Day 40 – Instow to Braunton

Day 40 – Instow to Braunton 

Comfortable rooms and an excellent brekker (all at a reasonable price) prove to be the highlights of the day. The dullest section of the walk so far. Very flat along the Tarka Trail by the bank of the River Taw all the way to Barnstaple, over the new bridge, and back along the other bank to Braunton. And such scenery as there might be is spoiled by a very dank and drizzly morning. The forecast is, in fact, for heavy rain which leads to discussion over whether to stop at Braunton or risk a drenching on the extra 5 miles or so to Saunton Sands. Part of the discussion takes place in the Braunton Inn – about a mile short of the village itself – and the 25 minute “rest” there helps answer the question because, as we then walk towards Braunton, the heavy rain duly arrives. We go no further than the village and catch a bus to Barnstaple where a walk back from the rail station into the town for lunch is a further dampening experience. We decide not to give our custom to the frankly horrible Golden Lion on the square, and instead go to a hotel lounge (The Royal and Fortescue) for a couple of ciders and a sandwich. Then back to the rail station where John and Ben catch a train to Exeter and Gary returns to Instow to stay with Mike and Jo.

Addendum 1  

Unusual facts about days 39 and 40: (1) No Rattler consumed – all cider was Stowford Press or Thatcher’s; (2) No stickies consumed – Wayfarer shutting by 10:00 p.m. rather strange; (3) No Colin taken after 11:00 a.m. on day 39, and bus to Barnstaple was the first use of that form of transport since day 2.

Addendum 2

On the day after day 40, Gary taken by Mike and Jo to Crackington Haven to walk the section to Widemouth Bay which he missed on day 36. Excellent weather and a beautiful stretch of coastline make a welcome change from day 40. Only story worthy of note is being overtaken at the top of the very steep descent of steps at Chipman Cliff by a guy who is running that part of the path. The steps are so steep that you can’t see down them but, by the time Gary has tentatively worked his way to the bottom, the runner is at the top of the equally steep ascent at the other side.