Baggy Point, Croyde, North Devon

Transcription

1 Baggy Point, Croyde, North Devon A walk using the South West Coast Path that is likely to be suitable for people with impaired mobility or with a pushchair, wheelchair, or mobility scooter. The Coast Path out to a viewpoint at Baggy Point (¾ mile each way) has been levelled and compacted to make access easier for everyone. From the viewpoint you can either return along the same path, or follow a higher path, but this involves a short steep climb and descent. Due to the lack of passing places, wheelchair use is not recommended past point 6. Sheep are used to help maintain the coastal grassland in optimum condition for flowers and wildlife, and when they are grazing you are asked to keep dogs on leads. N Baggy Point Key to symbols P Car Park Seating m Pub 20 Path Surfaces: (for more details see photos overleaf) Tarmac road A reasonably smooth path with a rolled stone surface and a gentle gradient (less than ). Sections of path with a firm surface, and gentle gradients but not suitable for wheelchair use (few passing places). Sections of path at least 1m wide, with a firm surface, but with a steeper gradients (more than ). Continuation of Coast Path (more difficult terrain) Café Stile P 1 Woolacombe CROYDE WC This map is based on Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Devon County Council. LA: The Ordnance Survey mapping is included purely to provide a contextual backdrop for the walk and cannot be used for any other purpose. Gate ( accessible) Viewpoint

2 1 From the National Trust car park, the Coast Path runs along a dead-end tarmac road on a gentle uphill and then downhill slope. 125m 75m 2 The tarmac road continues for several hundred metres rising very gently. 1:20 275m 40m 3 Just before the last house, the Coast Path leaves the tarmac road to follow a compacted stone path that has a slightly loose surface. The camber on this path is generally about. 4 The compacted stone path descends to cross a shallow valley. For about 10 metres, the camber across the path is about. 55m

3 5 30m 1.2 m On the far side of the stream a one way opening gate (1.2 metres wide) is across the path to enable the headland to be grazed by sheep. From here the path rises slightly, before descending again. 6 When you reach the fingerpost, take a look at the steep path on the right. This is the path you will have to descend if you choose to return from Baggy Point using the higher path. 90m 7 1:15 The path continues to steadily climb out towards the viewpoint on the headland. This path is approximately 1 metre wide, and between here and the viewpoint at Baggy Point there are only 2 places where it is wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass (450 metres and 620 metres from the gate), and so wheelchair use is not recommended past this point, unless you can turn within the width of the track. 8 This is the view looking back along the path towards Croyde.

4 9 80 cm At Pencil Rock, the exposed rock has forced the path to become narrower and this section is only 80cm wide. 10 Beyond Pencil Rock the path continues to climb steadily towards Baggy Point. 1:15 60m 11 The last section before reaching the viewpoint crosses a slight depression. Viewpoint 10 m 20m 1:4 50m 12 From the viewpoint at Baggy Point, you can either return back along the path you came here on, or take the more challenging higher path. The higher path is a steep, but relatively short climb. Part way up the slope, the timber boards put in to stop the path s stone surface from washing away have become exposed, creating two low (50mm) steps. Viewpoint area Higher path

5 13 1:6 50 metres before reaching the seat on the plateau, the compacted stone path ends, and the surface becomes a mix of bare earth and grass. Seat m The coast path leading northwards past the wreck post and out onto the other side of the headland is along wide grassy tracks, which are uneven and bumpy in places due to the bedrock being exposed. The initial section is virtually flat, before climbing gently to eventually reach the highest point on the headland. Wreck post 15 1:5 20m Where the path goes around the corner onto the north side of the headland, the bedrock is exposed creating a short steep, and rough section of path. 16 Just around this corner is a seat, from where you get great views across Morte Bay to Woolacombe and Morte Point. The Coast Path onwards from here is not particularly steep, but the paths become narrow, (about 30cm wide) and at the next field boundary is a stile.

6 17 200m The higher path back to Croyde is along a bumpy, uneven, stone farm track. The field gate across the track swings easily, and is one-way opening. 18 The track continues to steadily descend back towards Croyde. 125 m 100 m 175 m 19 1:5 150 m The main farm track bears inland (and is private), and the path continues onwards descending quite steeply. The surface is a coarse, loose stone. 1:3 30 m 20 1:4 30 m 1:6 The final section where the higher path drops down steeply to rejoin the Coast Path is, along with the climb up from the viewpoint, the most difficult on this route. The surface has loose stones and the path slopes to the side, as well as steeply down-hill. Once safely at the bottom, retrace your steps along the Coast Path back to the car park.