A very fine donation.

A big thank you to Wayne Smith and St James Place Capital for the very kind and generous donation to ELF.

Thank You and Cheers.

Well that's all folks. Thank you for following my 630 mile stroll in 40 days around the South West Coast Path.

It has been enormous fun and whilst there were more challenging days at the start when I was unfit and carrying too much weight (on me and my rucksack) , I still thrived on the challenge. Dig in !

A big thank you to all those who walked with me for a day or two; your company was appreciated and I hope you enjoyed it.

A special thank you to those who not only had me to stay, but also patiently took me back to the previous nights collection point.

I thoroughly enjoyed the message and email banter with friends.

I thoroughly appreciate darling Jo allowing me the time away. My previous employer also made the stroll possible by granting me a permanent leave of absence.

Finally, thank you for all the kind donations to ELF, small or large, they all count and we are well on the way to meeting the Target figure. Your donations will make a difference to those suffering with leukemia today and in the future. My dear Mum Hilarie Maunder would be proud of all of you.

Cheers.....mine's a Tribute.

Another Banner and Marker shot.

Family shot with ELF banner.

Thank you Sarah Shaw of ELF for coming along to greet us and bringing the banner. There is still time to make a donation to ELF if you plan to.

Minehead arrival at SWCP Marker.

Arrived at 2.45 to lovely reception by family members. Has been a very pleasant stroll today in lovely sunny conditions.

Final descent into Minehead.

Still enjoying every moment.

Burgundy Chapel.

We were making far too good time so got agreement to take the team off road down a very steep decline to visit the old ruin of Burgundy Chapel.
Dunster Castle records of 1405 show this was a quiet sanctuary of the Lord Dunster. Bit like us fellas have a shed down the garden I guess.

Selworthy Beacon.

It's all downhill from here.......!

Lunch supplies arrive at Selworthy Beacon.

Richard and Di make the hike up from Selworthy village with pasties.

Girls setting the pace

Having had Justin and Dan set the pace over the last 2 days, I now had the girls pushing on up towards Selworthy Beacon.

Porlock Bay.

Lovely clear day with views to South Wales and Dunkery Beacon. Less than 10 miles to go to Minehead and once we had dealt with Bossington Hill, it was plain sailing.

Crossing Sparkhayes Marsh.

Lovely to stroll along on this final day with the girls. Morris and Thor somewhere about too.

Day 40 Squad.

Surprise visit from Rosie and Mo. Pippa has school exam. Let's go strolling....

PW more and more

Team have just arrived.

PW beach front

PW more

Good WiFi so going to spoil you.....

Day 40 Porlock Weir.

Full English nailed. Little stroll in morning sunshine before support team arrives for cruise into Minehead.

Millers at The Anchor Hotel.

Dan appeared back for his rucksack and the 'other wing' of the daze. Great to have his company.

So just 10 miles to go to Minehead, and 620 miles and 39 days completed. Am looking forward to seeing Jo and the girls, but will miss the South West Coast Path. Just might need to revisit !

Sunny Porlock Weir.

After a quick bottle of Otter Beautiful Daze the sunshine came out. Took a stroll.

Soggy Porlock Weir

It started to rain in the afternoon, but we were mainly under the canopy of Culbone Wood, so not too wet. Visited Culbone Church, the smallest church in England. Totally isolated in the woods. Dates back to 1300s. Arrived Porlock Weir at 3pm. Dan cycled back to Lynmouth for car. 

View back to Lynmouth.

View from The Foreland looking back at Lynmouth and Ruddy Ball, with Highveer Point (river Heddon) in the distance.
Dan pushing on the pace !

Foreland Point

It looked rather daunting after my full English breakfast. A short day and no fodder stops en route so took advantage of breakfast and a later start. The route was then a steady climb and subsequently followed contours around that lump.
The day started dry and bright.

Day 39

Dan Watt joined me today as a fresh pacemaker to keep me on Target as I try and stretch these last 20 miles out as long as possible.
Apologies for lack of blog last night from Lynmouth but there was no signal and no inn has taken the initiative and installed free WiFi.

High Path Valley of the Rocks.

Justin decided that the stroll had not been challenging enough, so we climbed up above the valley for a better view. Cricket ground on the right. It was then a short drop down to Lynmouth where we watched the surf rolling in. No mobile signal and no pub wi fi available.
Enjoyed a quality steak and glass of red in the Rising Sun Inn reading the Sunday Times. Content.

Lee Abbey.

Very well kept farmland in this lovely valley that leads up to the Valley of the Rocks.

The Hunters Inn

As it was day 38 broke golden rule and enjoyed an Exmoor Ale at lunchtime. It was required to ease down the hunters inn steak burger.

Views back to Holdstone Down

Looking across Elwill Bay.

View back to Combe Martin

The view back from Little Hangman as we strolled up to Great Hangman. Sheep thief Hung himself when sheep that he had tied to his neck slipped ....so tale goes.
Great Hangman is the highest point on the SWCP at 318m.

Exmoor Coast Vista.

It was very windy, which helped blow through the odd shower, clearing the light providing stunning views of the coastline.

Day 38

Walking with Justin P today for this final relatively arduous stretch to Lynmouth. Looking forward to lunch at the Hunters Inn already.

Ramblers Ruin.

Is that RT on the bottle ?

Exmoor Country.

Tomorrow is regarded as one of the toughest sections of the path. Combe Martin to Lynmouth. 8 hours of strenuous with the heavier pack, and I have a new blister. But if the weather is clear I will enjoy the views and enjoy every moment. Looking forward to a visit to the Hunters Inn which would appear to be in the middle of wilderness. And have a lung specialist joining me tomorrow to keep me going up the hills.

Ilfracombe in the Afternoon.

Found a small fish shop on the harbour front and had a cracking crab sandwich for lunch. Reflecting back on my trip. Just 3 days left.

Lee Bay and Shag Point.

Had a cup of coffee and a handsome slice of coffee cake in the Smugglers Cottage. No rush today. Looked out at the Bay and wrote up my journal.

Windy Lag.

Couldn't resist it.

Looking back to Morte Point.

Short stroll today from Woolacombe via Ilfracombe to Combe Martin. Day 37.

Morte Bay and Woolacombe Sand.

The day ended with some lovely sunshine having had light rain and cloud early on. Enjoyed strolling along the beach and pleased to find a nice pint of Tribute in the Red Barn just off the sand in Woolacombe.
Just 4 days to go and just over 50 miles until Minehead. Am ahead of schedule, and am enjoying every last strolling moment.

Baggy Point.

Past Baggys Surf Lodge, around Baggy Point and down to the Putsborough Cafe for a cup of tea.

Low Tide Saunton Sands.

Good spaghetti bolognese to bolster energy at the Beach Cafe.

Braunton High Tide

Relaxed start on day 36 with coffee and pastry stop in Barnstaple. Then on down that Tarka Trail towards Braunton Burrows.
Past Chivenor and some poor marine squadies bashing out some miles with full packs and rifles.
Dropped into the Tiki factory shop in Braunton and discussed what shape of board an old unfit surfer like me should have. A fish apparently !

That dreaded tarmac.

Barnstable in the distance. Ricky has now shown up and we are sampling further Golden Pig which is brewed at the Big Sheep.

Support from the Devon County Show.

I had left Instow and was looking at endless dull miles of straight tarmac Tarka Trail towards Barnstable, when this inspirational photo pinged in from Captain T and Ricky.
However am sitting comfortably now, having had a surprise visit from Justin Pepperell, with a pint of Golden Pig waiting for Tricky Ricky to show at Barnstable. Still no Ricky, better have the other wing.

Estruary Wreck.

Reminds me of a sailing situation in the Western Isles when a very nice yacht nearly went the same way in Tinkers Hole.

Descent into Westward Ho !

End of the strenuous sections for a couple of days.

Lost Property Steps.

Path dropped down to beach between Green Cliff and Abbotsham Cliff. Plenty of fantastic Driftwood.

View to Abbotsham Cliff

After 2 days of poor light, it is great to have the views back again on day
35 with less than 80 miles to go.

Rick and Hemp.

A big thank you to Rick and Jo for your hospitality during this stretch up from Bude. Day 34 today and 535 miles completed. Nice pint of Golden Pig with Rick and Marshy in Thatched Inn at Abbotsham.

The Braund Family of Bucks Mill.

The Braund family were a well known fishing family.

View back to Clovelly Harbour.

Rick and his trusty sheepdog Hemp joined us for lunch and we pushed on. Dad made his way back to his car after a solid 10 mile walk.

Clovelly Harbour.

Stopped for lunch at The Red Lion on Clovelly harbour.