Along the Jurassic coast

Last weekend we were invited to an exhibition of paintings of the Jurassic Coast. They were fantastic and inspired us to do what we have talked about for the past two years and walk the whole length of the Jurassic Coast.

It just happened that this week that we had two empty days in the diary, and the weather forecast was good walking weather - we really had no excuse not to begin! The Jurassic Coast coast is 95 miles long and stretches from Exmouth to Poole and reveals a walk through time of 185 million years!. The route takes us along part of the South West Coast Path, although we have walked most of the Dorset stretch in days out, over many years, we were unfamiliar with most of the Devon section.

We hadn't looked at the tide timetable before setting out, but once we saw that it was low tide we choose to walk along the beach for the first few miles avoiding the inclines and enjoying the walk and views along the sand.

The smells were enticing and Tavi even abandoned his ball to investigate!

Climbing the cliffs couldn't be avoided for ever but the views made up for the extra effort involved.

On the first day we managed to reach Budleigh Salterton, and enjoyed a snack on the pebble beach before retracing our steps, taking a route inland back to the car.

On the second day we did another circular route, which took us through copses, and fields looking back at the route we had previously walked and then carrying onwards and upwards!

The highlight of the second walk apart from the amazing views was this Honesty Cafe we found, it was such a brilliant and simple idea that has been set up in an old wooden shipping container previously belonging to the HMS Devonport. We helped ourselves to coffee and delicious homemade biscuits, and dog biscuits and paid a very reasonable price for the privilege. It was so good that we had something at the beginning and the end of the walk!

There was a note in the visitors book thanking the owners for them being so trusting, kind and homely reminding the writer of his time being evacuated during World War 2.It reminded me of a book I found a few years ago about two young men cycling in the West Country in the 1930's they just knocked on strangers doors when they wanted a bed for the night. It is good to see a warm welcome can still be found for visitors today.

The fields surrounding the farm all had separate signs showing us what crops were growing and also informing us about the wildlife they are encouraging.