So back after our trip to Hayle and we wanted to get out again, only the weather wasn’t playing ball this time, infact apart from a very hot week at the end of May, the normally reliable month for sunshine was a wash out. This was the bank holiday weekend at the start of the month and low cloud and drizzle prevailed. We headed out to an area very near to home, taking advantage of walking through fields, valleys and the coastal path in an area we both know. We started off near to my mum and dad’s in Staddiscombe, crossing the football playing fields and picking up the road to Hollacombe. There we turned left and dropped down a footpath into Wembury Woods. I’m not sure what has happened to Wembury Woods but the path no longer follows the estuary, instead it climbs, drops and has become a rough path, not easy to walk. Its almost as if they are trying to stop access. Which is contrary to what is happening at a place called The Woodlands on the map, were previous fields have been opened up, planted and paths created, which if they headed down to the river below would be a fine addition. Soon we were on the edge of Wembury and heading towards Wembury Point, via Clitters Wood, which is another area which has gained some fences and new paths. Wembury Point heralded the start of the coastal path along to Wembury Beach and its church sat high above. We turned inland here, picking up more newly laid paths through the valley and looping around towards the rear of Langdon Court. To finish we crossed fields to the edge of Staddiscombe, and back along the main road to the car. A lovely loop of 10 miles which, would have been even better in some nice weather. I guess I can’t have the sun every week.
Start – Staddiscombe
Route – Staddiscombe fields – Hollacombe – Wembury Wood – Wembury – Clitters Wood – Wembury Point – South West Coastal Path – Wembury Church – Wembury – Churchwood Valley – Langdon Court – Staddiscombe
Distance – 10 miles Start time – 10.30am Time taken – 5hrs 10 mins Highest Point – Hollocombe 109 metres
Early May and what is probably one of the last games of this football season on Staddy fields, we are heading to far corner to get on to the road to Hollacombe.The Z4 battery which protected Plymouth, there are stories of lights being lit up here or further east to draw the aircraft away from Plymouth and into the line of fire.Hollacombe, from here we drop into the tress below and normally you would have a lovely view to Western Beacon, but the low cloud has enveloped that Bluebells in the woods as we follow the path to the estuaryThe path used be an easy one, like it is in the photo above, to get here however we were up/down/up/down steep slopes, none of the paths were flat even when walking with the contour, tree roots stuck up and in winter it must be treacherous. I will ignore the sign in future and follow the path along the bottom again. Anyway this is the River Yealm estuary as it meets Cofflete CreekThat way is Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo, plus the sea. We sat here for a coffeeClimbing out of Wembury Woods we passed lots of bluebellsAnd entered this lovely area, lots of planting of trees and hopefully plenty of paths linking it all togetherHopefully the tracks go down to the Yealm down there, the fields heading that way certainly seem to be included in the plantingHele Almshouses on the edge of WemburyRoad Arisings must not be left here, be warned!The previous good weather has brought plenty of these Painted Lady’s to DevonWembury Point and the bench with a view. The Great Mew Stone out to seaYealm estuary, the coastal path crosses down there, were you catch a boat to the other sideWalking towards Wembury beachGara Point is the other side of the estuarySt Werburgh’s, The Great Mew Stone and Wembury BeachDespite living near here for 40 years this was my first visit insideThe path along Churchwood Valley has been nicely relaid. The sun is trying to break through a bit hereAround the back of Langdon Court, house in the trees at the top and behind a much newer buildWe walked along a road, across some farm fields to this pill box. Another remnant of World War 2 and one of the best surviving ones in Plymouth. The houses you can see behind are Staddiscombe and all we needed was a short road walk to the car.
treksandtors 
I’ve not done a coastal walk for quite a while although I’m off to,the Gower in a couple of weekends time
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