Sidmouth 12th November 10

A much anticipated trip to Sidmouth lived up to its advertising.  The hotel was as warm and inviting as ever presenting some excellent evening meals.  Saturday saw us all starting off together and heading out east, the second guide being driven by car to catch up the party!!!  Come on Andy!!!  We then all did the first climb together to give us a taste of the terrain, after which the decision of which walk to do  was remarkably easy.  AW headed off inland past the donkey Sanctuary to finish in Beer.  Meanwhile I crossed the undulating cliffs, having lunch and coffee on the beach and following the stunning cliff top paths inbetween to the Pub at Beer.  Somewhat surprisingly two quiet austrailians were found in the back bar away from the televisions where ENGLAND were hammering the Aussies at rugby!!!  Excellent!!!  Then it was only a final headland and a quick hop skip and a jump in between the waves (try and keep those legs dry-carol, jenny and all)... to Seaton to finish the day!!!  What better way to then conclude the day than a cracking rock band in the black horse...excellent day and an excellent night!.

Sunday saw the sunshine hidden behind some dark clouds, but we were not daunted and soon out on the walks.  Starting from Budleigh Salterton we skirted around the estuary pausing to watch the king fishers, little egrets, wintering wildfowl and sheltering waders, beautiful.  We then joined the coast searching out hidden bays with red towering rock stacks, ascending the cliffs before concluding in one of the finest cafes in the country-if you can eat any portion of cake there by yourself you are doing amazingly~and if you can eat the roulade you have a bigger appetite than me!!!  Another great weekend, cant wait to visit again!