Walk from Eastcott to Buck`s Cross

Thursday May 18th 2006

From the walk diary:

"Thursday p..m, writing in my room above Rose`s studio at Buck`s Cross.

I left at around 10.45. My route took me through the the village of Meddon and then through the quiet rural land between Meddon and Wolsery (also know as Woolfardiswirthy- I`m not sure why it has two names!). . I wondered how many people in Meddon knew that they too were under threat, that if the Crimp turbines are built then the Crimp/Meddon extension could be next. Before I did the walk I had found a document on the internet also hinting that this area, and the land around Hartland was especially suitable for wind turnbines.

I had been especially looking forward to this walk, having guessed from the Ordnance survey map that it would be beautiful. It was as I had imagined - delightful. And so quiet. I was passed by a Post office van between Meddon and Gorvin Cross, and a car at Clifford, but otherwise all I met in several hours was a deer that shyly crossed the road in front of me.

I walked through forests and woods, between gorse studded moors, beside rivers and lakes, and the hedgerows were laced with pink campions and buttercups. I saw wild apple blossom, but the May blossom isn`t out yet. It was some of the loveliest and most peaceful countryside that I had seen, and I felt a deep pang at the thought that it is so vulnerable to wind farm development. I was OK, (not tired) but perhaps feeling sluggish after too much wine (the night before). For the first time really since the walk began I saw blue skies and sunshine, but it was fresh rather than warm. It will stay in my memory for ever, that walk, and that beautiful day. It didn`t seem a long walk, despite the hills on the way. I simply strode along, taking an occasional swig from my water-bottle, feeling as if I could go for ever."

Below are the photos that I put up on the website straight after the walk, with the text that I used then.

There is more from the diary at the bottom of the page.

I left in the morning at about eleven and walked to Buck`s Cross. Despite the forecasts, it turned out to be a beautiful day, and as the walk progresses you can from the photos that there was a sparkle in the air. It was still cool for may though, and I wore my Splash Clothing/Country Guardian Polo shirt all the way, without feeling too hot.	The photo on the left is looking backwards across the general area that is under threat. The second photo is looking back towards the water tower that was visible from Crimp - it is twenty metres high and you can imagine how much a turbine four times that height would dominate the landscape.
Rush hour at Meddon Cross. Just from looking at the map, I had been looking forward to this walk, and it lived up to expectations. Between Meddon Cross and Wolsery I met one car, and one deer as I walked perhaps five miles of road.	This is a charming area of moorland between Meddon and Gorvin Cross
Looking through a gate across open moorland	A road into a valley, beyond Gorvin Cross
Looking across a valley towards Higher Muddisford	True Plantation. at the beginning of the hill before Clifford
View across from the hill below Clifford	Clifford Plantation
An un-named cross road - but seeing Bideford on the signpost felt strange. I was approaching home territory, yet the bustle of Bideford seemed light-years away.	The village of Wolsery. It has quite a number of new houses, but looks a thriving village.
Wolsery Church. I called Rose from here - only two miles to go. She said she would come to meet me.	This was a distant view to a water tower.. I don`t suppose it was the same one as before, but the road had many bends, and the distance in a straight line might not be as great.
Rose, coming to meet me with one of their dogs. January 18 2008 note: Today I walked back up this road, turning left towards Parkham Ash, past Galloping Lane (what a lovely name!) almost to Sedborough Farm, which could become the site of 2 x 2MW turbines. Read more updates	Rose put me up in her holiday let, a self-contained unit above her studio. She gave me lunch, and I had a bath and a doze on the bed. While I was doing that, Pete and Sue dropped off my baggage, which was again very kind of them. I had run out of tapes so I could not video Rose, but I will return after the walk to do that. Rose posed for me with an unfinished painting. Rose, like me is taking part in the Art Trek, a North Devon Festival Open Studio event from June 16- 19. (2007 note: this was written in 2006, she is not doing it this year, I am not either as too busy with the Exhibition)
Rose`s studio	Rose and I spent some time in her studio, experimenting with some new pastels she had bought. It was good finding time for this - I miss my paints. That night I had dinner with Rose, her husband Richard and one of her sons, Jorgi, who goes to Bideford College. We had roast beef, roast potatoes and Yorkshire, followed by a very nice desert, a kind of cheesecake. As I said before, this has been a culinary adventure. We had a relaxing evening and I went to bed quite early. There was a gale blowing and rain was lashing the roof. I found myself feeling a little apprehensive about the next day`s walk, along the cliffs from Buck`s Mills to Greencliff. I had brought my swimming costume with me, but didn`t think I would feel like a dip in the sea, unless it got a lot hotter.

More from the walk diary:

"Near the village of Wolsery it became a little busier, and the skies became cloudier. This is quite a big village, with a church, shops, pub, school etc. I called Rose on my mobile, and she said she would come to meet me. I was about half a mile from Buck`s Cross when I saw her coming along, with one of her dogs, and we walked back together to her home in Buck`s Cross, at Home Farm. Rose is an artist, and took part in last year`s Art Trek. We would both be doing it again this year, in June. She is also a good friend, and I was pleased to be able to stay with her and her family on my route. Her husband Richard was there, and two of her sons, Jorgi and Che.

I`m writing this at 10.39pm in her holiday let, above her studio. The wind is howling outside. The rain came in from the West at around 7pm, with wild weather. I hope it won`t be too bad tomorrow, as I`m doing the cliff paths. Rose gave me lunch, and later I had a soak in another Radox bath, and also fell asleep for 20 minutes on the bed.

I`m tired and I hope I sleep OK. Its all going well so far. Rose and I sat in her studio in the afternoon, and did some pastel sketches, which was good. She showed me some of the work she is getting ready for her Exhibition in September at the Queens Theatre, in Barnstaple, and I said I would help with her publicity in August, when she will be away in Spain. Her work is unusual – she paints classical fantasy, and she trained in London at the Camden School. She comes originally from Cheshire. Tomorrow night I shall be home: that is a strange thought! I go along the cliffs to Abbotsham, then walk into Bideford. From there it is easy to catch a bus back to Barnstaple, so I will be staying at home for the next sections."

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