Saunton to Braunton

By: Mike

West Down Community Shop

Tuesday 14th July

Our days mostly start at the Community Shop.  There's usually a short queue because they only allow one person in at a time.  As you can see, it was having a paint job while we were in the village.  It was well stocked with stuff for picnics.  Nice fresh rolls, cheese, ham salami and apples. Whilst queueing, I noticed that the wooden wedge under the ladder is called 'Reggie the Wedgie'
We head off to Saunton and park in the public car park by the beach.(£8)  Like all the beaches on this Atlantic coast, it's big on surfing.  The surfers are out in force, but we head away to find the SWCP which runs behind the Braunton Burrows.  

We don't really get into the Burrows, which are an extraordinary area of dunes full of rare wild flowers.  I took dozens of pictures, but I don't do wild flowers, so I can't really identify them.

The weather improves, and we make fast progress on a good flat path and are rewarded with the sight of some very tough looking riflemen emerging from an exercise in the Burrows.  The army has part of them as a training ground.

We emerge onto the estuary of the Taw and Torridge rivers and take a short break, We can see right across to Instow and Appledore.  So close, but at least three days walking up and down the rivers.
A bit further on our path guides show the route curving away along the top of a dyke edging the estuary.  But there's a sign saying 'path closed'.  The alternative seems to be a boring hike along a road.  The dyke path just looks a bit overgrown, so we decide to ignore the sign and follow the path as marked in our guide books. It gets tricky and we continue along the beach until - horror! - it ends abruptly where a bridge has disappeared and there's nothing but open water. There is no alternative to going all the way back.  An hour wasted and a lot of energy scrambling about.   There are lessons to be learned. Think carefully before ignoring warning signs.  Risk assessment!  It was obvious from the maps that the old path was between two stretches of water.  A blockage near the end would mean retracing steps.
 Much chastened, but relieved, we eat lunch on the beach and walk the final two miles to Braunton.  We are just in time to get the 16.05 21a bus back to Saunton. We have walked at least 10 miles and we are both knackered. 

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