James Chubb

Try taking a bus trip to paradise

I remember when we were first encouraged to “let the train take the strain”.

In those yuppie days, when I was in short trousers mind you, it was to allow you to use a mobile telephone the size of a Mini Cooper, while leafing through a file-o-fax to see when you had a ‘window’.

After a recent period of enforced public transport use, while suffering from being-sold-a-total-lemon-itis, I realised just how sensible this is today.

In 2007, rather than 1987 we are being encouraged out of our all-new, and much larger, Mini Coopers and back onto public transport to help take the strain off CO2 emissions.

Seeing as my role is largely about the celebration of our beautiful environment, I thought I ought to fall into line and provide you with some ideas of great wildlife encounters within a stone’s throw of a bus stop.

I was waiting for the X53 Coasthopper bus at Halfway House a couple of weeks ago when it hit me – you actually get to see the countryside if you are not concentrating on the rear bumper of a Honda civic, being driven at 30 mph by a gentleman with a box of tissues on the parcel shelf.

It was while waiting for this bus that I spotted a few hazelnuts on the short stretch of pavement. I scooped them up and, on closer inspection, could see that they had the characteristic teeth-marks of a dormouse.

So I now know that this inconspicuous spot I’ve driven past hundreds of times on my way to or from work has dormice living there. Not an earth-shattering discovery for science, but nice to know all the same.

I’ll stick with the X53 route, as it really does give some fantastic recreational opportunity throughout East Devon, and (selfishly) goes right past the front door of quite a few of the District Council’s Local Nature Reserves.

The Undercliffs National Nature Reserve is a stunning seven mile stretch of coast between Seaton and Lyme Regis.

Created 150 years ago by a land slip on Christmas day, the reserve is an isolated island bounded by the sea to the south and an inland cliff to the north.

At seven miles long, and with no half-way get out point, the only brave souls to venture all the way along the Undercliffs are long distance walkers, ‘doing’ the South West Coast Path, which is a great shame.

The place is remarkable, a tangled woody forest, with glimpses of the sea, and the location for the filming of The French Lieutenant’s Woman, starring Meryl Streep.

It is hard going and walking from one end to the other and then back again would be out of most people’s comfort zone. But armed with an X53 timetable and moderate fitness you can enjoy the yomp and be picked up at the other end.

I would advise travelling over the border – yes I know, Dorset, but it’s worth it I promise – and walking from Lyme Regis back towards Seaton.

At this time of year look out for the beautiful ghostlike wood white butterfly in sunny spots along the path, and keep your ears open for the cacophony of woodland bird calls, mixed strangely with the mewing of gulls.

You will eventually drop down over Axe Cliff golf club to get back to Seaton, and the views from here back along the East Devon coast are quite wonderful, even the MSC Napoli is conveniently hidden behind Beer Head.

Another good spot to know about on the route lies just above Seaton town itself, and is a woodland I have written about in these pages many times before.

Holyford Woods Local Nature Reserve lies in a little valley right behind Seaton Heights, and has a bus stop smack-bang at the entrance – it really could not be more convenient.

Fittingly this Sunday sees the annual Holyford Woods Open Day – a day of woodland celebration, cream teas and chutney sales, and you couldn’t pick an easier way to get to it than by bus.

Get dropped off at Seaton Heights and walk down into the woods along the footpath.

Watch out for bluebells and the vivid pink of red campion in the woods, and also notice the felled area, covered in foxgloves. This will be a riot of colour in a few weeks from now.

Follow the path into the woods, crossing a small bridge over a brook and bear right back out of the woods and down to Horriford Farm.
This is where Chair of the Holyford Woodland Trust, Colin Pady and his wife Val host this magnificent day.

Enjoy a cream tea on the farmhouse lawn and get there early to snaffle some chutney, before taking a guided tour of the woods from one of the Trust members or a Countryside Service Ranger.

The deadwood in the woodlands is a really important feature of this beautiful place, and is the reason why it is so popular with woodpeckers – all three British woodpeckers can be found here.

The guided walks will take you past some of the more spectacular fallen trees, as well as orchids, bluebells and drifts of fragrant wild garlic.
On your way back you can quietly peel off from the back of the group and make your way back up the hill to the bus stop and wait for the X53 to whisk you back to reality.

So this summer, leave the car behind sometimes. Avoid the stresses of being stuck in traffic yourself, and let someone else deal with that, as you sit back and admire our splendid countryside.