Devonshire's East Devon magazine September October 2018

North Devon’s Timeless
by Alan Parsons
Dorrie, 2 other girls and I left Westcliff-on-Sea at 1p.m. arriving Fenchurch Street at 1-55, thence by
the City & Waterloo Line from the Bank to Waterloo, found train and reserved seats, and train departed
at 3p.m. for Ilfracombe. Comfortable journey, brilliant sunshine all the way, very warm. At Exeter
we were joined by another fellow who had been in Plymouth for a week. The 5 of us, with much hilarity,
settled down for the rest of the run to Ilfracombe where we arrived at 9p.m. Boarded bus outside station
for Combe Martin, arrived at terminus at top of high street at 9-30 and were met by the rest of the party.
Ten minutes walk up a dark lane to our guest house, had supper, a chat with the others and then to bed,
tired, but glad to have arrived.
These words were written in 1933. The author was my Uncle Harold, describing a walking holiday that he and his sister Dorothy,
later to be my mother, had with several friends in North Devon in August of that year. My uncle was 23 and my mother 21. The
hese words were written in 1933. our parents’ 1933 holiday. It would be take some 2 hours less, but it would
narrative describes the guest house where they stayed, the walks they undertook along the coast and on the moors, and their
The author was my Uncle Harold, a nostalgia trip walking in our parents’ include a change of trains at Exeter. In
various “adventures”. The style is simple and innocent, reminiscent of a bygone age in the relative peace and tranquillity between
Tdescribing a walking holiday that footsteps. We were keen to see what 1933 there was a direct service from
two world wars.
he and his sister Dorothy, later to be my had changed in 85 years. I produced a Waterloo to Ilfracombe. Today’s journey
mother, had with several friends in North plan that was a modest recreation of their from London would be from Paddington.
My brother, my cousin and I thought what a good idea it would be to repeat our parents’ 1933 holiday. It would be a nostalgia
Devon in August of that year. My uncle walks - modest because I am no longer
trip walking in our parents’ footsteps. We were keen to see what had changed in 85 years. I produced a plan that was a modest
was 23 and my mother 21. The narrative capable of walking the long distances, up We stayed in an excellent hotel near
recreation of their walks - modest because I am no longer capable of walking the long distances, up to 18 miles, that our parents
describes the guest house where they to 18 miles, that our parents managed on Hunters Inn in the Heddon Valley. We
managed on some days.
stayed, the walks they undertook along some days.
visited the guest house in Combe Martin
the coast and on the moors, and their
where our parents stayed and we repeated
some of their walks along paths and
So in May 2018 I set out on this holiday with my brother and my cousin. Whereas we travelled by car, our parents used trains and
various “adventures”. The style is simple So in May 2018 I set out on this holiday
buses. Their total outward journey time in 1933 from Westcliff-on-Sea to Combe Martin was about 8½ hours. The same journey
and innocent, reminiscent of a bygone with my brother and my cousin. Whereas tracks that still exist, including sections
today would take some 2 hours less, but it would include a change of trains at Exeter. In 1933 there was a direct service from
age in the relative peace and tranquillity we travelled by car, our parents used of the coast path, the Doone valley, and
Waterloo to Ilfracombe. Today’s journey from London would be from Paddington.
between two world wars.
trains and buses. Their total outward visits to Clovelly and Lynton & Lynmouth.
journey time in 1933 from Westcliffon-Sea
to Combe Martin was about 8½ scenery spectacular.
The weather was cold but sunny, and the
We stayed in an excellent hotel near Hunters Inn in the Heddon Valley. We visited the guest house in Combe Martin where our
My brother, my cousin and I thought
parents stayed and we repeated some of their walks along paths and tracks that still exist, including sections of the coast path,
what a good idea it would be to repeat hours. The same journey today would
the Doone valley, and visits to Clovelly and Lynton & Lynmouth. The weather was cold but sunny, and the scenery spectacular.
1933 Sitting on rocks at Combe Martin 2018 Alan and friends
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