Leaving Bude
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Day 1 - Bude - Dizzard
Author : Jason
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Here we go again...
Despite all the aggravation we had with the journey down to the West Country on the previous year we decided it would still be a good idea to get a few miles walking done on our travelling day. There were a few reasons for this: Firstly, it allowed us to stretch our legs after being cooped up on trains and buses for the best part of a day; secondly, it reduced the second day's walking into a more “manageable length”; thirdly - and probably most importantly - it got us away from the fleshpots of Bude on a Friday night, which meant we'd have a fighting chance of starting the next day without having monster hangovers to contend with.
Fortunately the journey down to Cornwall this year went without a hitch, and we arrived in Bude just after 14:00. After a quick stop for a sandwich and an ice cream we re-joined the path where we'd left it twelve months ago, and headed out into deepest darkest Cornwall. That said, it was actually blazing sunshine as we left Bude.
The walk started reasonably easily, with a fairly gentle ascent out of Bude, followed by a descent down through sand dunes to Widemouth Bay. On the way we passed a pub that both myself and Dave remembered that was infamous in the 1970's for advertising on it's menu “Seagull and Chips” (aka Chicken in the basket).
Fortunately the journey down to Cornwall this year went without a hitch, and we arrived in Bude just after 14:00. After a quick stop for a sandwich and an ice cream we re-joined the path where we'd left it twelve months ago, and headed out into deepest darkest Cornwall. That said, it was actually blazing sunshine as we left Bude.
The walk started reasonably easily, with a fairly gentle ascent out of Bude, followed by a descent down through sand dunes to Widemouth Bay. On the way we passed a pub that both myself and Dave remembered that was infamous in the 1970's for advertising on it's menu “Seagull and Chips” (aka Chicken in the basket).
Making good progress along Widemouth Bay.
Dave making himself at home at Fran's
Once we hit the beach at Widemouth we quickly gobbled up the miles, and before we knew it where close to our B&B for the night. This particular B&B booking was a little unusual for us in that we'd opted to have an evening meal here. This was a necessity as the B&B was pretty isolated, without a pub for miles. To be honest we were a bit apprehensive about having dinner at a B&B, but in the end it turned out to be a really good move.
We'd been instructed by the landlady of the B&B (Fran) to ring her once we reached the trig point at Dizzard Head. She'd then come to collect us, as getting to the B&B required crossing a number of private fields. We therefore required an escort. While we waited for Fran to arrive we were slowly eaten alive by swarms of savage flies, that took a break from their usual diet of cow shite to give "man blood" a try.
Once safely escorted to the B&B Fran showed us to our room, and then instructed us to go out and relax on the patio. She then appeared with a pot of tea and huge slices of home-made cake. Duly refresh, we then relaxed in the garden while Fran prepared dinner - and what an amazing dinner it was!
First up was home-made goats cheese flan and salad. We both tucked in, mistakenly thinking this filling dish was the main course. It wasn't, it turned out to just be the starter! We then had a platter of pork chops in apple and cider sauce, accompanied by a huge pot of potato and swede mash, and steamed green veggies. Absolutely delicious, and all washed down with a couple of glasses of red wine that Fran allowed us to "rent". By the end of all this we were both stuffed, but there was more to come! Homemade bread and butter pudding, a huge jug of clotted cream, accompanied with Fran's speciality, raisins soaked in rum. A truly awesome meal, which more than made up for the lack of a pub for the evening.
During the meal Fran told us that her husband was ill in hospital having recently suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, we later found out he'd made a recovery, but Fran appeared at the time to take it all in her stride. Talk about a stalwart.
In the morning Fran escorted back across the fields to the path. We wished her and her husband well, and we both got a hug and a kiss goodbye. A truly amazing lady, and an absolute top B&B!
We'd been instructed by the landlady of the B&B (Fran) to ring her once we reached the trig point at Dizzard Head. She'd then come to collect us, as getting to the B&B required crossing a number of private fields. We therefore required an escort. While we waited for Fran to arrive we were slowly eaten alive by swarms of savage flies, that took a break from their usual diet of cow shite to give "man blood" a try.
Once safely escorted to the B&B Fran showed us to our room, and then instructed us to go out and relax on the patio. She then appeared with a pot of tea and huge slices of home-made cake. Duly refresh, we then relaxed in the garden while Fran prepared dinner - and what an amazing dinner it was!
First up was home-made goats cheese flan and salad. We both tucked in, mistakenly thinking this filling dish was the main course. It wasn't, it turned out to just be the starter! We then had a platter of pork chops in apple and cider sauce, accompanied by a huge pot of potato and swede mash, and steamed green veggies. Absolutely delicious, and all washed down with a couple of glasses of red wine that Fran allowed us to "rent". By the end of all this we were both stuffed, but there was more to come! Homemade bread and butter pudding, a huge jug of clotted cream, accompanied with Fran's speciality, raisins soaked in rum. A truly awesome meal, which more than made up for the lack of a pub for the evening.
During the meal Fran told us that her husband was ill in hospital having recently suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, we later found out he'd made a recovery, but Fran appeared at the time to take it all in her stride. Talk about a stalwart.
In the morning Fran escorted back across the fields to the path. We wished her and her husband well, and we both got a hug and a kiss goodbye. A truly amazing lady, and an absolute top B&B!
