LEJOG
Distance walked – 36.2km (22.6miles)
Total Distance – 312.5km (195.3miles)
Although there’s been rain and it’s coming again
Change has to be here obviously
Though my friend the sun looks well on the run
He’s there in the distance if you care to see
Family – My friend the sun
Phil, Lou and me
Today we continued on our journey inland as we crossed into the Exmoor National Park and took to the wild and isolated moors. It was another special day as we were joined by Phil and Louise and their family who had travelled down from London to spend the weekend in Exmoor and to join us for a days walking.
The day was all about catching up with old friends, the route, scenery and landscape, mere backdrops to the events.
We left Barnstaple in a fine drizzle, clothed in full waterproof gear. We followed some inebriated partygoers on their way home from a big night through the otherwise deserted town centre before climbing out through the suburbs and leaving the town behind us. We met our old friend Phil on the outskirts of the town at 06:30, and then set off for the days adventure along a quiet lane.
The lane turned into a bridleway, and we soon entered some woodland above the RIver Yeo which we followed for some time. It quickly became apparent that today was going to be another day of mud, the rainfall overnight having turned many of the paths into a quagmire. Phil cleverly found us a higher drier track that allowed us to avoid some of the worse sections through the wood. The rain slowly cleared as the morning progressed.
Chelfham Viaduct
The initial woodland stretch bought us out at Chelfham where we admired the dramatic restored railway viaduct, a feat of Victorian construction, its hand-built brick construction spanning high above the valley. After some further woodland, we walked on the road through a steep sided valley, where the roadside hedges had been recently layed, this ancient tradition adding a timeless dimension to the landscape we were passing through.
Hedge-laying
We crossed some steep fields, heading upwards, before coming out in the village of Bratton Fleming having completed about 14km of the morning’s walk. Bratton Fleming is not the prettiest of villages but makes up for it with its excellent facilities (shop and toilets). We stopped at the friendly village store where the owner made us coffees and guessed immediately that we were on a LEJOG. Apparently she gets LEJOGgers through all the time and had several pass through this week already. As we sat down for our refreshments, a lady arrived in full gear with pack. We introduced ourselves to find she was also on the road to John o’Groats as well.
We left the LEJOG staging post and continued on our way, heading for the village of Challacombe where we were meeting Phil’s wife and family, Louise, Alice and Freddy for lunch. We passed a large Christmas Tree plantation before crossing a stream and following a bridleway through a farm. Unfortunately, we missed a bridleway sign and tried to traverse a wet boggy section with knee-high mud before realising our mistake. Luckily none of us fell, but retracing our steps was heart-breaking and we emerged onto the road into the village, mud-caked and unrecognisable from the water-proofed warriors who had set off this morning.
The afternoon gang
A cry greeted us from up the road and we turned to see Louise, Alice and Freddy, who had walked out from the pub to find us. Perfect timing! We all walked into the village where we had an excellent lunch at the Black Venus Inn (apparently it is the only pub called the Black Venus in the whole of the UK) before setting off for the afternoon’s walk
Up onto the moors
It was a fantastic but tiring route which took us up onto the moors of the Exmoor National Park. The way up was extremely boggy and slow going but once we had reached a high ridge, we followed its undulating course eastwards and were treated to spectacular views. The weather had slowly improved and was now quite warm with the sun trying to break its way through the grey cloud.
Across the boggy moors
With Alice and Freddy leading the way, we reached the highest point of the day at 480m, before beginning our descent off the moors. The sun finally broke through and we walked steeply down in brilliant afternoon sunshine.
The beautiful way down
Our feet were paying the price of another high mileage day in wet conditions, and it was with great relief that we arrived in the village of Simonsbath and to the Exmoor Forest Inn. On arrival we were greeted by more old friends, Clare and Steven who are joining us for the walk tomorrow. We had a great dinner together before retiring exhausted but a day closer on this journey.
Some of route (watch ran out of battery)
Accommodation – We stayed for the last two nights in an excellent Airbnb in Barnstaple. It was a modern summerhouse right in the town with a private, separate entrance, and everything we needed for a relaxing day off. We would highly recommend it.
2 Responses
Just wonderful memory making🙂
We’ll never forget that day with our lovely friends 🙂