After seven hours on the bus we have arrived at long last in Westward Ho! Incredibly good value at £10 for the fare.

The route through beautiful green countryside was mainly down six lane highways but there were at least a dozen excursions through roundabouts, traffic lights and road works into villages and towns to set down and pick up passengers. It was a bright, sunny day with lots of glare so spent all day in the bus drifting in and out of consciousness. When we reached the coast near Barnstable there was just a weak reluctant sun in the sky and we were enveloped in a cold clammy sea fog. Here in Westward Ho! it is warm and sunny again.

There were no stops long enough to go and get food but luckily we had brought some sandwiches, fruit and drinks with us.  We have left the hustle and bustle of London for the peace and quiet of the seaside.

I suppose the name Westward Ho! conjures up images of seafarers, buccaneers and adventures on the high seas but it is really quite a bland seaside town of residential care homes and static caravan parks. It won’t come close to winning the prize for the most picturesque village on the south west coast. It also lacks the history of other towns we will pass though, having started from nothing as a seaside resort in 1864.

For all that, we are staying in the lovely Village Inn in an upstairs room with a view of the sunset over the sea. The room is very comfortable, they serve pub meals downstairs and Trevor the host is very friendly. We can’t wait to get started tomorrow – 500 km of the South West Coast Path here we come!