August 13, 2019

Bertie takes me and Russ to South Devon, 15-18 July 2019

Keen to get some cycling and walking in, we set off to the same site as last year (Start Bay CAMC) because I knew it was a bit hilly around there! Just me and Russ go this time, we prepare with some fishing tackle also, to fish the beach at Slapton Sands. Weather was a bit changeable, but mostly dry – however we cut the trip short by one day because Russ was suffering from a bad back or trapped nerve.
Regardless, we still managed to get a few decent rides in – and some sea fishing from the beach! Russ slept in the awning first night, but inside after that. The awning suffered from condensation drips, so after I returned home I went to Camping and General (Canvey) and got a roof liner to stop it (it worked). We had lunch at the Church Inn and dinner at the Start Bay Inn and coffee at the farm shop, as well as a BBQ at the site.

getting some fishing in from the beach, we manage to pack everything by bike and cast off just further down from the Start Bay Inn
This is the headland between Torcross and Beesands beaches, you can walk it at low tide but at high tide you must take the footpath over the headland.
This is the footpath over the headland, there must have been about 200 steps up and then down again!
View from the footpath over the headland into Beesands
from the footpath, this time looking into Torcross
We take a bike ride to East Portlemouth, opposite Salcombe. We decided not to catch the foot ferry across and headed back to the site.
from East Portlemouth, looking towards Kingsbridge
View across to Salcombe
A bike ride to Beesands and the Cricket Inn, and of course trying out the local brew!
Torcross, first thing in the morning – like a mill pond.
Start Bay Inn, before the lunch traffic arrives. Really good fish and chips here.
Start Bay Inn, Torcross – looking towards the hotel.
Below the sea wall at Torcross. The beach is fine shingle.
Last year, there was a stores here but now it’s being sold. Me and Russ mull it over and think that a bikers cafe might fit well 🙂
Up at the farm shop near the site, they have a tap room with all of South Hams Brewery beers on tap!!!! Excellent beers, I sampled a few and took some home.
We make a bike ride to Dartmouth and back, flipping steep hills. This is the view when entering Dartmouth from our site.
We decided not to catch the foot ferry across to go to Brixham, instead we head back to site a slightly different way.
view from Dartmouth
We stop on the way back at Blackpool Sands, in between two steep hills! So we take a beer and some food and admire the big beach.
Blackpool Sands beach

Elapsed Time Moving Time Distance Average Speed Max Speed Elevation Gain
03:18:50
hours
02:02:11
hours
23.46
mi.
11.52
mph
31.99
mph
1,945.54
ft.
Reccie from campsite

Elapsed Time Moving Time Distance Average Speed Max Speed Elevation Gain
02:38:40
hours
01:49:34
hours
20.11
mi.
11.01
mph
33.33
mph
1,896.33
ft.
Dartmouth and back

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