Saturday, 18 December 2010

Snow falls on Plympton - Saturday 18th December 2010

Would you believe it!  Snow here in Plympton.  An inch makes such a difference, roads closed, buses cancelled.  Thank goodnesss we don't live further north!

So the walk today has to be local but long.  We set off from home along Plymouth Road towards Cot hill

The paths have compacted snow but are not slippery.  we cross the roads towards the back of the sewage works and down a lane which takes us under the bypass.  The road has been decorated by art but goodness knows how they did it!
lane tucked away behind the sewage works.  good job its not smelly blog!!

Under the by pass

Under the A38

Heading now towards Saltram, we have fantastic views of the River Plym

Embankment Road in the distance

heading up through the grounds, the scene is transformed by the snow.

No cars in the car park must be a record!

Saltram car park
so we walk the usual route around the grounds and come to the beach
A first! snow on the beach
Although no cars in the car park, plenty of evidence of walkers on the paths

Bob spys a squirrel!

the path opens out to  reveal the river, sainsburys and  the golf course! will see the golf clubhouse at the end of the walk

The lake is frozen in places
So we have now done a full circle and head back towards the underpass and across a path to the Plympton road , and beside B & Q and the park and ride car park, towards Plymbridge.  This is the start for the Plym Railway which is adjacent to the path.
this path overlooks sainsburys, and the railway

another world under here!




the Plym railway enthusiasts have been very busy!

Path towards Plymbridge

The car park at Plymbridge is closed
In all the time we have lived here, this is only time we have known this car park to be closed due to snow.

As we walked back up the hill to Plympton, we could see why.  it was treacherous!

the road out of Plymbridge

Pic taken by Teresa

Same location taken by Dave

It would be folly to say anything here!

Fields across to Cann Woods

Another folly

Bob ruins beautiful picture of the Plym from the new golf course

Darkness has started to fall as we make our way back home.  few cars are on the roads, as they are icy and pavements are too.

Dave has recorded 15700 steps.  equal to 11 k which is about 7 miles.

Sunday, 12 December 2010

Plymbridge Woods - Sunday 12th December 2010

A short local walk this afternoon just to finish off the weekend.  These woods are a mile from home and the route takes about an hour to go round. 


Start of the walk - the road across the bridge in the distance has been closed to traffic.


The path beside the canal which is only about a foot deep.


The viaduct in the distance

The weir

Derelict buildings from an industrial past

on the viaduct


On the other side of the river

over the bridge

A fallen tree has been carved into a dragon

The Plym Valley Railway enthusiasts have recently built this platform

Beer to Sidmouth - Saturday 11th December 2010

62 days to go and time for a long walk 8.8 miles!!!!
Dave, Rich and Bob on this walk, recommended (not)  by a friend of Rich's as being a walk you don't want to do. ( is that too many negatives??  teachers out there, help!) So I'm afraid I had to do some Xmas shopping in Exeter instead....



Started by leaving one car at Sidmouth and then driving to Beer.
Overlooking Beer beach with allotments in foreground

Beer, with Seaton in the background
Don't jump, Rich

Branscombe Beach

2 miles down - 6.8 to go!

the Anchor of the Napoli


They are being watched!

Bye bye Branscombe


Weston Mouth Beach - another 'low' point of the walk, which was soon followed by a 'high' point
The legendary, but little known, potato plats of Weston Mouth
steeper and longer than the hill between Mothecombe and Stoke ( I am told!) T



Back at Sidmouth just before dark

Sidmouth

Xmas lights at Sidmouth


This was the longest walk so far. Also one of the toughest!  8.8 miles seemed like 108 miles!!!