Devon Triple, Day 2: Mortehoe to Croyde Bay

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Lowland and Hill Walks
Jun 03
2022

36 people attending

14 places left

Your price
£12.50
Event difficulty background shape EventDifficulty
Easy Moderate Very Hard
Distance is EITHER 21 km (13 miles) and total ascent is 611m OR distance is 14 km (9 miles) and total ascent is 392m; relief is hilly with at least three short ascents and descents; surfaces are grass, dirt, gravel, tarmac and beach sand.

Introduction:

Last year it was a Dorset Double. This year it's a Devon Triple, replicating a scheme by the lovely Simon Ellicott but taking advantage of the four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend to have three days of events from which you can choose to do any number. Nearby campsites, hotels and B&Bs are plentiful, although they are booking up fast. I'll supply three day walks and other leaders will provide more according to demand, which may be reduced as Big Spring Camp will be running at the same time. Even so, I hope you can come and experience some of the finest cliffs, sandiest beaches, quietest valleys and darkest skies - and in the company of some of the greatest guys - in England.

Schedule:

Day 2: Mortehoe to Croyde Bay:

If Day 1 was mostly about the features of coastal erosion (cliffs, headlands, sea stacks and wave-cut platforms), coastal deposition features (beaches and sand dunes) get more of a look-in on Day 2. And what beaches! The 3 mile (5 km) stretch of golden sand at Woolacombe has won numerous awards and is one of the best beaches in the West Country, but it's long enough to find quiet spots even on the busiest days (generally at the far end). With more beach and sand dune-walking comes less climbing than Day 1, but even so, climbing the headlands of Morte Point and Baggy Point will exercise the calves, quads and glutes, and surveying the views from them will enrich the spirit.

The route

A brief walk along Mortehoe Station Road will lead to a footpath heading south to Twitcham Holiday Park. Heading southwest down Sandy Lane will bring us to Woolacombe. After refreshments in the town, we'll follow the South West Coastal Path (SWCP), or the beach if the tide is low, to Putsborough for a lunch stop and optional swim. We'll then ascend Napps Cliff and follow the SWCP all the way round Baggy Point to go to Croyde Bay. We'll then turn inland and follow Stentaway Lane to Putsborough and then follow the SWCP or beach back to Woolacombe. The SWCP will take us to Barricane Beach, Grunta Beach then Morte Point before we turn southeast to go back to the starting point. (Please click the word 'route' in red to see the route at the Ordnance Survey website.) 

If you don't want to do the whole walk you can spend longer on the beach at Woolacombe. The rest of the group will continue the walk to Croyde Bay by going around the headland of Baggy Point. People staying at the beach will be collected mid-afternoon and all will complete the walk back around the headland of Morte Point and go back to Mortehoe. Leaving the group and staying at Woolacombe Beach will remove about 7 km of distance and 200m of ascent from the walk. (Please see this shorter route here.) 

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is suitable for them apart from during very hot weather. The sea will more accessible but there will be little shade and some livestock. Dogs are permitted on all but a small portion of Woolacombe Beach which is by the town. A dog off the lead must be obedient.

Accommodation:

  • Campsites, caravan parks and motorhome parks: Check this website. North Morte Farm was popular with the 'Lads a few years ago and is closest to the village and events. There's also Easewell Farm which has the most facilities, and Damage Barton which was also popular.
  • B&Bs: Check Booking.com for places near Mortehoe.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statementin addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend. 

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who has recently tested positive for Covid-19, is asked not to attend.

(Picture credits: Mortehoe and Woolacombe Sand: Photo © Gary Rogers (cc-by-sa/2.0); Putsborough Sand and Woolacombe Sand: Photo © Roger A Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0); Woolacombe Sand as seen from Sandy Lane: Photo © Roger A Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0); Marine Drive, Woolacombe: Photo © Roger Cornfoot (cc-by-sa/2.0); Woolacombe Beach: Photo © Ian Capper (cc-by-sa/2.0); Putsborough Sand: Photo © Wayland Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0); South West Coast Path towards Baggy Point: Photo © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0); Croyde Bay Cliffs: Photo © Chris McAuley (cc-by-sa/2.0); Barricane Beach: Photo © Ian Capper (cc-by-sa/2.0); North Devon Coastal Scenery: Photo © Lewis Clarke (cc-by-sa/2.0). All pictures are copyrighted but are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.0 and are here attributed to their copyright holders.)