Friday 09 May to Monday 12 May 2014
A series of four linear walks using a combination of car, bus and ferries to reach the beginning of each walk and back to the Premier Inn, Lockyer's Quay in Plymouth. The Premier Inn offered a perfect location for this section of the Path: just a few minutes' walk from the path itself.
Rame (Wiggle Cliff) to Cawsand
Friday 09 May 2014
We completed the first walk of this section after driving from home: straight to Cawsand Triangle - in time to catch the First service 81 bus from there to the Cawsand, Polhawn car park - above the delightfully named Wiggle Cliff.
Our walk took us from Wiggle Cliff to Rame Head, where we followed the short detour to the medieval chapel before heading to Penlee Point and then north through the bluebell woods to Cawsand.
The original plan had been to catch the First service 81 bus from Plymouth to Cawsand Triangle and to walk from there back to Plymouth. Instead, though, we took the 10:30 ferry from Barbican across The Sound, passing Drake's Island to Cawsand.
We were the only passengers and we were warned by the two-man crew that, because of the difficult weather conditions, it might not be possible to disembark at Cawsand. They told us that they would not take our fares (£4.00 each single) until they were sure that it would be possible for us to disembark at Cawsand!
It was certainly very choppy for most of the crossing, but as we drew close to Cawsand it became relatively calm and we were able to disembark without any difficulty.
From Cawsand and Kingsand to Cremyll it was easy three and a half miles or so, much of the way on woodland driveways and paths through the Mount Edgecumbe Estate. Along the way we met a group of schoolchildren doing a practise for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
After a refreshments - tea and coffee - in the Orangery at Mount Edgecumbe, we left Cornwall behind and crossed on the Cremyll Ferry to Stonehouse. From the ferry on the Devon shore the way took us up the new Eric Wallis Memorial Steps at Royal William Yard and on to Barbican and Coxside.
A linear walk after a leisurely start to the day: walking from the Premier Inn. Shortly after starting out, we spotted the East End Cafe - and had a coffee there while waiting for our filled rolls for our picnic. We had to wait for them, but, hey, we were on holiday!
On the way through Plymouth there are all sorts of unique and interesting South West Coast Path waymarks.
Continuing on our way, we headed towards the Mount Batten ferry pier, passing the Marina and then missing the 'official' coast path along the permissive path; instead crossing the road at the roundabout, following (briefly) the path in the 'wrong' direction on the western side of Mount Batten - near to Mount Batten Bay. When we realised that we had missed our way, we crossed over towards Clovelly Bay and approached the ferry - in a heavy downpour - from the correct direction.
It was just a short wait for the Mount Batten Ferry (£1.50 each) to take us back to Barbican.
A (fairly) early start: in time to catch the 09:15 ferry from Barbican to Mount Batten after buying filled rolls from the Jacka Bakery in the Barbican. Jacka is described as Britain's oldest commercial bakery, going back to at least the Sixteeenth Century.
The walk from from Mount Batten is a delightful, easy one, with fine views over Plymouth Sound for the first part. Later it is the Great Mew Stone which dominates the view.
The path passes Bovisand Fort, where we watched the ravens, Bovisand Bay, where we paused for coffee at the Cliff Edge Cafe, Heybrook Bay, Wembury Point and Wembury Bay.
We continued to Warren Point, where the ferry links with Newton Ferrers and Ferry Wood, close by Noss Mayo before following the footpaths to Wembury village to catch the 17:00 First number 48 bus back to Cattedown, just a short walk to the Premier Inn.
Rame (Wiggle Cliff) to Cawsand
Friday 09 May 2014
We completed the first walk of this section after driving from home: straight to Cawsand Triangle - in time to catch the First service 81 bus from there to the Cawsand, Polhawn car park - above the delightfully named Wiggle Cliff.
Our walk took us from Wiggle Cliff to Rame Head, where we followed the short detour to the medieval chapel before heading to Penlee Point and then north through the bluebell woods to Cawsand.
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| Around Rame Head |
South West Coast Path distance: 7km (4.25 miles); total for walk (including evening Plymouth walk) 9.35km (5.8 miles).
Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 656km (407 miles).
Distance to South Haven Point: 359km (223 miles).
Distance to South Haven Point: 359km (223 miles).
Cawsand to Plymouth Barbican and Coxside
Saturday 10 May 2014The original plan had been to catch the First service 81 bus from Plymouth to Cawsand Triangle and to walk from there back to Plymouth. Instead, though, we took the 10:30 ferry from Barbican across The Sound, passing Drake's Island to Cawsand.
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| The Cawsand Ferry approaching Barbican on a rather grey and murky day |
We were the only passengers and we were warned by the two-man crew that, because of the difficult weather conditions, it might not be possible to disembark at Cawsand. They told us that they would not take our fares (£4.00 each single) until they were sure that it would be possible for us to disembark at Cawsand!
It was certainly very choppy for most of the crossing, but as we drew close to Cawsand it became relatively calm and we were able to disembark without any difficulty.
 |
| Boarding the Cawsand Ferry bound for Plymouth |
From Cawsand and Kingsand to Cremyll it was easy three and a half miles or so, much of the way on woodland driveways and paths through the Mount Edgecumbe Estate. Along the way we met a group of schoolchildren doing a practise for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
 |
| Kingsand |
South West Coast Path distance: 11.8km (7.25 miles); total for walk 12.7km (7.75 miles).
Cumulative distance (this session) 22km (13 miles)
Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 669km (415 miles).
Distance to South Haven Point: 346km (215 miles).
Plymouth Coxside to Mount Batten
Sunday 11 May 2014A linear walk after a leisurely start to the day: walking from the Premier Inn. Shortly after starting out, we spotted the East End Cafe - and had a coffee there while waiting for our filled rolls for our picnic. We had to wait for them, but, hey, we were on holiday!
On the way through Plymouth there are all sorts of unique and interesting South West Coast Path waymarks.
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| An interesting Waymark! |
We followed the path along the roads close by Cattewater with industrial sites all around, including the huge fish processing plant of Interfish. We then crossed Laira Bridge and called in at the Morrisons Restaurant for coffee and cake before continuing on our way past the industrial units and boatyards, through Oreston and across the causeway between Radford and Hooe Lakes to Turnchapel.
At Turnchapel we paused - between the showers - for a picnic looking out onto Hooe Lake. A refreshment alternative would have been the Royal Oak - right by the path.
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| Hooe Lake from Turnchapel |
It was just a short wait for the Mount Batten Ferry (£1.50 each) to take us back to Barbican.
South West Coast Path distance: 8km (5 miles); total for the day's walk: 10.9km (6.75 miles).
Cumulative distance (this session) 33km (20 miles)
Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 675km (419 miles).
Distance to South Haven Point: 340km (211 miles) - two-thirds of the way completed!
Distance to South Haven Point: 340km (211 miles) - two-thirds of the way completed!
Mount Batten to Warren Point (Wembury)
Monday 12 May 2014 A (fairly) early start: in time to catch the 09:15 ferry from Barbican to Mount Batten after buying filled rolls from the Jacka Bakery in the Barbican. Jacka is described as Britain's oldest commercial bakery, going back to at least the Sixteeenth Century.
The walk from from Mount Batten is a delightful, easy one, with fine views over Plymouth Sound for the first part. Later it is the Great Mew Stone which dominates the view.
The path passes Bovisand Fort, where we watched the ravens, Bovisand Bay, where we paused for coffee at the Cliff Edge Cafe, Heybrook Bay, Wembury Point and Wembury Bay.
We continued to Warren Point, where the ferry links with Newton Ferrers and Ferry Wood, close by Noss Mayo before following the footpaths to Wembury village to catch the 17:00 First number 48 bus back to Cattedown, just a short walk to the Premier Inn.
South West Coast Path distance: 12.4km (7.75 miles); total for the day's walk: 17.3km (10.75 miles).
Cumulative distance (this session) 50km (30 miles)
Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 686km (426 miles).
Distance to South Haven Point: 340km (203 miles).
Distance to South Haven Point: 340km (203 miles).
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