Day 35 Sunday 3rd October

During the night there was torrential rain, but this stopped about 7 a.m. The rest of the day has been dry. I took it easy this morning, leaving the hostel at 10 a.m. to go to church. I went to the parish church of King Charles the Martyr. It was their Harvest Service and it only lasted 45 minutes. After the service I started to walk around the back of the harbour where there are some really good views of the harbour, and then on to Pendennis Point where there are really good views of the surrounding coastline. I then strolled on leisurely to Gyllyngvase Beach. Here I ate lunch and met the couple of Italians who had been in the hostel last night. After a while I continued, passing Swanpool Beach and then Pennance Point and onward to Maenporth. On the way I met the Italian couple again and when we got to Maenporth they bought me an ice cream. After chatting for some while I left them and walked up the road to Tregedna Farm, where I am now at the hostel. Tomorrow morning I shall start early as I have a long day ahead of me. Distance walked today 6 miles.

Day 34 Saturday 2nd October

I left the hostel at Boswinger at 8 o'clock and walked along the road to Tregavarras, rejoining the coast path at Porthluney Cove. I then continued until I arrived at Portloe at 10 o'clock. At 11.15 I passed Nare Head and arrived in Portscatho at 1.2o p.m. I then continued along the coast, past Towan Beach, Porthmellin Head, Zone Point and St. Anthony Head. At 3.55 I caught the ferry from Place to St. Mawes and at 4.05 caught the ferry from St. Mawes to Falmouth, and arrived in Falmouth at 4.25 and went to the youth hostel. Distance walked 20 miles.

Day 33 Thursday October 1st

I left Fowey at 8.15, fully kitted in waterproofs as it was raining steadily. I reached the coast path at 8.30 and I passed Gribbin Head and continued to Polkerris, arriving there at 10.30 and stopping for a cup of tea. A short time later I resumed walking and passed Polmear and Par Sands, but had difficulty following the path because it was so badly marked. I had to walk around the dock area with a very muddy path beside the golf course, and eventually arrived at Charlestown at 12.45. After lunch at Charlestown I started walking inland around a diversion because the cliff path was unsafe. When I arrived at Porthpean the rain appeared to have stopped so I took off my waterproofs, and as soon as I had done this it started raining again! I continued until I arrived at Mevagissey at 4.45. Having bought a take away for my evening meal I resumed walking at 5 o'clock. I passed Portmellon and Chapel Point and arrived at Gorran Haven at 6.30. As the light was getting poor I took a lane parallel to the coast path, which slightly reduced the distance and I arrived at Hemmick Beach and then had to walk a quarter of a mile up a one in five hill to arrive at the youth hostel at Boswinger at 7.15. Distance travelled about 28 miles.

Day 32 Thursday September 30th

Today is my birthday, I am 66 today! At 8.00 I left the b & b at Portwrinkle and set off for Downderry. This was fairly up and down, severely in places and I arrived in Downderry at 9.25. I did a little shopping in Downderry and then I went down to the beach and the tide being out, I was able to walk along the sea wall to Seaton. From Seaton I continued along the coast path until I got to Millendreath Beach at 11.15. This was a miserable sight of dereliction and had obviously seen better days. I then arrived in Looe at 12 noon. After a short break I walked over the bridge to West Looe and down to Hannafore Parade and at the end of the road the coast path continued. Eventually I passed the village of Tallend and then on to Polperro. Before Polperro the footpath was closed due to civil engineering works and a diversion inland was necessary. I arrived in Polperro at 2.30 and treated myself to a cream tea at the House on Props. I then continued along the coast path which became a real roller coaster, with 3 flights of steps down and 3 flights of steps up, each one with between 150 and 180 steps. I eventually got to Pencarrow Head at 4.55. I then pressed on and got to Polruan only to see the ferry departing. I caught the next ferry at 6.15, and at 6.45 arrived at my accommodation at Fowey. By the time I got to Polruan the weather was worsening with a storm threatening for tonight. Fortunately tomorrow there are no ferries for me to catch! Distance walked about 25 miles.

Day 31 Wednesday 29th September

I left the bed and breakfast at Wembury at 8.00 in the pouring rain. I quickly made my way to the coast path and at 8.35 I reached Wembury Point, with the Great Mew Stone off shore, I then continued around the coast passing Bovisand Bay and then to Jennycliff Bay. The path here was diverted on to the road, which delayed me slightly as I took a wrong turn and I arrived at Mount Batten to see the ferry just departing. I had to wait until 11 o'clock for the next ferry. Once in Plymouth it only took me 50 minutes to get to the next ferry, only to find the boat had just set sail from the slipway. There was a sign by the slipway which said, "Minehead 352 miles". I felt duly encouraged. I caught the ferry at 12.15 and arrived in Cornwall at 12.25. I am now in my 7th county.

I set off through Mount Edgcumbe Country Park and this continued almost to Kingsand through some delightful woodland. Kingsand and Cawsand are 2 very quaint villages and after Cawsand I walked to Rame Head, and from here I could see a whole series of villages along the coastline, including Portwrinkle. I continued along the bay through Tregonhawke and then Freathy, and when I got to Treantle Fort the red flags were down and the gate was open, so I proceeded up the permissive path, only to be stopped by a soldier pointing a gun, who informed me that I couldn't go any further (because they were playing soldiers). I told the soldier that they should follow their own regulations and close the gate so that the puplic could not enter. He informed me that the gate on the other side had been closed! I then retraced my steps and took the alternative route round by the road. I eventually arrived at Portwrinkle at 6.30, but to get a meal that evening I had to walk another half mile to Crafthole, and back. Distance walked approx. 22 miles.

Day 30 Tuesday 28th September

This morning I left at 8 o'clock after breakfast. The hostel being the last building to the south of Salcombe and right on the coast, access to the footpath was very easy. I quickly passed the viewing point at Sharp Tor and then I rounded Bolt Head a short while later. The path was generally easy and I continued for about 8 miles until I got to Bolt Tail. From Bolt Tail I had a panoramic view of Hope Cove, Inner and Outer Hope, Thurlestone and the more distant Burgh Island. This quickly disappeared as rain and mist set in. I continued until I got to Outer Hope. While buying a coffee in the Post Office, I met a man who was an expert on the local coast paths and he confirmed that when I got to Bantham, I should get a taxi to Mothecombe as the crossing of the River Erme was too dangerous in the present weather conditions. This meant that I have not walked the short stretch between Bigbury and the River Erme. I arrived at Bantham at 12 noon, having walked 13 miles up to that point. At Bantham I had no mobile signal, so I had to borrow a mobile on a different network to telephone for a taxi. First 5 taxi firms were unable to help, but the sixth one was able to take me where I wanted to go. It dropped me at the slipway at Mothecombe at 1.10 and I set off on the next leg of today's journey.

The next 5 miles were quite varied until I got to Wadham Rocks. At this point, for the rest of the way to Noss Mayo, the path follows the route that was carved along the cliff side for ladies to enjoy the view from their horse and carriages. This was a bit like an old railway track and was very easy walking. Part way along this section the rain stopped. I arrived in Noss Mayo at 4.20, having walked about 23 miles altogether. I went to the Ship Inn to have a meal and tried to telephone for a taxi to take me to Wembury, only to find there was no signal yet again, so had to go outside to see if it would work, which it did. I had to get this 2nd taxi because the ferry at Noss Mayo stopped working 2 days ago for the winter. I am now settled for the rest of the evening in a very comfortable bed and breakfast.

Distance walked 23 miles

Day 29 Monday September 27th

Dudley, Jenny and Adrian left Newton Abbot at 7.30 a.m. and I started my walk from Stoke Fleming at 8.30. I followed the path down to Blackpool Sands and then back up again to Strete. After leaving the village, the path went off down a track till I arrived at Strete Gate at 9.25. Then I followed the path down the side of the marshes of Slapton Ley until I came to Torcross at 10.15. Had a look at the Sherman tank which is a memorial to the American servicemen who died while preparing for D-Day. 942 died. I then went across a small promentary to Beesands, where I had a coffee at 11 o'clock. Then I passed Hallsands, where the village was destroyed in 1917 - this was caused by inappropriate excavation of gravel from the sea bed. At 11.55 I arrived at Start Point and there was a sign saying "462 miles to Minehead".

Then stopped for lunch at Lannacombe Bay at 12.40. At 1 p.m. started walking again, passing Maelcombe House and passed Prawle Point at 2 o'clock and Seacombe Sands at 3.08. While at Prawle Point I saw a Cirl Bunting and a Peregin Falcon. At 4.25 I caught the ferry and arrived in Salcombe. At 5.15 I caught another ferry to South Sands and then walked a mile or so to the youth hostel, which is part of a large National Trust property with lovely views over the estuary.

Distance walked today 22 miles.