East Prawle

Last night saw a very high spring tide in Salcombe. The quay was awash in places.

20120917-152459.jpg
The people at the Victoria have developed a marketing strategy..

20120917-152638.jpg
This morning we take the ferry to East Portlemouth like yesterday. It’s a beautiful morning.

20120917-153042.jpg
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.

20120917-153345.jpg
We have brunch at East Prawle, then head south onto the coast path.

20120917-153610.jpg
The coastline is rugged, and the path undulates it’s way west back towards Salcombe.

20120917-154445.jpg

20120917-154616.jpg
Creature comforts as we get nearer to Salcombe.

20120917-154738.jpg
Wildlife. There are hundreds of these butterflies at the moment.

20120917-154930.jpg
Stunning afternoon.

20120917-155021.jpg
Our track for today. It turned out to be 28 km for the round trip.

20120917-155333.jpg

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.

20120916-152120.jpg
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.

20120916-152440.jpg
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.

20120916-152852.jpg
Eventually we reach East Portlemouth. It’s a very sleepy village. The last shop closed years ago. No pub either.

20120916-153127.jpg
Great views towards Salcombe though.

20120916-153236.jpg
It’s a steep walk back down to the beach, and yachts are beginning to fill the harbour.

20120916-153441.jpg
Today’s track:

20120916-153722.jpg

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.

20120915-162118.jpg
We climb towards Bolt Tail. Great views of Hope.

20120915-162358.jpg
Soar Mill Cove.

20120915-162543.jpg
Friendly cows here..

20120915-162649.jpg
Starehole Bay.

20120915-162744.jpg
Eventually, we climb around the very end of Bolt Head, and we’re back in the estuary.

20120915-162940.jpg
Our track for the day. The sharp-eyed will notice that we got the ferry back from South Sands!

20120915-163107.jpg

Off to Salcombe

Arrived at midday, crab sandwich at Kingsbridge. Dumped the car and headed towards Batson.

20120915-154711.jpg
From Batson we head uphill across a field and climb towards Batson Cross.

20120915-160556.jpg
Another mile or so and the views begin to open up.

20120915-160739.jpg
Anyhow, enough walking, I need a beer. Our track:

20120915-161055.jpg
We head to the Ferry. It’s a fantastic afternoon.

20120915-161159.jpg
The River Maid calls at the Ferry. We hop on and have more beers in Kingsbridge, before returning by bus.

20120915-161332.jpg

Eigergletcher to Kleine Scheidegg

Good meal at the Pickel last night, much jollity.

20120825-153218.jpg
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.

20120825-153433.jpg

20120825-153456.jpg
A bit further down the scree turns to grass, and there are signs of life.

20120825-153722.jpg

20120825-153741.jpg
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.

20120825-153929.jpg
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.

20120825-154243.jpg
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.

20120825-154509.jpg

20120825-154529.jpg
From the lake, the path descends gently towards Scheidegg.

20120825-154725.jpg
It’s impossible to resist a glance over your shoulder for one last look at the north face.

20120825-154908.jpg
Huge lunch of schnitzel & chips, in the Eigernordwand restaurant, naturally.

20120825-155025.jpg