Alia’s Story:

I woke up early to travel to Dartmouth where I would start my 20k walk to Brixam along the South West Coastal Trail. I arrived in the civil parish of Dartmouth around 8am and stopped in at a local bakery to buy a treat for the hike; I picked up a Pain Au Chocolat that was just too hot and fresh out of the oven to save for later, so I immediately consumed it as I began my journey with a lovely ferry ride across the River Dart to Kingswear.

The trail started up a hillside into a forested area with dramatic views of the coast below sporadically appearing through the trees and a glimpse of the 16th Century castle across the bay back in Dartmouth. I continued along drastic limestone cliffs dotted with caves, crossing many valleys occupied by sheep and wildflowers, and passing by remnants of historical WWII defences as the trail was historically a path for coast guards monitoring the coastline. I took my sweet time wandering the coastal trail with several stops along the way to chill, swim at some of the several beaches, and enjoy the views. I also stopped in at the Coleton Fishacre House & Gardens, a short detour from the trail, to enjoy the stunning gardens and a warm biscuit with clotted cream and tea. The country retreat was built by a wealthy prominent couple in the 1920s and is now maintained by the national trust, as is much of the South West Coastal trail, as a heritage site. The last couple of hours of my walk brought persistent light rain making the path very muddy and saw me arriving in Brixham around 7pm for a very cold and wet bus ride back to Paignton. Overall, it was a very lovely day and much needed adventure.

Journey On The Coast- March 13