Synopsis: A spontaneous no-planning walk this, requiring a lot of bus hops, but it worked out fine. Lunch on the beach at Blackpool Sands in a hazy sun, then a trek along Slapton Sands to Torcross.
Before setting out from Stoke Fleming I hesitated a while to visit the church of St Peter’s. This church is not considered that worthy due to what is thought to have been a heavy-handed restoration of 1871. Those Victorians were just too zealous! I didn’t however dislike the church, finding it quite charming in it’s way, and I delighted in the few really old things that remain such as an ancient effigy of the foundress and a splendid brass from about the same time.
Stoke Fleming - parish church of St Peter's - lectern
The altar is I think quite exquisitely carved, with a strong nautical flavour, full of turbulent waters. The thing that really intrigued me however was the lectern, which appears to me to be an albatross. I know Stoke Fleming was once in the in Coleridge Hundred, but can it really be an albatross?
Blackpool Sands – time for lunch
My lunch venue was to be Blackpool sands. I found a nice spot out of the sharp breeze, under a sign which read ‘Danger! Cliff falls – keep away’. Well, what was I to do?
A notch for you, a notch for me
For some reason I didn’t take any photos in Strete, not that I have anything against the place, but I just felt I’d taken my photos on a previous visit of 12th June 2010, photos of which can be found in set 137 Strete to Dartmouth on Flickr including some links to a number of old photos from the Francis Frith collection. The only photo I took there today was taken on entering the village, where I discovered a lovely bench, which looks to be nothing more than a tree trunk in which two notches have been carved, but what more would any couple require?
Slapton Ley
The light was quite bright but a little hazy, which made Slapton Ley look marvellous. There were some gorgeous winter hues across the waters and the swaying reed beds of the ley. I do believe I’m becoming quite fond of March.
Torcross - knitted goodies
On entering Torcross a cafe by the name of Seabreeze once again caught my eye. It’s very tastefully decorated and has a certain class I feel. I noticed these lovely knitted decorations in the window. Now, whose idea was it to have knitted fairy cakes? They look good enough to eat.
A most enjoyable leisurely walk on a glorious day, and all done with no more planning than throwing some maps and bus timetables into my map case and setting out on my way.
One important tip as regards bus-hopping when coming out of this walk: my bus out of Torcross was scheduled to arrive five minutes after the bus for Totnes had departed, which could have been particularly annoying. But, as it happens, the X93 route into Dartmouth follows the 111 bus route out, so it’s possible to hop off the X93 at the top of the hill and thereby shortcut the 111 saving valuable minutes. Here is a map link to the bus stop I used.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 7.0 miles
Moving Time: 2hrs 47min
Stopped Time: 1hr 05min
Total Ascent: 261 metres
Maximum Elevation: 121 metres
Buses: D, X46, 120, X93, 111 & X64 (X93 - £6.55 for return Dartmouth to Torcross)
£1.10 for single ferry crossing from Kingswear to Dartmouth
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