I just walked the entire South West Coast Path

[babybluefish]

For four years I had been slowly losing myself in the fog of menopausal rage, anxiety, insomnia and weight gain.

My bedside drawer was filling with remedies and supplements that did little to ease my symptoms.

Walking was the only thing that kept me on the right side of sanity, and quite possibly of prison.

From July to October I walked alone the 630 mile South West Coast Path.

AMA

Good luck with your ankle. I would wear a compression support and just go slow.
And definitely use poles.
The path after Hartland Quay is totally wonderful but yes, very steep and relentless ascents and descents!
That's a good question. No, I had only great support from my friends and my sister.
My sister had walked a long distance trail alone in Scotland several years ago so had a good understanding of the why question.
I knew I had the time to do it all IF I could, but honestly I didn't even know if I would make it out of the initial steep hill from Minehead.
My back pack felt so heavy.
Then I got to Newquay which I was amazed at, and my confidence grew, so I continued.
At Plymouth it would have been easy to stop and call it a day, but I dug deep and continued into another storm.
My husband didn't really think I would go on until the end, and he did miss me, or he says he did!
He was reluctantly supportive when he fully realised I wasn't going to give up and was just getting into my stride!
This was good because I don't think I would have been able to continue writing in the same way each evening if I had been stressed about him not supporting me.

Your mention of that first ascent out of Minehead has brought back memories, but the first part is so incredibly beautiful. All the waterfalls and Porlock Weir is not somewhere I'd ever have visited were it not for the path.

Thanks for your advice about the ankle and I'm glad your husband was supportive. My DC are too dependent on me right now but once things change I think I'll go for it.

this is my dream, placemarking!

My story is once more FREE for the next three days to download on Amazon, and I would be so pleased to have more readers and reviews!

Please enjoy it.

I'm still here to answer any questions.

Oooooo I just reread your thread this morning as enjoyed it so much the first time round, have refreshed it to see your book is free on Amazon - how though? I cannot access it for free, it’s either via the kindle app that is a subscription or as the paperback? Maybe it’s free through the app?

I have walked parts of the SWCP and love it, you have inspired me to do it (when I can get rid of the kids!)

Hi, thank you!

It's currently free on Amazon for all countries as a Kindle download, so please Google:

"I'm no Shakespeare: Walking the South West Coast Path" by Cheryl Dummer

You don't need an actual Kindle device, just the free Kindle app for any smart phone.

It's already worked for lots of people today, so I really hope you can find it too.

Well done op that's brilliant!
I'm going to try to download your book too.
I've only got half way through the thread but will read the rest later and will be back with some questions I am sure

I'm having trouble downloading it from Amazon, looking forward to reading it

Aww, I've just downloaded your book only to discover I no longer have the free e reader app I once had, so have no way of reading it! I've tried other books on the SWCP but not found one I enjoyed yet. I think yours might fare better if the little excerpts I have seen are anything to go by.

My question, fwiw: this has been my long held ambition too. I have walked a large portion of the North Cornwall and Dorset parts, but nothing but doing the whole thing from start to finish counts as doing the SWCP in my opinion. So.... finally dh and I are setting out this September. We can only fit in the first quarter (to Padstow) but I have a secret plan to persuade him to carry on once we get there, if we are enjoying it. So, my question: is the bit around Bideford really as mind numbingly boring as it appears to be?

Haha, a wily "little plan" often works extremely well!

You will love it and will both want to continue.

I'm confident that by the time you get to Padstow you will be addicted.

Will you be camping?

The bit from Braunton onwards towards and past Barnstaple is tarmac so harder on the feet, but not at all mind numbingly boring, although having said that it was the first section that I switched on Spotify to have some music to march to!

The estuary is attractive with lots of old wooden boats and houseboats.

I caught the ferry from Instow to Appledore.

The Kindle app can be downloaded for free, so I hope you can get it to work.

If not then send me a pm and I'll send you a complimentary hard copy 😊

Thanks ... and I am eagerly awaiting your questions! 😊

Free to download again for the next two days 👍

Do you have the link to the book please?

amzn.eu/d/4YJzfGd
Enjoy it 😊

I’ve just come back from a holiday in Minehead. We go every year. Last year we walked that first steep bit of the walk ‘for fun’
I’m in awe of those that have walked it and a tiny bit jealous.

Going to start reading, thank you @babybluefish

That steep bit is a brutal introduction ... and it gets steeper on the way to Bude!
I can't tell you what an incredible experience it is. A pure physical and mental challenge without any 'pilgrim'.

Have just downloaded your book, thanks op.

Have you got any more long distance walks planned?

Your story is really inspiring. I live less than 2 miles from a beautiful part of the South Downs Way and have always talked about doing it all but I’ve got older, fatter, my knees broke through running and it doesn’t get easier.

Look forward to reading your story, hopefully it will inspire me to get off my arse😳🤣

Amazing achievement. Just downloaded

Yes more walks are certainly planned but I'm still deliberating between the Wye Valley and checking out what all the Camino fuss is about.
It's the religiousness and the snoring in the auberges that put me off but, like cruises, so many people say that they hated the idea but actually loved every real second of it.
Whether I love the Camino or hate it I'm quite sure I would find lots to write about 😁
In April this year I walked the new Tamara Coast to Coast Way which follows the river Tamar from its estuary to its source, and I wrote a second, shorter book about that, an eight day adventure (also on Amazon)
I walk very slowly, sometimes almost backwards, but if you are determined then anything, with time, is possible.
My menopausal anxiety is definitely building, so I need a plan, and quickly!

Hello, just to let you know that the book is now available on Amazon Prime Reading if anyone might like to get a free download from there 😊👍
Also the film The Salt Path has now had it's first showing at the Toronto Film Festival and is due for release next April.

Bloody hell, well done!

Well done! And thank you for the update. I downloaded your book, but haven't got round to reading it - I must do so!

Thank you to you both. I appreciate all downloads and reviews more than I can say.
Porto, to begin the Portuguese litoral Camino, will be my next challenge at the end of this month.
Any tips would be very gratefully received 👍😊

The film version of The Salt Path is due for release at the end of this month, and for the next few days the Kindle edition of my own story is free to download. Links in this thread.

I will look out for your film😊