ANSTIS COVE

Anstis Cove deserves a special visit.  Passing from the Strand, under an avenue of trees opposite the Post-Office, and leaving the Public Gardens on the right hand, the visitor will go as straight as the road will permit till he comes in sight of St. Matthias’ Church.  The road to the right leads down to Anstis Cove.  He will notice among the ferns and trees a door in the mossy bank, like the entrance to a hermitage in the wilderness.  It is the door of the venerable Kent’s Cavern.  Persons who are now employed by the Torquay Natural History Society will guide the visitor and supply candles.  The vast cavern is six hundred and fifty feet in length, with small caverns and corridors, which are most dangerous without a guide, rugged, wet, and slippery.  Some years ago the skeleton of a woman who had lost her way was found.  No one now enters without a guide.  In some parts the cavern is so low that the visitors are obliged to crawl and squeeze, but in other parts it is 30 feet high.  The eminent geologist, Dr. Buckland, here discovered the bones of rhinoceros, elephants, lions, wolves, bears, hippopotami, and hyaenas—­beasts of prey that haunted the forests of prehistoric England before the times of the Celts.  Rude implements which have been found in the cavern prove that in very remote times it was the resort of savage tribes.  The cavern is now in process of careful examination by qualified persons, at the expense of the British Association, to whom they make periodical reports.  Fossil remains which have been, discovered may be seen at the museum of the Natural History Society, in Park Street, between the hours of ten and four daily.

But Anstis Cove is the object of our search.  Proceeding down the shady lane, taking the first turning on the left hand, we find a gateway leading to a footpath among all kinds of bushes and shady trees, down to the pebbly beach.  The lofty limestone cliff of Walls Hill is before us—­such rocks as are nowhere else to be seen.  They seem like huge monsters creeping into the ocean.  Here, amongst huge rocks on the shore, are the bathing machines.  The water is clear as crystal.  Rowing-boats are also here for hire, and here the strata of the neighbouring cliffs hanging over the sea can be examined.  Here is a cottage, too, where lobsters and picnic viands may be procured.  On the beach the fossil Madrepore is often found.

We were the only visitors at the boarding-house, where the cleanliness and the catering were all that could be desired.  The young ladies vied with each other to make our visit a pleasant one, and after a good supper we stayed up relating some of our adventures until the clock struck ten, when we retired for a well-earned rest, having walked quite 179 miles that week.

(Distance walked twenty-three and a half miles.)

Sunday, November 12th.