Post by Dave on Apr 6, 2018 14:25:00 GMT
Ansteys Cove, Redgate Beach & The Downs 6th April 2018
Before I set off for today’s walk, I was going to call this thread “ Ansteys Cove The last Look” That was not because I am about to pop my clogs, far from it, but I felt by the time I might want to go there again, I might not be able to get back up to the road again.
That was based on the last time I went to Ansteys Cove some ten years ago, back then I seem to remember I found it hard going and a bit difficult. But then I was a smoker at the time and maybe that was the reason why.
Like a lot of people my age I remember when I was a young man walking down from the Downs on a some what dangerous path down to Redgate Beach. At the end of the beach was a walkway bolted to the cliff that took you around to Ansteys Cove.
After some large rock falls onto Redgate Beach it was closed many years ago and the walkway removed and also the path closed down to the beach at the top of the Downs. Some locals still use the beach in the summer, but looking at the very bottom of the path that came down from the Downs, I do not think it can be used anymore. So the only way to the beach will now be at low tide from Ansteys Cove.
I had planned to leave home a bit earlier to take some photos of the high tide that was forecast today to possibly cause some flooding. But as I dove along Meadfoot Sea Road the waves were still coming over and so I parked up there to get a few shots.
The car park at the top of Ansteys Cove was once a free car park, but our wonderful council let Premier Parking take control of it and lots of local people will no longer park there. Many people have faced large fines even when the machines were not working and with that fact in mind I parked over by Kent’s Cavern.
The walk down to Ansteys Cove did not seem as long as I remembered and Redgate Beach looked a lot closer than I also remembered. Is there a more beautiful place? I stood at the left hand side of the cove and just looked across to the wonderful rock formation. I stayed there some time, soaking it all in and really did not want to leave.
The café was open and while I wanted to support it, I was not hungry after eating a large breakfast, so now to face that very steep walk back up to the road. I took it at a very steady pace and found it so much easier than I expected.
So much so I decided to carry on walking along the top of the cove and Redgate Beach up to the Downs. From here I was able to take a few shots looking over to Oddicombe Beach. It was time to turn around and retrace my steps back to where my car was parked.
I really enjoyed my walk today and as always thank my lucky stars I live in the best place in the whole world. While some parts of Torbay are looking sad and neglected, nothing can take away from the natural beauty nature gave to us all.
Ansteys Cove I will be back
