Drove to Exmouth this morning around 9:30. Exmouth is at the mouth of the River Exe (as you might imagine), south of Exeter. It is a busy holiday town and is known as the oldest holiday resort in Devon, establishing itself in the 18th century when the English were unable to travel to Europe as a result of the French Revolution. When the railway line reached Exmouth in 1861 mass tourism was born. The tide was out while we were there - very extensive brown sand flats. People were using all this space to walk dogs, cycle & fly kites - even saw a car parked on the sand. There were lots of boats sitting high and dry waiting to be refloated on the incoming tide.
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| Tide's out at Exmouth |
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| 2 mile beach, Exmouth |
We walked around the walkway to the mouth of the Exe River (lots of new holiday accommodation being built) and then to 2 mile beach which the locals appear to be rather proud of. Lots of people were making the most of the sunny weather. You could hire deck chairs and windbreakers (stripy plastic-type tarp fabric attached to wooden posts - like tomato stakes only fancier/smoother). You hammer the stakes into the sand to make a windbreak then lay behind it to soak up the sun. They’re quite popular. Lots of carnival activities along the waterfront.
From Exmouth we drove around to the southern bank of the Exe, to Exminister, where we parked the car and walked a kilometre or so along the bank to the Turf Hotel for lunch. It could only be reached by foot, bicycle or boat and we accessed it by walking across a lock wall. Enjoyed a Monk Fish dinner sitting in the sun.
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| The Turf Hotel |
Back to the car and on the road through Dawlish and on to Teignmouth and Shaldon. Stopped off at a park at Shaldon (Shaldon on the south and Teignmouth on the north of the mouth of the River Teign. ‘Twas a pretty little spot. While we were there quite a large ship came into the river to tie up at Teignmouth. It was hard to believe that the river would be deep enough.
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| Teignmouth |
From Sheldon, it was on to Torquay. Was getting late at this stage so it was only a drive through before heading back to Dunsford.
