South West Coast Path Day 7 - 9 September 2022

More rain overnight so I packed the tarp wet. However, it wasn't raining as I packed up and got underway early, around 7.30am, rejoining the coast path at Lower Predannack Cliff. The high level walk down to Lizard Point was glorious. On the way, I stopped to make coffee and pitched the tarp to dry.

Kynance Cove

Past Cadgewith, the path winding up and down, trying to get to Coverack before 6 to do a small resupply. Got there at 5.30 only to find they close at 5. They need to update their website. Anyway, not too serious. Leaving Coverack, the Bay Hotel has installed a water tap for walkers which I made use of. What a nice gesture.

About a mile past Coverack, at Lowland Point,  was a perfect pitch. About 17 miles today.

South West Coast Path Day 6 - 8 September 2022

Well, last night's pitch, although comfortable, wasn't a good choice. I got away by 6.45am after the second dog walker was going by. I left Oli still packing up and he was going into Porthleven to buy water.

I quickly rejoined the coast path. It wasn't raining at that point but much rain was forecast for the day. It was an enjoyable walk along the cliff top and then across Loe Bar. 

Loe Bar

I paused for a while in the church at Gunwalloe Church Cove to escape the weather for a bit. Then up to the cliffs again, dipping to Poldhu Cove, then up again where I had a break at the Polurrian Hotel, directly off the coast path. Here, I worked my way through a pot of coffee and made a plan for the day while the rain lashed down outside.

Looking out from Polurrian Hotel

So, plan made, I walked up to Mullion village in pouring rain, bought a large steak pasty and some saffron buns and then made my way by road to Sea View Camping at Predannack to end a short day's walking. I'm showered and shaved and have been under cover during the several downpours.

The day has ended strangely with the news this evening of the death of the Queen. I'll always recall where I was when I heard the news - under my tarp at Predannack.

About eight miles walked.

South West Coast Path Day 5 - 7 September 2022

Leaving Penzance, it was a long walk with the railway line on one side and the sea on the other. The railway veered away and the walkway then led into Marazion.

St Michaels Mount

We then found the coast path which meandered up and down, past Praa Sands and then more ups and downs leading to Porthleven.

It had been dry nearly all day but in Porthleven the wind came on and it was clear there was heavy rain coming. I had planned to camp somewhere beyond Loe Bar but read online that there have been recent problems with wild campers who are regularly moved on. Anyway, the wind coming off the sea was not going to make for a peaceful night. We headed out of Porthleven to a campsite but before reaching it we found a gravel path with grass either side and we're pitched there. The rain has been torrential on and off. It's also a dog walkers route. Will need to be away very early in the morning.

15.5 miles walked.

South West Coast Path Day 4 - 6 September 2022

Well, the weather forecast was out again. After another brief downpour after I'd pitched, that was it. I thought about packing up and going on but didn't. It rained a bit this morning after I woke up but it stopped before I left.

The morning started out well weather wise although windy up on the cliff top. Really lovely sea views and no-one else around. After an hour heavy rain arrived and this continued on and off all day.

Landmarks - for shipping, I think

Around 9am I met with Oli from Bristol, aged 18 and about to start uni in Plymouth, walking from Lands End to Plymouth. We stopped for breakfast just past the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno. 

Porth Curno

A while later I was ahead of Oli and he didn't appear and I didn't see him again till Lamorna Cove cafe at lunchtime. Seems he'd dropped a piece of kit and gone back to look for it, without success. Along the way I met two ladies from Alaska who were walking sections of the path with decent accommodation and lifts at the end of each day. They were not Sarah Palin fans!

We walked together for the afternoon. The path was tough, very undulating and rocky.

Arriving in Penzance just after 4pm, we debated what to do. Either to get past Marazion and look for a wild pitch or investigate the youth hostel. In the end, we phoned and booked camping but, on arrival, upgraded to beds in a dorm room. Either way we were able to have showers and use the kitchen.

Walked about 15 miles. A lot of it was quite slow. A good day, despite the rain.

South West Coast Path Day 3 - 5 September 2022

Last night's rain wasn't as bad as forecast and I kept completely dry. 

Portheras Cove

It wasn't far to Pendeen. I was hoping for a cafe at the Levant mine and first stopped for breakfast amongst the old mine buildings but there wasn't a cafe. However, a couple of hours later there was one at Cape Cornwall so I stopped for coffee and a pasty as well.

Cape Cornwall

There was a tricky rock scramble at Aire Point. I had a break overlooking Gwynver beach and then passed quickly through Sennen and on to Land's End which I passed by even more quickly.

The forecast rain arrived really swiftly at 4pm as I was on a path above crashing waves. I donned waterproofs and studied the map with the intention of heading inland a bit. After some quite torrential rain, I came upon a flat pitch at Nanjizal which was quite calm. After pitching, there was another downpour and then the wind started. The rain seems to have gone elsewhere but the wind is pretty bad. In retrospect, I wish I'd gone on but I was expecting much more rain. It's going to be a noisy night.

Thirteen miles walked.

South West Coast Path Day 2 - 4 September 2022

I woke in the early hours with a bit of a problem. The heavy rain hadn't drained into the ground and I had water all around me and underneath me. I hadn't given the weather enough thought and items of clothing I'd left next to me were soaked. At least as I was in a bivy bag, I was dry and so was my quilt.

This morning I set off with various bits of clothing attached to the outside of my pack.

Today's weather was generally warm and sunny at times so the clothing eventually dried. At eleven I stopped to make coffee near Zennor and put the tarp up to dry.

During the afternoon I walked for a bit with a lady who lived locally. Heavy rain being forecast, she suggested a camping field at Morvah. It was only ten minutes from the coast path and was reasonably sheltered and, even better, was only £5. The two sites at Pendeen are twice as much.

I only walked about nine miles. It was quite hard going.

South West Coast Path Day 1 - 3 September 2022

Travelled from home to St Ives by train. Got a good price to travel first class and very nice it was too. At St Ives, I picked up water from a drinking water point outside the loos near the front and then didn't hang around, leaving the holidaymakers behind and joining the coast path just past Tate St Ives. It had rained earlier but was quite settled as I was walking. It was 5.30pm as I left. I walked for an hour until I found a good place to camp at Hor Point looking back at St Ives and out to sea. It's raining now.

Just two miles walked.

Looking back to St Ives

First night's camp