Synopsis: After the battering by the weather the country has taken over the last few weeks I thought I’d get out and examine the damage. I was left in little doubt that nature is a force to be reckoned with.
(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)
Rather a dash for the bus this morning. My own fault for not checking the bus timetable beforehand. The No. 2 service is incredibly regular during the week but I’d overlooked the fact that on a Sunday this falls back to once an hour. After breakfast I checked online and discovered there was a bus in 45 minutes. Could I pack a picnic lunch and make it to the bus stop in that time? Answer: yes, with a little jogging en route. Will I never learn!
I knew access to the coast path was going to be restricted so I got off the bus virtually in Dawlish. Even so, the path down to the beach by the coastguard houses was closed so I had to walk into Dawlish. As I approached the town there is a viewpoint that overlooks Dawlish railway station. From here I could clearly see the devastation the recent storms had wreaked to the railway line. Network Rail crew were busily repairing the breach, work that seemed well advanced.
As I was in no hurry today I decided to take a gentle stroll around Dawlish. The sun was shining and the day very warm for February. I walked past the Railway Inn, which perhaps today should be renamed the Non-functioning Railway Inn.
This did make me smile. I just had to take a photo of the window display at the Shoe Centre shop. I felt sure they’re doing a good trade in wellington boots just now. As I said to someone standing nearby, “The Shoe Centre shop window says it all.”
There was no access permitted to the beach at Dawlish. Looking through the tunnel under the railway which is the normal walk route to the beach, I could see huge granite wall blocks had been blown onto the path by the force of recents storms.
I followed the road behind the rail track. A little further along I came across a truck that was acting as a huge vacuum cleaner, sucking up the railway ballast that had been blown onto the pavement. At this point I bumped into my brother Michael and his wife Sue out taking a leisurely stroll and taking in the storm damage as so many people were.
I was intending to head out of Dawlish on the path to Teignmouth from here but I caught sight of the damage to the beach huts that stand in Coryton Cove. Several of these had been smashed to smithereens. And as I looked up from here I didn’t much like the look of the cliff face, as it looked as if it could come crashing down at any time, some small slips clearly visible.
My progress was unimpeded along the next stretch of my walk which took me up out of Dawlish before dipping once again on a course back towards the seashore. Then another steep climb took me towards the lane down to Holcombe Beach. I’d hoped to stroll down this lane to a point where it’s normally possible to pick up the path that runs along the coast following the side of the railway. I was however barred by Network Rail staff who informed me no access was permitted.
I had to follow the main road up hill in the direction of Teignmouth. Nearing the top there is a footpath between the houses that took me to a stile. Climbing the stile I was in fields with an amazing view down to Teignmouth and Shaldon. I don’t normally come this way, so this stunning view was a nice surprise for me.
The path then led me into a park which provided an easy walk down the hillside to Teignmouth. I crossed a pedestrian bridge over the all-so-silent railway and joined the coastal path near the sailing club, coast guard lookout and outdoor swimming pool. A café nearby was extremely busy, as evidently everyone was intent on making the most of this sunny interlude. The fact that it was the start of half-term holidays probably was a factor as well.
There was an army of ‘The Big Tidy’ gang sweeping and shovelling the sand from the promenade and depositing it back on the beach where it belongs. The breeze was a little cool so I took up residence in one of the shelters near the pier where I sat to eat my lunch.
I took a brief stroll around Teignmouth after lunch. This was a favourite haunt of my ancestors during times long past. I then made for the town centre to check-out bus times for the journey home. Although still quite early (about 14:15) I decided I’d had a nice walk and would make for home.
Less a walk, more a stroll, but very interesting to see how our coast was weathering the storms. Although it was clear to see that some quite considerable damage had been done, I felt that in comparison with many areas across the country, we had come through it quite lightly.
Supplementary notes:
News stories from the BBC relating to the February 2014 storm damage to the railway at Dawlish:
- UK storms destroy railway line and leave thousands without power (5 February 2014)
- Dawlish train battered by waves (6 February 2014)
- Storm-hit Dawlish rail line: Sea wall to be raised (11 July 2014)
- David Cameron says Okehampton railway line is 'most resilient' (30 January 2015)
- The railway lines alarmingly close to the sea (4 February 2015)
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 7.6 miles
Moving Time: 3hrs 11min
Stopped Time: 1hr 06min
Total Ascent: 295 metres
Maximum Elevation: 109 metres
Buses: 2
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