River Yealm (Noss Mayo) to Bigbury-on-Sea & Hope Cove: June 2014

River Yealm (Noss Mayo) to Bigbury-on-Sea & Hope Cove
Monday 09 to Monday 16 June 2014

A few personal notes of our South West Coast Path expedition - a sort of scrap-book.  You are welcome to view and make comments if you wish! 

 

You will see that we are taking our time to complete the Path - we started out from Minehead in September 2011.

 

A series of bus walks using the very limited bus services in this part of Devon to reach our walks.  Careful planning was ncessary and we did the walks slightly out of sequence so that we could use the Friday-only service from Challaborough to Kingston for the walk from the Erme Estuary to Challaborough.

 

We stayed in a mobile home at the Parkdean Challaborough Bay Holiday Park, close to Bigbury-on-Sea for the week.  The Coast Path passes right by the entrance to the Park.

 

River Yealm (Noss Mayo) to Beacon Hill
Our first walk of the week (Tuesday 10 June) was from opposite Warren Point on the Yealm estuary to Beacon Hill.  There were two options for this walk: one was to catch the one bus per day (Tally Ho! 94) at about 9:36am from the Membland, Leaning Chimney stop or to do a circular walk. 

 

The bus-walk option worked!  We had identified where we might park the car - in the small lay-by in the narrow lane at the road junction (SX577472) and just a couple of hundred yards from the bus stop.  We alighted from the bus at Noss Mayo Church and walked the mile or so the the Coast Path at the Warren Point ferry landing.  We had hoped that we might be able to buy a coffee somewhere in Noss Mayo, but the pub was closed!

 

We continued on the Coast Path as far as Beacon Hill and returned to the car.  For much of the way the Coast Path follows the old carriage road with easy, level walking.

 

Weather was much better than we had expected: just a couple of very short showers; otherwise good with sunny spells.

 

Flora and fauna spotted on this section included foxgloves, elderflower, hogweed, red campion and valerian: white, pink and red.  Skylarks, yellowhammer, an unidentified warbler and butterflies and bees.

 

SWCP distance from Warren Point to Beacon Hill: approximately 9.1km (5.6 miles). 
Total walked: 11.1km (7 miles).

Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 695km (432 miles);
Distance to South Haven Point: 320km (199 miles)
10 June 2014

Beacon Hill River Erme Crossing

The next day (Wednesday 11 June) we continued on from Beacon Hill.  This time parking the car at the side of the road in the hamlet of Battisborough Cross and catching, once again, the Tally Ho! 94 bus: this time to Membland, the Leaning Chimney.

Erme Mouth

This is a delightful stretch of the Coast Path to the Erme Estuary.  There is no ferry here and the estuary can be crossed safely only about an hour either side of low tide.  We had long previously decided that we did not want to get our feet wet and had decided, instead to continue on the other side of the estuary on another day!  You can tell from this that we are not 'purists' so far as this expedition is concerned!

Vaughan had left his sun hat in the car, so Elizabeth generously let him have hers for the walk; she wore her warm 'winter' hat instead - on a day when temperatures were heading into the low 20's!

At a stile just below St Anchorite's Rock was a herd of cattle  blocking the way.  As we were deciding how best to deal with the situation (cattle can be a bit frisky at times), we were rescued by a friendly farm worker, who saw us safely past the cows and on our way.

Looking across the Erme Estuary from the slipway

From the slipway, near to the Old Coastguard Cottages, where we enjoyed our picnic lunch sitting on the rocks, we headed back to the car at Battisborough Cross up the lane.  There we took advantage of the bench at the cross roads for a (flask of) tea stop.  What we had not realised, was that the seat had recently been painted and Vaughan got some paint on his trousers.

Flora and fauna spotted on the way included: sheepspit scabious, scarlet pimpernel, mushrooms on ash tree root; kestral, stonechat and goldfinches.

SWCP distance from Beacon Hill to the Erme Crossing: approximately 5.3km (3.25 miles).
Total walked: 9.0km (5.5 miles).

Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 700km (435 miles);
Distance to South Haven Point: 315km (196 miles)
11 June 2014

Erme Crossing to Challaborough Bay

There is just one bus a week from the Challaborough Slipway Cottage bus stop - and that is the Tally Ho! (service 875) to Plymouth.  This bus goes via Kingston: just a mile or so across the fields from Erme Mouth, enabling us to do this section as a bus walk.  This is the reason why we did this section 'out of sequence' - on Friday 13 June 2014.

There were about half a dozen or so of us waiting for the bus: quite a few were going all the way to Plymouth.  It was a very hot morning and the bus was about half an hour late.  Eventually it arrived and by the time we had all got one I don't think that there was a spare seat.

The Dolphin, Kingston

With two other walkers we alighted at Kingston and headed across the fields and through Wrinkle Woods to the Coast Path at Erme Mouth, a popular unspoilt spot for holiday-makers and local families alike.

Erme Mouth

After first heading south to The Beacon, just inland from Beacon Point, the path takes an easterly direction with Burgh Island coming into view in the distance.




 

Burgh Island (in the middle distance)
 

Approaching Burgh Island

This stretch is described in the South West Coast Path Association's handbook as 'strenuous'.  Our experience bore this out with significant ascents in places!

Flora and fauna seen on this section included scarlet pimpernel, poppies, sea spurrey, thistles and speedwell; black-backed gull, jackdaws and (we think) whitethroats ... and lots of butterfies.

South West Coast Path distance for the day's walk was approximately 6.7km (4 miles). Total walked: 10.3km (6.4 miles).

Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 710km (441 miles) and distance to South Haven Point: 320km (192 miles).

Challaborough Bay to Cockleridge Point

We walked the short section between Challaborough Bay to Cockleridge Point and the Avon Estuary ferry crossing on Sunday 15 June.

Setting out from Challaborough Bay Holiday Park, we headed around Bigbury-on-Sea, passing Burgh Island.  We found that the way-marking near to Sharpland Point was not very clear, and we missed our way and headed out to Sharpland Point and missed the permissive path (the 'official' route) on the northern side of Folly Hill, following the lane, instead before descending down to Cockleridge Point and the ferry to Bantham.

Avon Estuary with Bantham on the far side

From the ferry landing, we returned to Bigbury-on-Sea across the fields and golf course before crossing the sand spit to Burgh Island, where we completed a circuit of the island before returning to the mainland for a picnic lunch on the beach.

Challaborough Bay from Burgh Island

South West Coast Path distance for the day's walk was approximately 3.2km (2 miles). Total walked: 11.3km (7 miles).

Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 713km (443 miles) and distance to South Haven Point: 317km (190 miles).

Avon Estuary to Hope Cove

As mentioned earlier, the section from the Avon Estuary to Hope Cove was completed out of order - on Thursday 12 June: a beautiful hot and sunny day with fluffy white clouds.  On this occasion Vaughan remembered his sun hat!

This was a linear bus walk, taking the Tally Ho! 162 bus from Outer Hope to Thurlestone Church for the half mile walk down to Bantham, where we rejoined the Coast Path.

 

Avon Estuary at the ferry crossing

This is a moderate section.  At the time that we did it, we followed the sign-posted diversion from above Thurlstone Sands inland up the lane to Pitchingstone Cross and joining the 'official' path at Woolman Point before descending to Hope Cove for a welcome ice cream, seated on a bench watching swallow aerobatics.

Fauna spotted on the walk included:  a warbler: we think that it was a cetti's warbler, stonechats (lots of them about!), skylarks (mostly heard and seen only as specks in the heavens!), herring gulls, jackdaws and rooks, juvenile pied wagtails on the rocky beach overlooking Thurlstone Rock and swallows buzzing a few inches above our heads at Hope Cove.

SWCP distance from Avon Estuary to Hope Cove: approximately 8.65km (5.25 miles).
Total walked: 10.9km (6.75 miles).

Cumulative distance (from Minehead): 717km (445 miles)
Distance to South Haven Point: 298km (185 miles).
Total this session: 52.6km (32.5 miles)

Thursday 12 June 2014 

Rame to Warren Point May 2014

Rame (Wiggle Cliff) to Warren Point (Wembury)
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.


 

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).

Cawsand to Plymouth Barbican and Coxside

Saturday 10 May 2014

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.



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

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.

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 2014
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.

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.

 

Hooe Lake from Turnchapel

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.
 

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!
 

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).

Pentewan to Rame: April 2014

Pentewan to Rame
April 2014

For this section we stayed with friends, who are also walking the South West Coast Path.  We were sharing a luxurious four bedroom holiday house with them: close to the village Lanlivery and about a mile-and-a-half to the west of Lostwithiel. 

Although we were all walking the Path, we did not do so together, as we had already covered the section from Place (where our friends were commencing their walk) to Pentewan.  In addition, they were planning on walking rather greater distances than we were planning!

We completed the section with a series of six linear walks, using a combination of car and bus to get to the beginning and from the end of the walks.  With careful planning it was possible to arrange a series of bus walks for this section.

Pentewan to Par

Sunday 06 April 2014

We started the day by driving to the car park by the Costcutter supermaket near Hambley's Corner, Par.

From there we caught the 10:24 Western Greyhound service 524 bus to the Pentewan Turn.

On a damp and grey day with heavy rain at times, we set out from Pentewan at about 11:00am.  We paused briefly to visit Pentewan's parish church and then headed out towards Black Head, following the diversion across the fields from above Hallane to Black Head.

The Path north from Black Head to Higher Porthpean is fairly strenuous with some steep ascents and descents.

At Charlestown, the way became easy, entering Par through the industrial china clay works, with some road walking - not very pretty!

We ended the day with mud-splattered boots and over-trousers - and rather tired!

South West Coast Path distance approximately 13.9 km (8.6 miles).  Walk total: 14.2 km (8.8 miles).

Cumulative distance from Minehead: 598 km (372 miles).

Par to Fowey

Monday 07 April 2014

A dismal, dull, grey morning with some heavy rain at times -improving during the course of the day with some sun later.  A great deal of mud, though!

We started out by driving to Fowey, parking in Park Road.  We then caught the Western Greyhound bus to Par Green, starting our walk about 10:30.

For the first part, along Par Beach and then on the cliff path above the low cliffs to Polkerris the rain fell, so it seemed, continuously: by the time we reached Polkerris we felt rather like drowned rats!  We were glad that the staff of Sam's on the Beach did not turn us away - perhaps they took pity on us!  There we enjoyed a delicious coffee and chocolate brownie.

After our coffee break we continued on to Gribbin Head with its day mark, pausing at Polridmouth for a picnic lunch.  On the approach to Polridmouth the board-walk path suffered severe storm damage and was very uneven in places.

Approaching Polridmouth .... storm damage (to the decking!)

On the way through Fowey we paused to enjoy the peace and quiet of The Quiet Garden, overlooking the harbour and Polruan.

Gribbin Head with Dodman Point in the distance

The South West Coast Path distance walked was approximately 11.8 km (7.3 miles) and the total walked was about 12.2 km (7.5 miles).
Cumulative distance from Minehead: 609 km (379 miles).

Polruan to Polperro

Tuesday 08 April 2014

A strenuous linear bus walk of about seven miles.  Firstly we drove to Polperro and parked the car near to the school at Bretwartha Brent where we caught the Travel Cornwall bus to Polruan.

Fowey from Polruan

Before setting out on the Coast Path we called at the Crumpets Tea Room for a very welcome coffee and bacon sandwich.

Lantic Bay and Pencarrow Head

Wild flowers along the way included primroses, violets, red campion, bladder campion and sea pinks.

Polperro

Birds spotted included swallows, shags, cormorants, buzzards and goldfinches.

The South West Coast Path distance was approximately 11.9 km (7.4 miles) and the total walked was about 12.5 km (7.75 miles).
Cumulative distance from Minehead: 621 km (386 miles).

Polperro to Looe

Wednesday 09 April 2014

Another bus walk.  This time we took the car to West Looe, where we parked away from the town on Marine Drive.  We then caught the Western Greyhound service 572 bus from opposite the Fire Station to Crumplehorn, above Polperro.

On the way down to the Coast Path by the harbour we had, a short rest.  This was becoming something of a pleasant habit! This time we called in at The Plantation Tea Rooms for a coffee and a pork and stuffing bap with apple sauce: delicious!

Fortified, we set off down to the harbour to commence the day's Coast Path walk: not much more than five miles to Looe to be completed this day.

Polperro Harbour

At Polperro

Polperro

There was a short, clearly marked, diversion from Downend Point to Porthallow and Talland Bay; the Path then continuing past Hove Stone, Bridge Rocks and St George's Island to Hannafore, to the southern end of West Looe.

 

Coast Path Diversion at Downend Point .... follow the arrow!

Looe from Marine Drive

South West Coast Path distance for the day's walk was approximately 7.6 km (4.7 miles) and the total walked was about 8.6 km (5.3 miles).
The Cumulative distance from Minehead: approximately 629 km (391 miles).

Looe to Portwrinkle

Thursday 10 April 2014

Looe Bay and St George's Island

A lovely Spring day!  Cloudy with sunny spells - and no rain!

Both Looe and Portwrinkle are linked to Liskeard by regular bus services.  The service between Liskeard and Looe is roughly hourly; that between Portwrinkle and Liskeard rather infrequent.  With this in mind we parked the car at Liskeard and caught the Western Greyhound 753 bus to Looe.

Arriving at Looe, we went without our pre-walk coffee, and after a little by way of some window shopping by Elizabeth, we went on our way.  While Elizabeth was window shopping, though, Vaughan had continued through the town, expecting Elizabeth to be following - which she wasn't!  Eventually, however, we met up again and continued on the way.

 

Looe

We made time for an excellent coffee right on the beach at The Black Rock Cafe at Millendreath.  Shortly after we left Millendreath we followed the major inland diversion to avoid serious landslips and storm damage, passing the Monkey Sanctuary on the way down to Seaton, where we paused for a quick picnic lunch.

Diversion notice... at the Western end.

At the Eastern end of the diversion.

Seaton, Cornwall

We kept our lunch break short, hoping to be able to catch the 15:45 A Line Travel 80B bus from Portwinkle to Liskeard.  The next bus would mean a long wait, as it was due to leave at 18:27.  So we 'quick marched' - and managed to catch the bus, with not many minutes to spare!  This was one of those occasions when using a limited frequency bus service at the end of the day's walk puts one under a certain amount of pressure: pressure best avoided if possible!

The South West Coast Path distance for the day's walk was approximately 13.6 km (8.4 miles) and the total day's walk was about 15.0 km (9.3 miles).
The Cumulative distance from Minehead: approximately 641 km (398 miles).

 

Portwrinkle to Rame (Wiggle Cliff)

Friday 11 April 2014

 

Whitsand Bay and Rame Head

A linear bus walk, using the hourly First service 81 from Kingsand, Rame Village to Crafthole.  Firstly, we drove to the tiny village of Rame, parking near the church and walking from there to the bus stop at the road junction with the lane to the village, where we caught the bus.  From Crafthole, where we alighted, we took the short walk down the lane to Portwrinkle, where we enjoyed a pre-walk coffee at The Gook Beach Cafe, above Portwinkle Beach. 

 

The Tregantle Firing Ranges were open to walkers on the day of our walk, so we were able to follow the permissive path through them, skirting immediately on the seaward side of Tregantle Fort.  Leaving the Fort behind, the path continues through Freathy and Whitsand Bay passing by the unique 'village' of countless individual and distinctive chalets, many of them with carefully tended gardens.

 

We left the Coast Path at the Polhawn Car Park, above Wiggle Cliff, and returned to Rame Church along the lanes, instead of rounding Rame Head, which we would save for the next section of our walk.

 

The South West Coast Path distance for the day's walk was approximately 8.0 km (5 miles) and the total day's walk was about 12.0 km (7.5 miles).
The Cumulative distance from Minehead: approximately 649 km (403 miles).

Falmouth (Place) to Pentewan: March 2014

Falmouth to Pentewan
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.

 

St Margaret's Park

'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!
 

 

Falmouth to Portscatho
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!

 

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.

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.

Portscatho from Porthcurnick Beach



Gull Rock

Portloe

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

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. 

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.

Primroses beside the Path

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).

Porthluney Cove (Caerhays) to Gorran Haven
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.

Dodman Point from Boswinger

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.

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!

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

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!

Mevagissey on a grey day

Mevagissey Inner Harbour at low tide

From Mevagissey towards Chapel Point

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!

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).

 

Mevagissey to Pentewan 
Friday 21 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!

Pentewan from above Portgiskey

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.

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).