Rich Meston
The adventure in photos

Half the Path

Half the Path in 24 photos: 226.9 miles over 8 days, 4–14 Sept 2021. Tap a photo to see where it was on the map and how far in I was.

  1. Photo at Poole station
    Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 09:53
    Poole station

    Ah, lovely Poole train station. Isn't it a delight! I remember in the 80's... or was it the 90's?... when the old brick block was demolished and replaced with a shiny new and exciting building.

    Anyway, this is where everything began, waiting for a train to Dorchester so I could begin the arduous journey all the way to Minehead.

  2. Photo at Dorchester
    Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 10:46
    Dorchester

    One cannot consider an endeavour such as walking the South West Coast Path without enough sustenance. So I headed straight for the mecca of fine food and beverages that is Wetherspoons, and randomly picked a table. Now that I look at the number, I wonder if I chose wisely…?

  3. Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 10:50
    Travel Day

    I'm pretty sure you didn't need to see my breakfast, but here it is anyway: 2021 vintage Wetherspoons Big Breakfast.

    I hadn't done much at this point, but I was planning on burning quite a few calories, so for once, I didn't feel an ounce of guilt devouring this plate.

  4. Photo at Dorchester West station
    Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 11:13
    Dorchester West station

    I then headed to what the Telegraph once described as “one of the worst stations in Great Britain” – Dorchester West. I think it’s had a lick of paint since 1989, so now it looks slightly less terrible and slightly more characterless. Still, it’s somewhere to wait for your train to be late.

  5. Photo at Castle Cary station
    Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 12:38
    Castle Cary station

    People start drinking early in Castle Cary. Saturday, midday, and there’s already at least 4 people somewhat worse for wear in the brick shelter behind me. In terms of station aesthetics, they’ve pushed the boat our here with not one, but two planters and some colourful flowers to draw your eye away from the metal fencing and scaffolding.

  6. Photo at Taunton
    Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 13:24
    Taunton

    Can you guess where this is?

    I spent a little while standing pretty much here, waiting for the bus to Minehead to arrive. It was fun doing a bit of people watching, although the footpath was narrow and I couldn't quite make my mind up as to where best to place my massive rucksack so as not to be in the way, which did detract from the moment a little.

  7. Photo at Minehead
    Sat, 4 Sept 2021 · 15:43
    Minehead

    The bus stop in Minehead was about 50 metres from the hotel. My epic sense of direction guided me swiftly in the wrong direction so it took me about 10 minutes to find the hotel. Skills.

    I dumped my bag in the room, went wandering for supplies and found this old piece of metal on the coast. I wonder what it’s for?

  8. Photo at Minehead
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 06:13
    Minehead

    Painted on the ground of the seafront in Minehead is a subtle guide for helping people with no navigation skills (like me) get going on the South West Coast Path. 630 miles away, over many lumps and bumps, lies Poole.

  9. Photo at Minehead
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 06:15
    Minehead

    Some idiot standing on a path in Minehead at 6 o’clock on a Sunday morning!

  10. Photo at North Hill, Minehead
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 07:07
    North Hill, Minehead

    Within 30 minutes, we’d gone the wrong way and had to puff our way up a cheeky little hill, popping out the top from a bunch of ferns to get back on the path.

    2.2 mi
    into the day
    2.2 mi
    of 226.9
  11. Photo at North Hill, Minehead
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 07:07
    North Hill, Minehead

    The moorland landscape here was open with lots of knee level ferns either side of the grassy and stony path.

    2.2 mi
    into the day
    2.2 mi
    of 226.9
  12. Photo at North Hill, Minehead
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 07:07
    North Hill, Minehead

    The sky was hazy, keeping the temperature down and leading to some decent looking skies at points through the morning.

    2.2 mi
    into the day
    2.2 mi
    of 226.9
  13. Photo at Bossington
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 08:03
    Bossington

    Near to Bossington we climbed to the top of the hill, with views to the sea along shale-lined valleys.

    5.3 mi
    into the day
    5.3 mi
    of 226.9
  14. Photo at Bossington
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 08:11
    Bossington

    Over the brow of the hill, we got a great view of Bossington Beach and Porlock Weir in the distance.

    5.6 mi
    into the day
    5.6 mi
    of 226.9
  15. Photo at Porlock
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 08:47
    Porlock

    Once at the bottom of the hill, towards the sea are salt marshes, formed when the sea breached an 8,000 year old shingle barrier. The trees didn’t survive the change to salt water, and stand like skeletons rising out the ground.

    7.6 mi
    into the day
    7.6 mi
    of 226.9
  16. Photo at Culbone
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 10:16
    Culbone

    We wandered on from Bossington, stopping at Porlock Weir for a coffee and then heading on towards Lynmouth.

    On the route, there were quite a few interesting things to see. As I write this now, I realise I really should have taken more photos!

    One of those points of interest was St Beuno’s church, which is famous for being the smallest church in England.

    10.9 mi
    into the day
    10.9 mi
    of 226.9
  17. Photo at near Countisbury
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 12:24
    near Countisbury

    Things stayed hilly on the route, with plenty of puff-inducing climbs to do, but the rewards were amazing views in all directions.

    16.6 mi
    into the day
    16.6 mi
    of 226.9
  18. Photo at Countisbury
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 12:56
    Countisbury

    We reached the valley looking down towards the sea at Foreland Point, with Foreland Bothy just visible in the photo below.

    18.3 mi
    into the day
    18.3 mi
    of 226.9
  19. Photo at Countisbury
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 12:56
    Countisbury

    And looking east, the road we approached on, part of the South West Coast Path.

    18.3 mi
    into the day
    18.3 mi
    of 226.9
  20. Photo at Countisbury
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 13:14
    Countisbury

    Round the top of the headland you get impressive views of Lynmouth Bay, down to Sillery Sands Beach closer and Blacksands Beach in the distance

    19.0 mi
    into the day
    19.0 mi
    of 226.9
  21. Photo at Lynmouth
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 13:36
    Lynmouth

    And here’s one from Contisbury Hill, looking back towards Sillery Sands Beach.

    19.9 mi
    into the day
    19.9 mi
    of 226.9
  22. Photo at Lynmouth
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 13:58
    Lynmouth

    Lynmouth! The first real bit of civilisation since Minehead, and where we stopped for some sausage &chips and an ice cream.

    Lynton.

    20.9 mi
    into the day
    20.9 mi
    of 226.9
  23. Photo at Lynmouth
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 15:18
    Lynmouth

    Heading out of Lynmouth, you climb the path that zig-zags up the world’s steepest and longest water powered cliff railway. And it certainly felt like it!

    A hefty old climb! Notice the point where the tracks spread a little – that’s the half-way point where the trains pass.

    21.6 mi
    into the day
    21.6 mi
    of 226.9
  24. Photo at Lynmouth
    Day 1 · Sun, 5 Sept 2021 · 15:18
    Lynmouth

    Looking back down from half way up, the views of the beach and headland are very impressive… as is the drop down the bottom station!

    21.6 mi
    into the day
    21.6 mi
    of 226.9
See all 268 photos, day by day