March 2014
This section on the picturesque Roseland Peninsula was covered while we were 'based' for the week at St Margaret's Park in Polgooth. This is a lovely, secluded park of comfortable wooden chalets and is thoroughly to be recommended for self-catering accommodation.
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| St Margaret's Park |
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| 'Our' chalet |
The hikes for the week were, once again, a variety of circular and linear walks, using a combination of car and bus to and from the beginning and ends of our daily expeditions. Public transport in this area is very limited, so some careful planning is necessary. In some places suitable bus services are non-existent: hence the need for circular walks!
We did not actually start at Falmouth. The 'official route' uses two ferries: one from Falmouth to St Mawes and the second (seasonal) from St Mawes to Place. Instead we picked up the Path at Place. We hope that our failing to use the ferries will not be seen as our cheating our way along the Coast Path! So far we had not used any of the ferries: either they were not operating when we might have used them, or it simply did not fit in with our itinerary. We have no qualms about this: sometimes the lack of a ferry being available has meant our walking extra distances!
Sunday 16 March 2014
This was an easy circular walk, starting at the Porth Farm (National Trust) car park (there are also toilets here!).
Our chosen route was to continue down the lane to Bohortha before heading down to the creek below Place House. A more scenic route might be to follow the footpath along the edge of Porth Creek which meets the public footpath at North Hill Point.
We had met a couple in the car park and we said where we were going. They implied that we were not going the best way. Nevertheless we set off - in our different directions - only to meet up again at the St Mawes ferry landing! I think that they had chosen the better route!
At the lane to the church to the rear of Place House there was a notice advising that the coast path had been diverted following serious damage to the paths during the recent winter storms. Upon closer examination, however, the closure was to be for a limited period only and by the time we were there it should be reopened. Fortunately it was open!
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| Falmouth and St Mawes Castle from above Carricknath Point - on a rather grey day! |
As we were making our way in an easterly direction towards Portscatho, we spotted some seals near to Island Rock near Killigerran Head: excitement indeed!
We enjoyed the peaceful, silent welcome of the United Church in Portscatho, helping ourselves, as invited, to an excellent cup of coffee from the machine that has been installed there. The United Church is also to be found on the Small Pilgrim Places website.
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| Portscatho United Church |
After a pause in the small chapel, we made our way back to Porth car park across the fields and the lane past Rosteague.
The South West Coast Path distance which we covered was 10.1km (6.25 miles) and 15.1km in total (9.5 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 550km (341 miles).
Portscatho to Portloe
Monday 17 March 2014
This was a linear walk, firstly by driving to Veryan Bessybeneath for the Western Greyhound service 550 to Portscatho, parking in the small lay-by at the road junction.
On a rather grey day, setting out from Portscatho, the walk was easy to start with, becoming strenuous later. We arrived at Portloe with plenty of time to catch the Western Greyhound service 551 back to Bessybeneath.
We considered stopping at The Lugger Hotel for an afternoon tea, but, in our hiking gear - and none-too-clean boots, we felt that we would be somewhat out of place in this rather stylish hotel and restaurant. Instead, we ate our picnic lunch seated on the bench just a few yards from the main entrance of the hotel.
The South West Coast Path distance which we covered in the day's walk was about 12.5km (7.75 miles), with a total distance of 13.2km (8 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 561km (349 miles).
Portloe to Porthluney Cove (Caerhays)
Tuesday 18 March 2014
On a rather grey day, setting out from Portscatho, the walk was easy to start with, becoming strenuous later. We arrived at Portloe with plenty of time to catch the Western Greyhound service 551 back to Bessybeneath.
We considered stopping at The Lugger Hotel for an afternoon tea, but, in our hiking gear - and none-too-clean boots, we felt that we would be somewhat out of place in this rather stylish hotel and restaurant. Instead, we ate our picnic lunch seated on the bench just a few yards from the main entrance of the hotel.
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| Portscatho from Porthcurnick Beach |
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| Gull Rock |
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| Portloe |
Portloe to Porthluney Cove (Caerhays)
Tuesday 18 March 2014
Although there is a bus service to Portloe, there are no suitable public transport links from Gorran Haven to Portloe. We, therefore, covered the distance from Portloe to Gorran Haven in two sections.
For the first part, we drove to Portloe and parked in the village car park and headed to Porthluney Cove with its backdrop of Caerhays Castle via West and East Portholland.
For our return to Portloe, we followed the lane up the hill and then for a further couple of hundred yards in the Caerhays Barton direction. At the right-hand bend in the road (SW969413) passing through the gate and crossing the field to, once again picking up the Coast Path back down to East and West Portholland. We followed the quiet country from West Portholland, lanes past Tregenna Wartha and Tregenna Farm, then taking the farm lane to Cruggan and field paths to the lane dropping down to Portloe.
The South West Coast Path distance which we covered on this day's walk only about 5.6km (a mere 3.5 miles), and the total distance covered was about 11.3km (7 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 567km (352 miles).
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| East Portholland |
For the first part, we drove to Portloe and parked in the village car park and headed to Porthluney Cove with its backdrop of Caerhays Castle via West and East Portholland.
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| Primroses beside the Path |
The South West Coast Path distance which we covered on this day's walk only about 5.6km (a mere 3.5 miles), and the total distance covered was about 11.3km (7 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 567km (352 miles).
Porthluney Cove (Caerhays) to Gorran Haven
Wednesday 19 March 2014
Wednesday 19 March 2014
This was another walk for which where there was no suitable public transport links so we did it as a circular walk from the National Trust car park at Penare Farm, about three-quarters of a mile from Dodman Point.
From the car park, our route took us along the footpath which runs above and parallel to the lane which leads down to Hemmick Beach. From Hemmick we crossed the field on the footpath to Boswinger (YHA Hostel, ideally placed for coastal walking), then followed the lanes to Tregavarras and the field path from there down to Porthluney Beach and Caerhays Castle.
The Coast Path from Porthluney Cove leads around Dodman Point and above Vault Beach to Gorran Haven. Our return route back to the car park was through Treveague Farm: its camping site quiet on this March day!
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| Dodman Point from Boswinger |
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| Caerhays Castle |
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| Gorran Haven |
The South West Coast Path distance covered on this circular walk was about 8.4km (5.25 miles); the total distance was approximately 14km (8.75 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 575km (357 miles).
Gorran Haven to Mevagissey
Thursday 20 March 2014
This was a short, strenuous linear bus walk: the distance on the coast path a mere two miles!
We drove to Pentewan and parked the car in the free car park there before catching the bus to Mevagissey. There is a good bus service to and from Mevagissey, with buses serving Fowey, St Austell and Pentewan. Bus walks are easy to arrange.
As it was Friday morning, we called in to the coffee morning at St Andrew's United Church, where we received a warm welcome. Afterwards we returned to the Fountain Inn for an excellent fish and chip lunch before setting out on our way to Pentewan. It doesn't look very far on the map, but the route does have its fair shares of ascents and descents!
Arriving at Pentewan, with its superb stretch of sand and small harbour, we enjoyed the hospitality of the homely Pisky Cove Cafe, with a pot of tea for two and a toasted tea cake each.
Thursday 20 March 2014
We did this as a linear walk, initially driving to the Gorran Haven car park (£1.00 honesty box during the winter months; manned at other periods). The walk took us through Gorran Haven village passing Great Perhaver Point, Turbot Point and Chapel Point, where we were very excited at spotted a seal!
We reached Mevagissey at lunch time and enjoyed a meal at The Fountain Inn, after which we had a wander around the village - just as the rain started!
By the time Gorran and District Community Bus to Gorran Haven arrived at 15:35 we were very wet - and glad to be able to get out of the rain!
The bus service between Mevagissey and Gorran Haven is very limited, with different timings each day of the week. Careful planning may be necessary if one wishes to do this as a bus walk!
Mevagissey to Pentewan
Friday 21 March 2014
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| Mevagissey on a grey day |
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| Mevagissey Inner Harbour at low tide |
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| From Mevagissey towards Chapel Point |
By the time Gorran and District Community Bus to Gorran Haven arrived at 15:35 we were very wet - and glad to be able to get out of the rain!
The bus service between Mevagissey and Gorran Haven is very limited, with different timings each day of the week. Careful planning may be necessary if one wishes to do this as a bus walk!
This was a short walk; the distance covered on the South West Coast Path was about 5.6km (3.5 miles) and the total distance covered was approximately 8km (5 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 581km (361 miles).
Friday 21 March 2014
We drove to Pentewan and parked the car in the free car park there before catching the bus to Mevagissey. There is a good bus service to and from Mevagissey, with buses serving Fowey, St Austell and Pentewan. Bus walks are easy to arrange.
As it was Friday morning, we called in to the coffee morning at St Andrew's United Church, where we received a warm welcome. Afterwards we returned to the Fountain Inn for an excellent fish and chip lunch before setting out on our way to Pentewan. It doesn't look very far on the map, but the route does have its fair shares of ascents and descents!
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| Pentewan from above Portgiskey |
As already mentioned, this was another short walk; the distance covered on the South West Coast Path was just 3.2km (2 miles); the total distance covered was approximately 5.3km (just over 3 miles). The cumulative distance (from Minehead) was approximately 584km (363 miles).
The total distance covered in the six walks of this session was approximately 51.8km (32 miles).
The total distance covered in the six walks of this session was approximately 51.8km (32 miles).
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