Another really high tide last night, water lapping over the quayside. Nice dinner at the King’s Arms, and home today.
East Prawle
Last night saw a very high spring tide in Salcombe. The quay was awash in places.

The people at the Victoria have developed a marketing strategy..

This morning we take the ferry to East Portlemouth like yesterday. It’s a beautiful morning.

Today we’re headed for a place called East Prawle. We cooked-up this route in the pub last night, so no idea how long it might take. As long as we don’t miss the last ferry we’ll be ok. There’s a nice pub at East Prawle called the Pig’s Nose Inn.

We have brunch at East Prawle, then head south onto the coast path.

The coastline is rugged, and the path undulates it’s way west back towards Salcombe.

Creature comforts as we get nearer to Salcombe.

Wildlife. There are hundreds of these butterflies at the moment.

Our track for today. It turned out to be 28 km for the round trip.
Gara Rock & East Portlemouth
A bit gloomy today, so we get the ferry across to East Portlemouth. Spring tides this weekend, so the estuary is a sea of mud this morning.

Up at Gara Rock the work to convert the old hotel into holiday apartments continues. It seems to be taking years to complete, don’t suppose there are too many buyers at the moment. We have a pasty at the Lookout cafe.

We usually follow the coast path from here, but for a change we head north and follow the road inland over the hill. Great views from the top.

Eventually we reach East Portlemouth. It’s a very sleepy village. The last shop closed years ago. No pub either.

Great views towards Salcombe though.

It’s a steep walk back down to the beach, and yachts are beginning to fill the harbour.
Hope Cove, Bolberry, Bolt Head, Salcombe
This is the classic day-walk on this stretch of coast, amounting to around 20km if you go the long way. We get a taxi to Hope from Salcombe.

We climb towards Bolt Tail. Great views of Hope.

Eventually, we climb around the very end of Bolt Head, and we’re back in the estuary.

Our track for the day. The sharp-eyed will notice that we got the ferry back from South Sands!
Off to Salcombe
Arrived at midday, crab sandwich at Kingsbridge. Dumped the car and headed towards Batson.

From Batson we head uphill across a field and climb towards Batson Cross.

Another mile or so and the views begin to open up.

Anyhow, enough walking, I need a beer. Our track:

We head to the Ferry. It’s a fantastic afternoon.

The River Maid calls at the Ferry. We hop on and have more beers in Kingsbridge, before returning by bus.
Home
Eigergletcher to Kleine Scheidegg
Good meal at the Pickel last night, much jollity.

Up to Eigergletscher this morning, and walked down to the lateral moraine. The glacier has retreated about 300 metres in the last 5 years. Dark down here, it feels very exposed.

A bit further down the scree turns to grass, and there are signs of life.

The railway company built this artificial lake 2 years ago. Its purpose is to store water for the snow cannons, but they’ve actually made it look really nice.

Alongside the lake is an old railway building which now houses a tiny museum. Inside you can find out all about the different routes up the north face of the Eiger, which overlooks this area.

The rocks which line the lake have been inscribed with the names of all those who have perished on the face, from the very first in 1935, up to the most recent in 2010.

From the lake, the path descends gently towards Scheidegg.

It’s impossible to resist a glance over your shoulder for one last look at the north face.

Huge lunch of schnitzel & chips, in the Eigernordwand restaurant, naturally.
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