Synopsis: This walk begins by following the Teign Estuary out of Newton Abbot and then cuts across Devon hills in the direction of Maidencombe. It’s another ‘bus walk’ that required a very early start.
(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album) So, how early is early? Well, I got up at 5:30 and was out the door by 6:40 as my intended bus is the X64 leaving at 7:10. Having a bus to catch sure gets a person started early! I’m walking through Newton Abbot by 7:50. Needless to say, there are few people about.
Path leads away under the railway bridge I wasn’t quite sure what the walking along the Teign estuary was going to be like. I knew that near the start I had to pass under a railway bridge and a very busy road bridge, but this didn’t aggravate unduly. As is the case with estuaries, they seem to me to have a calm and tranquillity all their own, and I also find the light is good on estuaries for some reason. The going wasn’t that easy, as the path is I suspect tidal, and therefore rather slippery in places. I could have got caught out by the path being tidal, as I hadn’t thought it necessary to check tide times, but I suspect it would be wise to do so before attempting this walk. On the estuary I see egrets, swans, shell duck, oyster catchers, Canada geese, and (noisiest of all) greylag geese; quite an array of birds.
Teetering precariously on the edge! The trains can be seen commuting up and down the estuary across the water. Evidently a busy line, but one with a view. As I approach Combe Cellars I find there are some dwellings right down on the water front, almost (dare I say it) like a little shanty community. And there’s this wooden building, shed like, precariously perched on the cliff top over hanging the estuary. Is it an observatory? Is it safe?
Pathway down a golden corridor
At this point I cut inland following a track that takes me into a corridor of rushes. The early morning sun makes this glimmer brightly and transports my thoughts to days of summer and walking through corn fields. There are even some bees about, but no butterflies or swallows as yet.
Combeinteignhead church
I enter into the charming village of Combeinteignhead, a mouthful of a name, but a village full of character buildings. I’ve driven through this place in the past and it’s caught my eye, but it’s nice to have the time to wander at my leisure and take in some of the sights of the village. There’s a seventeenth century inn, the Wild Goose (chase?) in the village that might be worth a visit sometime, so I make a mental note of this. Unusually for me I don’t enter the church, just peek in, as there’s someone in there who’s just washed the floor, and I’m not he’d appreciate me traipsing around in my muddy boots. I could have gone down in history as one of the few people to have been physically ejected from a church.
Hawthorne in bloom There was a stiff climb out of Combeinteignhead along a public footpath up steps by one of the cottages. Ah well, I needed to get into gear and burn off some surplus calories. This was also the time to lose a layer or two, as the weather is gorgeous. I look back over my shoulder and find the light is casting gentle hues across the lush country side. As I approach the coastal path at Mackerel Cove, just short of Maidencombe, it is the abundance of Hawthorne bloom that catches my eye. Patches of bright white are everywhere, and I stop for a minute to take a closer look. I discover what a lovely flower it has.
Maidencombe Beach
I’ve finished the walk by lunchtime (12:00), so I sit on the beach at Maidencombe where it is lovely and warm once I nestle in between some rocks to be sheltered from the wind. There was hardly a ripple on the sea, but the slight breeze had a sharp bite to it. I thought I caught sight of a seal, so get my binoculars out. Before long I hear others on the beach shouting ‘there is a seal in the water’ – yes, I know! He pops his head, dark black all over, out of the water, grabs a breath, looks around, and ducks out of sight, something I watched him do several times.
Finally I had a bus to catch, and therefore had to pack my things and walk up the hill out of Maidencombe to the main road, only a 10 minute walk from the beach. I caught the 14:00 No. 32 bus and was soon on my way home via Teignmouth. I arrived home by 16:00. For years I’d watched people walking on the Teign estuary, and at last I’ve sampled the experience for myself.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 9.5 m
Moving Time: 3hrs 50min
Stopped Time: 1hrs 2min
Total Ascent: 508 metres
Maximum Elevation: 147 metres
Buses: X64, 32 & 2
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