We began the walk in a car park, as many good walks do, before following a stretch of road that led us into a large farmer’s field. The landscape here was incredibly flat, with visibility stretching for miles. In fact, the biggest “climb” for the first 6 km was stepping up a kerb at the side of the road. Although we were on a coastal route, the sea itself was hidden behind high sand dunes; however, its presence was unmistakable, as the roar of the waves was loud and constant.

After some minor detours due to flooding on the path, we finally caught sight of the sea. Soon afterwards, we reached a junction with two route options: a steep climb or a flatter path. Unfortunately, the flat route was closed for repairs, so we had no choice but to take the steep temporary diversion. After some time, we reached a beach with soft sand.

Continuing along the coastal track, we passed the remains of a whale that had washed ashore in 1915, which was a memorable and unusual sight. A couple of headlands later, we arrived at a long sandy beach stretching towards Woolacombe, which marked just over the halfway point of the walk. We made our way through Woolacombe and continued along the coast towards Bull Point, passing dramatic cliffs that were both impressive and a reminder to stay well back from the edge.

At Bull Point, we saw the lighthouse before climbing another slope. From the top, it briefly looked as though the rest of the route to Lee might be gentle, but we were very wrong! Finally, at the final ascent, we reached Flat Point and got our first clear view of Ilfracombe far below us. 

We arrived just in time to catch the 4:35 bus, reaching it moments before the driver closed the doors. It was a close finish, but we made it back safely to the car park where the walk had begun, bringing a long, varied and memorable coastal route to a successful end.