Post by Dave on Apr 8, 2018 14:44:44 GMT
Daddyhole, Peaked Tor Cove Remembrance Walk 8th April 2018
We celebrate a number of anniversaries throughout the year and most are happy affairs. Be it a birthday or your wedding anniversary or even the day you first met, you will look back with fond memories.
But there are some anniversaries we would rather not have to celebrate as they take as back to a time of great sadness in our lives, but as we think back, we will remember such wonderful memories that will fill our hearts with joy and live with us forever.
Today for me is one such day, sadly on this day seven years ago my very brave wife Carol lost her battle against cancer at the very young age of just fifty two years old. We loved going on walks together and it seemed only fitting today I should do a walk we both loved.
But I did not do the walk alone, I know every step I took Carol took with me, I know as I looked at the Torquay London Bridge, Carol saw it with her eyes as well. Yes it is a sad day, but one where I thank my lucky stars how lucky I was to share twenty wonderful years with Carol.
When we last did this walk we made the mistake of starting it from the Imperial Hotel end, it is hard work doing it that way with so many steps to climb all the way up to Daddyhole Plain. So today I parked the car out on the road close to the entrance of Daddyhole Plain.
Why is it called Daddyhole? Daddyhole Plain is a limestone plateau some 75 metres above the sea. Daddy is an old Devon name for the Devil, and according to local legend, the Devil lived in a cave at the foot of the cliff, formed when a large chunk of limestone fell into the sea, creating 'Daddyhole'. Over the years Daddyhole Plain has often been used for public gatherings and celebrations. In August 1815, a thanksgiving feast was held for the poor after Napoleon Bonaparte had left the Bay.
I headed for the far right hand corner of Daddyhole and through the brick archway by the coastguard station and so this wonderful walk began. Right from the start you find yourself going down plenty of steps, some are very deep, but all the time you are being treated to so many amazing views across Torbay.
A little further on and you walk through the tunnel of the Folly that I believe was once a part of a large house that was demolished. After a while you come to a place that gives you excellent views of our London Bridge as it is known. Sometime ago I saw an old photo of the bridge where it had hand rails along the top of it, so once you were able to walk onto it.
You could then just stay on the path to the rear of the Imperial Hotel, but be brave and take the steps down to Peaked Tor Cove. On the way down you will see the mine watchers' post used during the Second World War by Torbay's Home Guard. The narrow cliffs protected the lookout from enemy aerial surveillance, and its secluded location gave it panoramic views across Torquay Harbour, where the men could watch for the detonation of mines on the seabed in the event of attack by sea. Nowadays the lookout provides a roost for a colony of horseshoe bats.
While this cove is very small, it is such a peaceful place and worth the effort going down to see it. I stayed at the cove for a while before heading back up all the steps and then made me way using the road to get back up to Daddyhole Plain.
Once again I thank my lucky stars I live in such a wonderful location with such natural beauty that so many people have enjoyed and will do for years to come.
