water) , it was at this point I thought cheers farmers for warning me the road was flooded ahead. With nothing else to do but gingerly cross and hope it wasnt to deep, I did just that, luckily the water only coming up to my ankles but swamping my feet all the same.

I had to take a picture at this point, along with emptying the water out of my shoes and wringing the socks out.

I walked on then getting to Cornborough and the row of posh houses there, I went into one of the closes looking for a route down the cliff and found a pathway between two houses, unfortunately as you can see at mile 5 it was a wrong turn, the path led to a field which was fence and a sign saying trespassers will be prosecuted miserable gets! Further down the road when it looked like all would be in vain and I would have to walk on the road all the way back, I saw another footpath sign! Now I can hear you saying youve had no luck so far so stay on the road. I had to try one more time and if it worked it would cut a mile of the journey.

Anyway through a gate I go and I find myself on National Trust property Kipling Tors and a path going down the cliffs RESULT! The picture shows the view from the first clearing, the path was steep and very slippy as the sun hadnt melted any of the snow, it was also quite dangerous in the fact the snow had also brought down many of the gorse bushes and in places the path was blocked. So if anyone in the National Trust is reading this, then Kipling Tors needs sorting out! This brought me down to the caravan park oppostite the Elizabethan pub and my Car waiting paiently for me, unfortunately due to lack of planning it didnt have any claen trousers or a fresh pair of socks but it did have some clean trainers and it was warm to get the rest of my coffee inside me.

All in all an adventurous walk, with more challenges than expected, maybe I should purchase a map so I know where these rights of way are. I will say though that after going down dead ends although the farmers have to allow you through, they sure make it difficult for you to find your'e way.

Another lesson learn't is the fact that however small a walk you are planning it may not always turn out like that, and some spare clothing should always be carried.