Day 5 - Beesands to Dartmouth 

Time Departed: 9.20am

Time Arrived: 4.15pm 

Distance: 19kms 

Cumulative Distance: 95.5kms 

Percentage Complete: 26.5%

Number of Steps: 31,000 (146,000)

Walking Grade: Easy and moderate

Weather: Sunny, Max 20 

Accommodation: The Royal Castle 

Feelings: Henk - Looking forward to a rest day, Di - Good 

It was an easier day with an initial sharp “up and downer” from Beesands to the next village of Torcross which was only 1.5kms away. Torcross, like Beesands, only consisted of a promenade of houses and cafes overlooking the sea and very little behind. The sea was so calm it seemed that the waves had very little energy but to plop themselves onto the stony sand.

After Torcross there was a long, flat walk alongside the Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve. We had seen this featured on one of Michael Portello’s programs so we were keen to see it. The reserve which consists of a lake was on our left and the sea was on our right and we walked on a narrow strip of land between the two for about five kilometres. 

After finishing the stretch we had morning tea at eleven o’clock when we found a cafe van on the beach. We decided to have a break before the steep climb up to Strete. It was an ideal morning to sit in the sun. It didn’t have the heat in it compared to the previous days.

After Strete the route moved away from the cliff paths we had become used to on our previous days and it came further inland. This took

us through cool forests and open fields and fewer views of the sea. 

We did have a very steep descent and ascent prior to Blackpool Sands. We had to do our counting again to get to the top. 

At Blackpool Sands at one o’clock we caught up with an English couple, Emma and Dean before having lunch. We have seen them each day since we caught the same small ferry at Plymouth on Day One. We have come across each other on a daily basis, either on the path or staying at the same accommodation. This was their last day on this section of the path before returning home. We later met them at Dartmouth Castle for afternoon tea before saying our goodbyes. Henk and I enjoyed having chats with them and comparing our daily walking experiences.

We found a covered picnic table and had delicious crab sandwiches. After lunch as we climbed up a steep path from Blackpool Sands to Stoke Fleming a young woman offered to take our photo. It was a good view over the countryside where we had walked before lunch.

It was a wonderful view of Dartmouth Harbour as we made our way on the southern side to our accommodation. 

Our accommodation is an iconic 17th century hotel in the centre of Dartmouth and a minute’s walk from the River Dart. 

We will be staying for two nights and having a rest day tomorrow after five days of walking. Our priority first thing tomorrow is to go to the laundromat and give our walking clothes a decent wash.