Hullo. How are you? I hope you are having a good day. I’m Mark and I’m walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats…
If you are planning to visit Lydford at some point, allow me to highly recommend the Castle Inn, where I stayed last night. Lovely staff and delicious food.
I walked the short distance to the end of the village to find the start (or end, I guess) of the Granite Way, a cycle way from Lydford to Okehampton, which follows the path of a disused railway, making it flat and easygoing.
The mist was rolling off Dartmoor, reducing visibility and soaking me through, but this section of the walk passed so quickly, I hardly noticed how wet I was.
In next to no time, I had reached the Meldon Viaduct, which gives stunning views in all directions.
I decided to leave the Granite Way here and pick up the Two Castles Trail (which I spent much of yesterday on), taking me under the viaduct and along the dramatic river.
At the base of the viaduct, a school group of teenage boys listened intently as their abseiling instructor pointed out how their harnesses work. He through in a few jokes about ascending a flimsy rope that was hanging from the bridge and was met with mass panic. This is what school trips should be about – a complete stranger scaring the life out of the wide boys from Year 10.
The trail followed river for a while before passing under the A30.
And then it was across another golf course – this time, not a single player in sight as heavens opened and the rain poured.
The Two Castles Trail lived up to its name, coming to an end across the river from Okehampton castle, which was just visible in the rain.
Beyond the castle, the path was an easy stroll into town, passing a random doorway and following the river to where my accommodation is for tonight.
Arriving at the hotel and reviewing my camera footage for the day, I noticed I hadn’t switched my microphone on when I recorded my greeting, so a quick hullo was recorded at the end of the walk.
The Day 9 Vlog
Fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support
As I walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I am hoping to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support, who do such a wonderful job of supporting families through the most difficult times. If you are able to spare any amount and would like to donate to MacMillan, please do so through my Just Giving Page.
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