The plan
14 miles\766m ascent\average grade 7%\5:00 hours of moderate walking (longest duration day) ending at Hellarcher Farm (Cs) and The Caerthillian (Ls)
Reality
Very late updating this. Internet has been a consistent problem now we’re heading east, with upload speeds in particular too slow to be usable. Now in Falmouth, which appears to have better access, so I’m catching up! The challenge is that the details get ever hazier the further through this walk we get, and blogging 3 days later makes it even worse!
We had a lovely stay in Porthleven–very helpful host who did our laundry for us and left it outside our door the next morning. First of several mornings with fresh grapefruit at breakfast. And she called a taxi for us. Why? Well…
Today was already planned to be one of our longest, but a diversion around a cliff fail (or “founder”, a word some signs used) required a 2 mile diversion. We decided that was just too much. The Cs took a taxi to Gunwalloe and walked from there. The Ls took a bus to Mullion where we met up at the Chocolate Factory.
There was some amazing vegetation along the sea shore, including this sea holly…
And even a new example of fauna. This “snake” was so beautiful–a burnished coppery-gold. It appeared to be dead at first, but eventually moved slowly off the trail, which lead us to the fact that it was actually a form of legless lizard called a slow worm.
We then went past a Marconi radio test station, positioned next to a care home, which made you wonder if they experiment on residents!! There was also this monument to the first wireless communications from this site…must have felt a bit threatening to the cable folks at Porthcurno!
Here’s a random cannon. Honestly, I can’t remember why it’s there!
After a brief drone flight in very gusty winds, we realized we’d gone a bit too far and cut across inland to the pre-arranged meeting spot with the Ls at the Chocolate Factory in Mullion. They had both chocolate and solar panels, so overall a good spot!
Then onward to tiny Mullion cove…
Then lots of cliff-top walking, which I rather enjoy for its relative flatness, openness, and breeze. Dave is not so sure!
Dropping down to Kynance Cove…pretty little spot. What an amazing smooth grassy knoll ahead!
We shortcut across to Lizard, missing Lizard point itself. That may seem like a crime to miss the southern-most point in England, but at this stage that’s not enough of a draw! We checked into accommodation. The three of us Cs were split between two rooms, both of which could accommodate three people. So I felt slightly guilty that the B&B had turned away four Italians who had not booked ahead, with no availability anywhere!
One lovely thing about this stop: the host, Ann, was a striking likeness to my paternal grandmother and sounded a lot like her too. Made me feel all cozy and warm! Wish I’d though to take a photo. Alas, just the room!
The Ls leaning out of their B&B in order to throw my purse down to me…long story centered on my forgetfulness!
Sunset from our bedroom window…
This entry was posted in South West Coast Path Cornwall