Having walked the surprisingly remote and very picturesque South Devon coast (reaching Lyme Regis, Dorset, in April 2021), hiking the entire South West Coast Path was in sight. It had to be done!
In May, I continued from Lyme Regis heading east. After the many ferries of South Devon, Dorset brought fossils, landslides, and a nudist beach! Switching to the north coast, I had the dramatic cliffs of Somerset and north Devon in the area of Lorna Doone and Exmoor National Park. On the recommendation of a local, I hired a bike for the cycle path inland from Braunton to Barnstable and back towards the coast through Bideford, ending the stage in Westward Ho! What a great name for a town!
At Hartland Point, I turned south and the Cornish coast came into view, finishing at the border on a hot day in July.
The key stats for the whole walk (including the Cornish coast from last year):
⁃ Total distance: 1,091 km / 678 miles
⁃ Total ascent: 33,428 metres / 109,672 feet
⁃ Total time on the trail: 269 hours over 42 days
⁃ 13 ferries, 1 water powered funicular and a day of mostly cycling.
On the spectacular and incredibly beautiful walk, I learned the truth that the mind is the most powerful muscle in your body; the will to keep going is what matters.
Katrina was with me every step of the way and I dedicate every mile, every butterfly, every cooling breeze, every mushroom, every clump of moss, every river crossing, every stunning view, the joy, the pain and the experience to the love of my life.
Say ‘yeah why not’ and keep following the arrows.
These are some photos from this final stage of the journey:
Dorset: Lyme Regis beach huts, fossil hunters, Chesil Beach, Abbotsbury and a free dinner at Kersbrook Gust House (thank you!)
followingthearrows 
Amazing
LikeLike
Hi Howard:
Would you please let us know which guidebook did you use? Thank you kindly.
Stay safe…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Tony
Most days I set off without knowing where I was headed. This allowed me to be in the moment, with my thoughts as company.
I followed the National Trail arrows with the help of the OS Map App on my phone when things were less obvious. It did mean that I didn’t have all the background and other useful information that you get from a guidebook. I met Paddy Dillon on the trail updating his Cicerone guidebook and if I were to use one, it would be that. Happy Trails…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Katrina would be smitten with your wording and photos. Kat was a fantastic photographer with an eye for both beauty and composition. Hope you are proud of your efforts. I am.
LikeLike
What a yourney!!
Op zo 24 okt. 2021 13:20 schreef followingthearrows :
> followingthearrows posted: ” Having walked the surprisingly remote and > very picturesque South Devon coast (reaching Lyme Regis, Dorset, in April > 2021), hiking the entire South West Coast Path was in sight. It had to be > done! In May, I continued from Lyme Regis heading east. Afte” >
LikeLike
What an amazing trip Howard, i often think of Katerina and hope that the walking you do brings you some comfort
LikeLike
Well done, great achievement
LikeLike
Only a few weeks ago I discovered Kat’s blog.I started reading and kept reading. Her stories are inspiring and interesting. Only last week I read in ‘about’ that Kat had left this world. It came as a shock. So very, very sorry to hear this. I miss her, although I am just a passer by and fully understand why you, Howard, want to follow Kat’s footsteps.Stay strong and don’t give up.
LikeLike
Dear Linda
Thank you for your message. You can also follow in Kat’s footsteps through the two amazing books she wrote, both published by Cicerone.
LikeLike