Portreath and Porthtowan

Who? Chris and Uta

When? Sunday 28th September 2008

Needed to "fill a gap" along the coast route, so we met at Portreath (don't park in the beach car park next time - too expensive!) and headed up the coast towards Porthtowan. Some grand views of Portreath and westwards along the coast from the landmark, but had to retreat to the road again as part of the coast path had collapsed and was closed off. At the small car park near the end of the road we were able to re-join the coast path, then followed the fence surrounding the old airfield, through old mine workings, to the headland above Porthtowan.

Stopped for lunch there, then headed inland to follow the lanes to Cambrose. Along the way we passed a big chicken farm where one of the young turkeys was trying in vain to make an escape (and ooh the smell!).

From Cambrose we joined the old mineral tramway which took us all the way back tp Portreath - busy with families making the most of a warm sunny Sunday afternoon.

A good walk for when there has been a lot of rain - fairly dry underfoot.

About 5 miles.

Looe and Talland Bay

Who? Chris, Sara, Sue, Uta

When? Sunday 7th September

Today was the British Heart Foundation's charity walk from Looe to Polperro, which we registered for but changed the route to suit our day.

Walked the coast path to Talland Bay, where we stopped for lunch in the cafe at the top of the field. Chatted to a couple of St John's Ambulance guys who were "on duty" for the charity walkers, until they were called away by a lady concerned about her husband. We left as the Air Ambulance came in - concerned about the dogs being frightened by all the noise and wind.

At this point Sue left us to head back along the coast to Looe. The rest of us headed inland, past the Talland Bay Hotel, turning right off the road at Porthallow Farm and along a lovely lane to Tencreek Farm, then almost due north along a quiet lane towards Watergate, heading into Kilminorth Woods at the first opportunity. Followed the well-trodden tracks down to Looe and along the very busy road back to the cars at Hannafore.

Some inland views:

About 8 miles in total.

Tregudda Gorge and Stepper Point

Who? Chris and Uta
When? Sunday 21st September

Chris and I met at the little car park just north of Crugmeer SW899771 - the intention was to get some photos of Tregudda Gorge at high tide. When we got there we realised that although the tide was just right, the sun had not yet got round to the gorge, so we headed off up the coast wthout any photos. Gorgeous sunny day, calm and warm; the sea was sparkling and really clear. Up around Stepper Point, past Hawker's Cove to lunch on the beach - sand in everything!


At the War memorial just north of Padstow we headed inland to the top of Prideaux Place. Just up the lane we met a VERY large tractor and combine harvester - had to retreat into a field to let them by! Then across the fields along a well-trodden path to Crugmeer and along the lane to join the coast again just south of Porthmissen Bridge. We went back to Tregudda and Chris managed some photos - but of course the high tide had long since passed. Ah well, we'll just have to do the walk again another time!

About 5 miles.

Three Days in the Wild West

Prep day - 11th August
We all met up at the Lands End Youth Hostel http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/south-west-england/hostels/lands-end/index.aspx as our centre for the walk from St Ives round the coast to Newlyn. We aimed for three days, breaking at Pendeen Watch and Porthgwarra, and using two cars to ferry between the hostel and start/end points. Weather wasn't looking too kind, but unless it turned really bad we would go for it!

Day One - 12th August - St Ives to Pendeen Watch
Dropped one car off at Pendeen Watch, then drove to St Ives, finally finding parking at the Rugby Football Club. Sauntered down to the Tate Gallery as our starting point. Windy, showers threatening but bright; as we left the town families were flocking to the beach for a day surrounded by wind-breaks. A couple of hefty showers soaked our socks but we battled on, and by lunchtime the weather cleared and we were treated to increasingly good views. The first section to Zennor sapped our energies, with lots of boulders in slippery mud to negotiate, so arriving at Zennor was a real treat. Sue left us here to explore Zennor, as the rest of us carried on past the airy Gurnard's Head and Bosigran Castle (lots of memories of climbing here many years ago). We saw several seals sheltering in the bays protected from the westerly winds; the water is so clear despite the wind! The Lighthouse at Pendeen kept hiding itself from us, but finally it appeared, much to the relief of our tired legs. A lovely meal at the Gurnard's Head Hotel http://www.gurnardshead.co.uk/ revived our energies.

Day Two - 13th August - Newlyn to Porthgwarra
The weather this morning was horrid - winds gusting to Force 9, hefty showers interspersed with horizontal driving rain - not much to recommend the planned route form Pendeen to Porthgwarra. Being sensible ladies, we flexed the plan and went to Newlyn to start there instead - and found the south coast much more amenable. Only one small short shower; Sara had just got one foot into her zingy yellow overtrousers when it stopped raining! The rest of the days was unbelievably but gloriously sunny and warm. Along the way we visited Mousehole, Lamorna, St Loy's Bay (lunch on the boulder beach), Penberth, Porthcurnow, Minack Theatre, St Levan's Well, and finally Porthgwarra - all lovely places. Highlight of the day - a large creature swimming westwards just of Tater Du lighthouse - was it a whale, a basking shark, or something else? We have yet to identify this creature from the deep!

Day Three - 14th August - Pendeen Watch to Porthgwarra
After yesterday's breezy day truning out so well, this one dawned beautifully - few clouds, a gentle breeze - and remained so all day. The Isles of Scilly beckoned on the horizon all day - fabulous. It just got better and better - famous historic remains of mines from Geevor and Levant through to Botallack. On to Kenidjack and Cape Cornwall, around the Cot Valley and along the glorious coast round to Sennen Cove, where the crowds made us scurry on through and onto Lands End - more crowds, noise and unwelcome smells. Over the next headland we were pleased to find ourselves back in the peace and quiet - and at Zawn Trevilley we were rewarded by our first ever sight of wild Cornish Choughs. We watched them for several minutes, tingling with excitement (us, not the choughs!). A quick stop for refreshment at Nanjizal beach, watched by a seal in the bay, led us on to Gwennap Head (but hte Coastguard had already gone home for his tea!), and then easily round to Porthgwarra to the car.

You can't beat Cornwall - why go anywhere else?