Rewalk

Seaton → Lyme Regis

Distance: 7.86 miles
Ascent: 394 metres
Duration: 3 hours 13 minutes

The ghostly undercliff
« Sidmouth | West Bay »

With another day of blazing sun promised we decided to do a rewalk that would be mostly sheltered today: the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve. When we set out from Seaton though, it was clear that the sun wouldn't be putting in an appearance, with dense mist swirling in.

(It turns out this is the ideal weather to be walking the undercliffs: ghostly, mysterious, unnerving.)

At the west end of the reserve a sign warns walkers that it'll take them four hours to reach Lyme. This is pessimistic, but it still took us two and a half hours from that point including stopping for breaks.

As we crossed the county boundary I realised the symmetry in the week's walks. We started the week at the western end of the south Devon coast and finished it here at the eastern end. I've just two south Devon coastwalks to go now but they depend on seasonal ferries which aren't operating at the moment. I hope we'll find time to return this summer.

Originally walked on 23 April 2002.