Day 1 Minehead to Porlock (9.5 miles 15 km ) .

Day 1 Minehead to Porlock (9.5 miles 15 km ) .

A stunning first day!    I am showered, fed, kettle is on and adusting to climbing into bed while there is still an English summers light sky outside the window.    I end this first day in a picture postcard Bed and Breakfast in the very picture postcard Porlock. 

I was able to start early this morning after arriving yesterday from London.   After a beautiful day spent with my daughters I took a train from Paddington to Taunton and a bus to Minehead, Somerset.   Official start of the South West Coast Path.    

 It was a hot endeavour ,  Londoners were collectively stripping off as the heatwave continued and the temperature soared to break an all time May record.     This caused chaos at Paddington as trains were delayed and cancelled due to hot tracks – trains had to slow right down or just not bother.  The man at the information kiosk at Paddington was turning redder by the second as people surged towards him demanding answers , he didn’t have all the answers.     I ran to my delayed train with a pack for the next 7 weeks that was already too big for a cool train never mind a hot and packed one – everyone converged from cancelled trains to this one , luggage holds all full I had no choice but to wrestle it into my seat with me .   Next thing a lady comes to take the seat next to me and people are now glaring at my pack that is preventing her sitting – I look at her with a face that says I have no clue what to do and in a lovely voice she says “oh don’t worry love , lets just pop it between us and we can sit side saddle.!”    She was also travelling to Taunton to see her great grandchild for the first time and so we had a lovely train chat as we both sat spooning my pack – her kindness, interest and way of looking at the world was so much like my Mums – it was like the Universe had popped my Mum next to me to get to the start .     Her name was Sheila , not Andrea , but I’m telling you I’m not convinced !  It was uncanny.   She didnt make any complaint about being hunched up for the enitre journey instead full of excitement about what was in my pack and being fascinating about her own travels about the world so when she said if it wasn’t for her now wobbly legs she would love to join me for a days walking I was damn near ready to piggy back her so I could stay longer in her company.    

This start made my day  – My two girls and I always notice that when you make a decsion in life to do something and things around that decision just go right and the small things fall into place then it is a like a gentle nod that it is the right path for you.   Sheila on that packed train was a gentle nod.    I skipped happily off the next leg on the bus and into Somerset.   

Arriving into coastal Minehead and finding everyone in the same state of undress as London, only with icecreams and buckets and spades , I knew it would be a hot start to the first leg of this trail.    I planned to set off as early as I could after breakfast.    I woke early after a night at The Beach Hotel – a small perfectly positioned hotel run by the YMCA and training local apprentices in hospitality.    Warmly welcoming boots and backpacks and making a perfectly poached egg they were the ideal starting off point.  

The trail starts at the impossible to miss statue marking the start of the trial.     It leaves town and straight up through woodlands to Exmoor.  With Exmoor boasting the highest coastline in England the walk is a series of spectacular climbs and descents into wooded combes .   The tracks were narrow and lined with fox gloves all bobbing and nodding as if to say Good morning Sal and in the absensce of anyone else and having the whole place to myself I nodded happily and a gave a good morning to you too right back!. Yep that was the mood of the day greeting fox gloves and skipping along.  

For this walk , as with my others , I use the Trailblazer map books by the guru that is Henry Stedman.  Henry has never lead me astray and when he suggests a high route or an alternative route I have never questioned him and never regretted it so today when his map book suggested the alternative rugged route I was right with him.   For an extra hour it promised tremoundous views , a cliff hugging wild path with few people.  Oh and bluebells.    I was off.     And it was spectacular.   Up and down and on the edge it reaches to the out crop with views up the coast that is Hurlstone Combe.   

I stopped at the top for my first field sandwich purchased at the bakery this morning and then headed down down down to walk through shaded woods into the tiny magical hamlet of Bossington and right into a cottage tea rooms with tea gardens and pots of tea !!  Joy!   Without even missing a step I had ordered a scone , jam and cream and a pot of English breakfast .    My first of the trail .  Sitting in the sun I was smiling away at both the Somerset clotted cream and that they were playing Beautiful South.   I Need A Little Time came on which I then sang the rest of the way into Porlock with no one to hear me so I hit the chorus with abandon.     

Porlock, with buildings dating back to the 12th century and lined with thatched cottages has stood still in time and just so beautiful to walk into on a summers afternoon.   My hot sweaty coast blown hair appearance seemed at bit at odds with the appeal of it but no one seemed to care as I explored before heading to my stop for the night.   And what a cracker! 

The Cottage  Bed and Breakfast,  welcomed by Chris and Clare and the promise of eggs and local bacon in the morning.    I am so happy this first day was this kind of first day.  Tomorrow is noted as a hard with an exclamation mark!    – I have bought a pack of ginger nuts.   All will be well.   

              Fox Gloves…the nodders                                                                  

                                  Beautiful Bossington and its scone….

                                        A stunning first day……