Now I know what your going to say. He’s been away from posting for a couple of weeks and he returns with a walk from home, “what’s happened to Dartmoor or the coastal paths” I hear you say. Well the weather has happened, constant forecasts of heavy, potentially thundery downpours hasn’t encouraged me to get out high up on Dartmoor. Also I’d forgotten that a walk can be done whenever you want. I’d got a bit stuck in a rut with getting up early and heading out on a Sunday morning and if I couldn’t then I wasn’t walking that weekend. I’d checked the weather and the only drier section all weekend seemed to be from 6pm onwards on Sunday evening, and for some reason I marked it down as another weekend not walking. At about 2pm on Sunday afternoon the penny dropped. I’d spent all of lockdown finding great local walks, why not do one of them that evening. So I did and I was glad I did. This one is nearly 9 miles so its not short, but it has enough interest in it and great views to keep me happy. Next time I’ve always got the local coastal areas, but more importantly don’t forget the evening walks at this time of year.
Start – Home
Route – Staddiscombe – Hollacombe – Spriddlestone – Cofflete Creek – Start Point – Cylinder Bridge – Brixton – Old railway path – Elburton – Staddiscombe
Distance – 8.5 miles Start time – 5.40pm Time taken – 3hrs 45mins Highest Point – Hollacombe Hill 116 metres
Weather – Rain showers to start, then drier with a bit of blue sky. Breezy
Well I’m back on this road, with my usual first photo of a walk from home. Previously they’ve been in winter so a few more leaves on the hedges and bushes plus blossom on the treesAfter 6 weeks without a drop of rain, we’ve had 2 weeks with quite a lot. The tracks across the fields had become a bit softer but not too bad. I’m looking here to WemburyThe clouds were the stars of the walk today, some really black angry looking ones. White fluffy ones. And those with rain falling from them as these ones are in the distance. They would arrive in about 5 minutes driven by the brisk westerlyBits of Dartmoor in the distance. Western Beacon is the main lump on the left. The sky above me was very dark but the white clouds gave a nice contrastThis is a wet Wembury road after a downpour. I’m at Hollacombe and I’m dropping into the woods straight ahead, which should hold some bluebellsA decent patch just before I headed through the gate there and following the path to SpriddlestoneAfter the gate there was this field full of young bulls, lots of them gave me a stern look, a few started to head my way. But I gave them a calm no and they stopped and went back to eating once I’d passed.Some lovely framed views as I walk a cracking path to SpriddlestoneNow at Cofflete Creek, the tide is out, which is good, because I hadn’t checked the times and if its in then I’m standing in water and I want to go left along that roadA better look out along Cofflete Creek
One of the railway bridges which took the freight trains down to Steer Point quarry
I sat and had a brew on a bench just to my right here and enjoyed looking at some blue sky for a bit to the southAt the top of the path the view west opened up and across some lovely fields of gold the dark brooding clouds were racing in. The house across the right edge will feature in a later photo on this walkAfter the rape seed fields I turn to head across fields towards Steer Point, this section lets me look back from where I came, the far distance horizon is HollacombeAfter leaving Steer Point Road, I headed on to the path for Cylinder Bridge. I came across this lovely bright memorial. I’ve checked out the website Hollys Pombombs and the facebook page, and they encourage people to create the woollen pompoms and tie them up, its optional to leave the print out of the reason why. Some people just create the pompoms and leave them in baskets outside their house for people to take. A warming memorial to a tragic eventAlong the River Yealm towards Newton Ferrers, the boats moored show the sea isn’t far awayCylinder BridgeThere was sun breaking through at times and the rain had stayed away from me since Hollacombe, so all was well as I approached BrixtonKitley House between the treesBrixton as I walk a back lane rather than too much walking on the A379The sun catches the tops of the trees across what must have been the 200th field of lambs and their mothers on this walkThere’s the house on the right which puts me back at the rape seed golden field again. The A379 is behind me a short distance along it before I head down towards Otter Garden CentreRound the back of the garden centre is the old railway track to Yealmpton, which also branched off to Steer Point, this trackbed will take me homeIt was getting reasonably dark at this point, although the camera brightens things upOld railway buildingsInto Elburton now and just a short pull up the last hill and home. Dartmoor, and the area around Western Beacon, again in the distance
4 thoughts on “Hollacombe, Cylinder Bridge and Brixton”
I think I’ve been luckier up in Wales as I’ve missed most of the heavy rains while I’ve been out walking. The last year has helped me appreciate some of the less well known walks and those closer to home although I do envy you, your decent walks from the front door. It’s just Arable fields where I am, ok, but nothing terribly interesting
Its been lovely here today, probably the first dry day we’ve had for a few weeks and warm as well. But its back to heavy rain and wind tomorrow so I’m probably cancelling the planned camping trip with the boys. Its like its late October down here at the moment
Nothing wrong with repeating a favourite local walk! 😁 I recognise some of these views; interesting to see them in summer grab. And you’re right – one compensation for showery weather are the dramatic skies.
Evening walks are worth keeping in mind, with the recent weather, as the heavy rains sometimes leave after tea allowing for a decent walk at this time of year
treksandtors 
I think I’ve been luckier up in Wales as I’ve missed most of the heavy rains while I’ve been out walking. The last year has helped me appreciate some of the less well known walks and those closer to home although I do envy you, your decent walks from the front door. It’s just Arable fields where I am, ok, but nothing terribly interesting
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Its been lovely here today, probably the first dry day we’ve had for a few weeks and warm as well. But its back to heavy rain and wind tomorrow so I’m probably cancelling the planned camping trip with the boys. Its like its late October down here at the moment
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Nothing wrong with repeating a favourite local walk! 😁 I recognise some of these views; interesting to see them in summer grab. And you’re right – one compensation for showery weather are the dramatic skies.
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Evening walks are worth keeping in mind, with the recent weather, as the heavy rains sometimes leave after tea allowing for a decent walk at this time of year
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