Home » My End to End Land's End to John O'Groats long walk blog » Leg 3: days 10-13: Launceston to Yeoford, April 30 to May 3rd 2017; 52.06 miles (83.78km).Total walked so far: 174.61 miles (281km)

Leg 3: days 10-13: Launceston to Yeoford, April 30 to May 3rd 2017; 52.06 miles (83.78km).Total walked so far: 174.61 miles (281km)

Leg 3: days 10-13: Launceston to Yeoford, April 30 to May 3rd 2017; 52.06 miles (83.78km).Total walked so far: 174.61 miles (281km)

Off we go with my intrepid companions for this leg: Laura and Suchi!

Have walked this far so far… 174.61 miles (281km).
Land’s end to Yeoford, Devon.

My friend on the bus from Exeter to Launceston.

Thinking about this John Ching from Launceston who died at 18 in Jamaica from yellow fever in 1863…. Wondering about his story…

Broad street Launceston has just gotten broader

Launceston is charming from a distance. Don’t look too close….

From Launceston castle.

Our first night. Mental note: don’t book a room over a pub on a Saturday night unless you like pounding bass sounds until 2 am….

Launceston

Other mental note: even if it’s pouring rain all day, don’t stop at the very strange Dingle’s Fairgroud on a Sunday for a very dry cream tea unless you want to wait an hour for it and you don’t mind them wiping the tea cups with their fingers..

Dry scones from Dingles Fairground.

Lovely Suchi Chidambaram crossing the river Thrushel.

Monday was as rainy as Sunday, view from the loveliest of lovely B&B’s Jane’s Lobill farmhouse.
http://www.lobhillbedandbreakfast.co.uk/

Approaching the village of Lake and the fantastic Bearslake Inn where we had lunch.
http://www.bearslakeinn.com/

Walking along the Granite way, disused railway all afternoon. No thank you to Dr Beeching..

Old Meldon quarry and dam, seen from the Meldon viaduct.

Laura making a friend in a 1961 train carriage now sits on top of the Meldon viaduct for the friendliest of cream teas with a stunning view

1961 train carriage now sits on top of the Meldon viaduct for the friendliest of cream teas with a stunning view

Simmons park, a very cute riverside trail approaching Okehampton.

Okehampton is the opposite of Launceston. A place full of artists, bric-a-brac shops, cool diners, delicious Indian restaurant and the Fountain Inn where my room had aparent beams and a window on the river…

Ball Hill trail leaving Okehampton along the river Taw.

River Taw.

River Taw trail.

Artistic foam in the river Taw.

Up into Dartmoor we go, miles and miles of wilderness to the south. Belstone Common.

Trees a small testament to the age of these gorgeous walls.

In Belstone, you can find happiness and everything you need all in one. A defibrillator in a phone box, a post office, a chapel and a telgraph.

Kevin, the man with the million dollar (or pound) smile keeps the pub in Belstone and was fun to be with.

Attempted view from Ramsley Hill in South Zeal..

We fell for this trick, believed this sign and ended up in a dead end with nothing to see but a ruined house and messy yard! Someone must have been looking at us at getting a good laugh!

Real birds, straw birds…

I would have loved to go to this.
Note: Lunch at the Taw River Inn in Sticklepath was good, but beware, the waitress takes sips from your beer before she brings it to you!

Pretty much my view for the next months..

Mud hut and thatched roof. Africa? No. Devon!

My view is my companion.

Yeoford station, and a library in waiting room where everyone will find something for them for the long rail journey ahead, as Yeoford seems to be far from everywhere..