The Binkybus: Devon 13

Thursday 3 November 2016

Devon 13 - 17 Sep 16

On to the Damage Barton site near Ilfracombe, Devon, with a nice hardstanding pitch at the top of the site overlooking the sea. This is a pretty little site with a great shop selling very nice pasties and, for some reason, Cornish clotted cream. We had a walk down towards the sea and stopped for a disappointing cream tea in the National Trust tearoom in Mortenhoe (only 1 scone - don't they know who we are!).

The following day we unloaded our bikes and went for quite a long ride along the disused railway line to Ilfracombe. What they don't tell you is that the old Ilfracombe station (where the track ends) is at the top of a very steep hill leading into town. Ilfracombe itself is not much to write home about. There is a hideous Damien Hirst statue overlooking the harbour and the high street is tacky and tired. Still, we had a nice lunch on a roof terrace and a few beers to fortify us for the long uphill journey back to the station and then the ride home.

On Thursday we walked into Woolacombe around the coast path. This part of Devon is beautiful until you reach the parts where humans have left their mark. The architecture is not interesting, the town is dowdy and unloved, and the beach areas full of car parks and tat shops. We had fish and chips on the beach, arguing with the ever hungry seagulls, before heading back on the bus to the van.

On Friday we left Damage Barton and drove along the coast, stopping for a delicious ice cream in Bideford and a wander around the town before heading up the river to Appledore. Here we found that we could stay in the car park overnight and the very friendly traffic attendant told us to overhang the hash marking so that we only had to pay for one bay rather than two. Appledore, a very pretty little place, restored our faith in Devon towns and we wandered around before having a couple of rather expensive beers in the local pub.