h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: South West Coast Path: Torquay to Starcross - A17440210
Author: Skankyrich [?] ...to win just once... - U931109

Another bit

Be back later to read this,

"Most walkers will take a full day of solid walking to complete the day, although it can be spilt quite easily."
--> split

"the viewpoint is about five minutes diversion from the main path"
--> minutes'

"if you approaching the end of your day," --> if you are

Alex

Done - ta mate

Having visited most of those places, you have certainly set the ol' memory cells off..

lil xx

Good stuff as usual!

As I said before, I can't comment much on this section, not having walked it all. From the bits I do know, it seems spot-on, especially the comment on how long it takes to leave Torquay (in my experience it takes about an hour and a half just from Torquay Harbour to Ansteys Cove - nip up through the Grand Hotel and you're only a two-minute bus ride from The Strand!)

Thanks guys!

When we did it, Parrferris, Meadfoot Sea Road was closed because of the problems with the 'sea wall'. We had to take a taxi along 300m of the coast, or walk right round the Meadfoots and Ilshams and Wellswoods; the taxi won

Interesting, I just did this walk yesterday, but in the opposite direction. It's worth mentioning that between Dawlish and Teignmouth the path does go through a very boring slice of suburbia. Not terrible, just a bit of a disappointment when you want glorious sea-views.

Also on this bit, the walk out on the hill would be pretty unpleasant in rainy weather as the path gets very muddy. For the day walker it'd be fine, but someone doing the whole stretch with a big bag on their shoulders might find it hard. Also the fences around the field, which you'd only naturally grab onto to stop falling are all barbed and hurt if you do grab them. It'd be better to let yourself fall.

Good entry

Great, thanks very much - I've added those bits

I didn't realise you were down this way now - if you're planning on doing any more walking, give me a shout!

Just noticed a tiny spelling: "but all in all it's unceptional" is missing an ex-

I've just been down here for the past couple of months doing the Uni part of my PGCE, I move onto Cornwall after Christmas. It's a shame I don't have more time here, it's so beautiful.

Got it! Thanks very much

You know they say that the only good thing to come out of Cornwall is the Plymouth train, right?

Yeah, and after spending last week there I can see why. Never thought I'd consider Devon to be civilised

Looks good to me, Rich.

There's an interesting bit in the AA book about Starcross:

'The red sandstone building next to the signal station is a monument to Brunel's greatest mistake - the atmospheric railway, built in the 19th Century between Exeter and Plymouth. The building was one of the ten pumping stations which sucked air out of the cylinder laid between the rails. This created a vacuum which acted on a piston that pulled the train along. Although considerable speeds were reached, horses had to be used to get the train going. The system was abandoned in 1848, after enormous expense, because rats ate the grease of the leather airtight seals.'

May not be relevant to your walk, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Icy

Another good one Rich.

This sentence seems wrong - "Most walkers will take a full day of solid walking to complete the day"

Might I suggest ~ Most walkers will require a full day of steady plodding to navigate the whole distance. ?

Thanks, Icy - I've added part of the quote, as it's very relevant to Brunel, and given you an 'Additional Research By' credit - fantastic!

I've changed that line as well, McKay - looks much beeter, thank you

It looks better, too...

You're welcome, Rich. - don't bother about the credit: my PR advice is free.

Icy

I know it is, Icy, and I wouldn't have offered it if you'd been hankering after one! But it's an excellent quote in relation to something I didn't know about the walk, so you have indeed done some additional research rather than just given advice. I presume you had to dig your book out, find the relevant page and type out the quote from it, so I reckon a nod in your direction is well deserved

Another gem, Skankyrich. Well done.

Can I open the yet?