Dartmouth Coast Walk.

[Dave]

Dartmouth Coast Walk.

I will always remember this walk as the one that I foolish let what would have been my greatest photo get away, while I love taking photos I always am looking to get that once in a lifetime shot, or a wildlife shot that you may only get to take if you are very lucky.

That was the case on this walk and I blew it big time and I will tell you why in a second. First the walk itself is a really nice walk and goes in a big loop, you park in a national trust car park and walk along the coast to the Dartmouth river mouth.

This is the halfway point of the walk and you can get a drink and a bite to eat at the castle and enjoy watching the life out on the river. The return leg of the walk takes you more inland and along a farm lane, you do walk through the farm as you get closer to the car park.

Now about that missed shot that had me getting mad with myself, you see I have walked in so many places with Carol and always have my camera ready to get that special wildlife shot. I must say most times we see nothing and never get that magic shot, we hear some wildlife but they don’t come out and do the right thing and let me take their photo.

As you near the end of the first half of the walk to the river mouth, you go down some steps into a wood and I was in front and with my camera at the ready. I went down a few more steps that turned to the right and there it was sat just three feet of the ground.

It was the most beautiful and biggest owl I had ever seen; as I said sat right in front me on a very low branch of what was just a large bush. What did I do? Did I quietly get my camera into position to take the shot? NO I shouted out “look Carol an owl” as loudly as I could and it flew away as you would expect.

Never mind it was a lovely walk as spending time with Carol is a real joy and always a pleasure.