Ilfracombe to Combe Martin

21/8/14 The local pensioners were running a coach to Ilfracombe for the day, so that seemed too good an opportunity to miss as there was a chance of a few pubs. We arrived on the front just after eleven and made our way to the harbour where we had finished previously. The Sandpiper Inn was not open.

So we started off around the harbour opposite Verity in the light rain. We ascended through some parklands and then kept on climbing.

Once at the top, it was straight down again into Hele Bay. It was two minutes before twelve, but this pub wasn't open yet either. A sausage roll later, it was.

The Hele Bay was a pleasant enough family pub. Pints of Tribute (4.2%) and Liquid Sunshine (3.9%) for £5.90 set us up for the rest of this short walk. It doesn't stray too far from the coast road, but still managed some short, steep, wet sections before entering Watermouth Bay. Here, the path goes through the camp site and is soon heading into Combe Martin.

The Dolphin Inn looks like a terraced house and feels slightly like one inside, but does have a large beer garden. Pints of Doom (4%) and Proper Job (4.5%) for £6.30 were consumed whilst we played a few games of pool. A couple of doors further on is the closed Royal Marine. Opposite here, the path follows the road away from the beach and the Fo'c's'le Inn. Combe Martin has better than average path signs for a town. We had a pint in the Focsle Inn anyway and a tasty pasty as we waited for the bus back.

In Ilfracombe, we went back to the Sandpipers for two pints of Doom (4%) for £6.40. We chatted with some holidaymakers that we had met on the path earlier. There was even a skittle alley in the bar. We must be getting near home.