Fuelled by the success of our Devon Coast to Coast bike ride in November - the Three Tenners - my brothers Rob and Mike and myself were looking for the next challenge.
As brothers we live geographically a fair way apart and all have busy lives so finding a date that works for all of us is not straightforward and has to be planned a fair bit in advance. We have done quite a bit of hiking together. We are not necessarily fair weather walkers and we have some good gear. We agreed the East Devon Way trail in mid February. Obviously mid Feb carries some weather risks but we are always optimistic and what is the worst that can happen?
The East Devon Way trail walk is from Lyme Regis to Exmouth. It is 40 miles - not coastal - inland and rural - Devon's rolling hills!
The East Devon Way is a marked trail - the pink Foxglove and arrows. However signposting is minimal and you feel you are in open country - which you are. We had a GPS, the 2 OS Explorer Maps (115 & 116) which covered the whole route plus the written guide. All were useful at times.
As it turned out the weather forecast for the weekend was grim. Storm Ciara had previously come through and dumped a lot of rain. Ominously Storm Denis was due. It was bound to come but when it would hit was less certain in specifics. We might get away with it but it was unlikely. The worst of the storm seemed to be due to arrive on Saturday.
We set out from Lyme Regis at 8 am on February 14th. (thank you Kay (Rob's wife) for dropping us off on Valentines Day!) Our plan was to walk to The Red Lion at Sidbury which we had booked for the night. It was 21.5 miles away. The next day we would do the second leg to Exmouth - all being well.
The weather was great when we set out. We each had our thoughts of course. Mine was we were taking on a lot - but we were hardly in The Himalayas or for that matter on Dartmoor (where more caution would be appropriate). I have done the IOW Randonee many times. It is a 26 mile walk in May. It is of course doable but it is definitely tiring. Today's walk was shorter by about 5 miles - but the weather could be a factor and I expected hard going on the trail with the weather we had recently had. And then there was 18.5 miles the next day - the storm day - realistically a big ask. Mike is always dogged but thoughtful. Rob just wants to go for it regardless. We are a fine mix - ha!
I just have to mention the start - we were lost. Broad Street Lyme Regis has two carparks East and West. We were in the wrong one! When we worked that one out we found the trail and were on our way.
The morning part of the walk was really great. There was no one around. It became wonderfully rural. There was no road noise. It was special. The route quickly - follow the River Lim out of Lyme Regis to Upwey - on to Musbury and across the very wet and boggy River Axe valley to Colyton. The wet made it hard going at times - but it is a great area. After Colyton which was about 9 miles we pressed on to Northleigh, Farway and into the back of Sidbury by about 5.30 pm. The latter part was more on narrow lanes - the weather was gloomier so not quite as lovely as the morning. We were tired - stuck to it well considering we had no long breaks as we were conscious of time. The Red Lion was a very welcome sight.
We all felt pleased with ourselves. It was a very enjoyable stop over. A double room each. Hot bath - beer and the Valentines menu - lol! The locals could not quite make us out - but we had a good laugh especially as the pub really filled up. A very good place to be. My brothers had the good sense to go to bed at a reasonable time but alas I was still there to hear last orders.
Hanging over us was what to do next day. Some of the locals thought we would be mad to attempt the second leg because the forecast for Storm Denis was bad and was arriving. We were all up for it despite being tired - who likes to fail when you say you are going to do something? My thoughts were the cold and wet were not going to kill us - we were never going to be that far from civilisation - ha! Tiredness was just tiredness, However at the same time there was no sense in being irresponsible. My main concern was the wind forecast and resulting tree damage,
After discussion we agree to give it a go and keep under review. However we made the decision to use country lanes to in theory avoid the worst of the wet conditions which delayed us so much. We had a fantastic English breakfast and set out early on an inclement morning with the likelihood of it getting much worse.
We moved along Indian file each in our own thoughts. There was not much traffic but enough to be a concern. The lanes were full of surface water - with some huge puddles at times. It was raining so we had hoods up. It was windy making approaching vehicles hard to hear. To cut to the chase - it wasn't much fun. We were vulnerable on the road. The heavy rain would have made the full designated trail an unrealistic option I think. We considered getting on to the coastal footpath but Mike knew it well and felt if the wind came in as forecast it would not be sensible to try walking into it.
So in the end common sense prevailed. We walked about 6 miles and bused back from Sidmouth to Exmouth. We all agreed it was probably the right decision. It was definitely the sensible one. However you cannot get away from the fact that we did not finish it and I know my bothers well enough to know this bothered them. I feel irritated now even writing it - but the weather did deteriorate significantly. Anyway we live to fight another day - ha!
The three of us definitely feel as Devon lads that the East Devon Way is a hidden gem. We will do it again and finish it properly next time. It was great to be out with my bruvs - it is always special - and the great thing is we all three recognise it as such. Our families love to see us do things together and we are grateful for their support. Our mum and dad are very sadly no longer with us but it is undoubtedly a tribute to them that their three boys are out there together. Fantastic. xxx
As brothers we live geographically a fair way apart and all have busy lives so finding a date that works for all of us is not straightforward and has to be planned a fair bit in advance. We have done quite a bit of hiking together. We are not necessarily fair weather walkers and we have some good gear. We agreed the East Devon Way trail in mid February. Obviously mid Feb carries some weather risks but we are always optimistic and what is the worst that can happen?
The East Devon Way trail walk is from Lyme Regis to Exmouth. It is 40 miles - not coastal - inland and rural - Devon's rolling hills!
The East Devon Way is a marked trail - the pink Foxglove and arrows. However signposting is minimal and you feel you are in open country - which you are. We had a GPS, the 2 OS Explorer Maps (115 & 116) which covered the whole route plus the written guide. All were useful at times.
As it turned out the weather forecast for the weekend was grim. Storm Ciara had previously come through and dumped a lot of rain. Ominously Storm Denis was due. It was bound to come but when it would hit was less certain in specifics. We might get away with it but it was unlikely. The worst of the storm seemed to be due to arrive on Saturday.
We set out from Lyme Regis at 8 am on February 14th. (thank you Kay (Rob's wife) for dropping us off on Valentines Day!) Our plan was to walk to The Red Lion at Sidbury which we had booked for the night. It was 21.5 miles away. The next day we would do the second leg to Exmouth - all being well.
The weather was great when we set out. We each had our thoughts of course. Mine was we were taking on a lot - but we were hardly in The Himalayas or for that matter on Dartmoor (where more caution would be appropriate). I have done the IOW Randonee many times. It is a 26 mile walk in May. It is of course doable but it is definitely tiring. Today's walk was shorter by about 5 miles - but the weather could be a factor and I expected hard going on the trail with the weather we had recently had. And then there was 18.5 miles the next day - the storm day - realistically a big ask. Mike is always dogged but thoughtful. Rob just wants to go for it regardless. We are a fine mix - ha!
I just have to mention the start - we were lost. Broad Street Lyme Regis has two carparks East and West. We were in the wrong one! When we worked that one out we found the trail and were on our way.
The morning part of the walk was really great. There was no one around. It became wonderfully rural. There was no road noise. It was special. The route quickly - follow the River Lim out of Lyme Regis to Upwey - on to Musbury and across the very wet and boggy River Axe valley to Colyton. The wet made it hard going at times - but it is a great area. After Colyton which was about 9 miles we pressed on to Northleigh, Farway and into the back of Sidbury by about 5.30 pm. The latter part was more on narrow lanes - the weather was gloomier so not quite as lovely as the morning. We were tired - stuck to it well considering we had no long breaks as we were conscious of time. The Red Lion was a very welcome sight.
We all felt pleased with ourselves. It was a very enjoyable stop over. A double room each. Hot bath - beer and the Valentines menu - lol! The locals could not quite make us out - but we had a good laugh especially as the pub really filled up. A very good place to be. My brothers had the good sense to go to bed at a reasonable time but alas I was still there to hear last orders.
Hanging over us was what to do next day. Some of the locals thought we would be mad to attempt the second leg because the forecast for Storm Denis was bad and was arriving. We were all up for it despite being tired - who likes to fail when you say you are going to do something? My thoughts were the cold and wet were not going to kill us - we were never going to be that far from civilisation - ha! Tiredness was just tiredness, However at the same time there was no sense in being irresponsible. My main concern was the wind forecast and resulting tree damage,
After discussion we agree to give it a go and keep under review. However we made the decision to use country lanes to in theory avoid the worst of the wet conditions which delayed us so much. We had a fantastic English breakfast and set out early on an inclement morning with the likelihood of it getting much worse.
We moved along Indian file each in our own thoughts. There was not much traffic but enough to be a concern. The lanes were full of surface water - with some huge puddles at times. It was raining so we had hoods up. It was windy making approaching vehicles hard to hear. To cut to the chase - it wasn't much fun. We were vulnerable on the road. The heavy rain would have made the full designated trail an unrealistic option I think. We considered getting on to the coastal footpath but Mike knew it well and felt if the wind came in as forecast it would not be sensible to try walking into it.
So in the end common sense prevailed. We walked about 6 miles and bused back from Sidmouth to Exmouth. We all agreed it was probably the right decision. It was definitely the sensible one. However you cannot get away from the fact that we did not finish it and I know my bothers well enough to know this bothered them. I feel irritated now even writing it - but the weather did deteriorate significantly. Anyway we live to fight another day - ha!
The three of us definitely feel as Devon lads that the East Devon Way is a hidden gem. We will do it again and finish it properly next time. It was great to be out with my bruvs - it is always special - and the great thing is we all three recognise it as such. Our families love to see us do things together and we are grateful for their support. Our mum and dad are very sadly no longer with us but it is undoubtedly a tribute to them that their three boys are out there together. Fantastic. xxx
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| Rob and Mike first morning |
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| Rob and Mike. Lovely walking between Upwey and Musbury. |
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| Hard to avoid wet feet. |
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| Rob didn't - but slow going. |
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| Afternoon 1st day |
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| early 2nd morning after a full English - weather coming in. |
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