Next Leg of the SouthWest Coast Path - Combe Martin to Barnstaple 19-25 January 2024

Now that the bunnies are successfully back with their mother, I am free to do some hiking. This next leg of the SouthWest Coast Path (SWCP) is something I planned back in August, but had to abandon as accommodations weren't available at that time.

This next leg will be starting where the last one ended - Combe Martin to Barnstaple and, funnily enough, I'll be staying at the House o'Cards which is where I had dinner the last night of my last leg.

Today was all about getting to the start. Combe Martin is about 144 miles from Liphook. I started on the 9:52 train out of Liphook to Reading via Guildford and then Reading to Barnstaple via Exeter St. David's.

Then I caught the 301 bus which took another hour 20 to get to Combe Martin and dropped off right in front of my B and B-walking time-1 minute. It's a bit discouraging to think that I'll be walking 6 days to get back to where I started.

Weather today was beautiful and cold, but I expect rain for almost all the days I'm walking.

Chris helped me to get 1st class tickets for less then the price of a base ticket, so I took it! First class all the way.

The trip was uneventful, with the exception of the train change at Reading. I just happened to look at the monitor as I passed and noticed my connection was 20 minutes delayed which meant I would miss my connection at Exeter. Luckily the earlier train was delayed by 10 minutes and I just had time to find the conductor and get his approval to take the train - this wasn't allowed on my specially priced ticket, so it was very kind of him.

I had another near miss at Exeter and it was good I did take the earlier train. I only had 1 minute and ran along the platform with my fully loaded pack.

My pack somehow feels lighter than normal, but it's still jam packed.

I was offered a hot drink and cookies on the Reading to Exeter leg.

I chose coffee which was a mistake and the cookies weren't great. I did manage to get a tea later on which was edible.

The weather was so clean I could see Wales clearly as we drove to Combe Martin. This will probably be my only clear day, so took shots while I could, even if they do emphasize the dirty window on the bus.

Pack o'Cards hasn't changed much since last time.

I had an uninspiring dinner of soup and salad and the soup had WAY too much worcestershire sauce. It was almost inedible. Stupidly I ordered apple crumble for dessert which was equally awful. the ice cream wasn't too bad.

I sat near where I sat for dinner on my last trip - here's the table.

My room was ready for me, but was FREEZING and the promised space heater wasn't in the closet.

I got one from reception and a bit later the gal came up and figured out how to turn on the radiator and things warmed up nicely.