110 Zone Point, St Mawes, Falmouth, Mawnan

Today is a day of glorious sunshine and ferry rides. I walk at a slower pace than normal – both to take in the magnificent views and to snap photographs. I linger at St Anthony Head, surrounded by the brilliant blue sea and stunning vistas.

This is the view looking towards St Mawes, my first destination. Falmouth is beyond, further up and on the other side of the estuary.

01 St Mawes, Ruth's coastal walk, St Anthony's Head Continue reading →

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109 Nare Head to Zone Point

Ruth on her coastal walkWe park at Nare Head and I check my iPhone before setting off.

I have bought a new portable recharger and I am planning to leave my phone tracking device on for the duration of the walk. Usually, this drains my batteries within a few hours but, with the portable recharger, I hope to be able to map the whole day. This will give me a more accurate estimate of my mileage than my usual knotted string + map method. Continue reading →

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108 Caerhays Castle to Nare Head

Porthluney Beach, Ruth walking the coast.The beach at Caerhays Castle is officially known as Porthluney Cove Beach. On a hot summer’s day, I can imagine crowds of people would come here – easy access because of the car park.

It is a chilly bank holiday Monday. The tide is out and the beach is empty apart from a few dog walkers.

A sign says that dogs must be kept on a lead. But who would Continue reading →

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107 Mevagissey to Caerhays Castle

I set out from Mevagissey and climb up steps from the harbour, following the South West Coast Path.

Mevagissey, Ruth's coastal walk, England

The first section of my walk is along roads. I am heading for Chapel Point, a promontory with a collection of white buildings. Continue reading →

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106 Charlestown, Pentewan to Mevagissey

I set off from Charlestown in a steady drizzle. According to my map the South West Coast Path follows the road out of Charlestown and goes around the back of the village of Duporth before rejoining the coast. I don’t know why the official route appears to take this deviation because, at the bottom of the harbour road, there is a footpath sign pointing straight up the cliff. This is the path that I follow, climbing up and out of Charlestown.

Despite the dull weather, the harbour looks very attractive below me.

Charlestown, Ruth's coastal walk, Cornwall

Usually I avoid setting off Continue reading →

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105 Polkerris to Par Sands to Charlestown

I start today’s walk from Polkerris where, due to recent rock falls, the South West Coast Path is diverted away from the cliff edge. Unfortunately, this means a hike along the road. The climb out of Polkerris is punishing, but my hip has miraculously healed itself overnight and I am pain-free.

I haven’t gone very far before I hear the sound of a car horn and, a few minutes later, encounter three sheep on the loose. This one gives me a haughty stare.

sheep on the road out of Polkerris, Ruth walking round the coast Continue reading →

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104 (b) Fowey to Polkerris

on the South West Coast Path, looking over to Fowey

We stand on the quay and look over from Polruan to Fowey. The ferry is here. A crowd of passengers has gathered. But there appears to be a technical hitch. Continue reading →

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104 (a) Polperro to Fowey

Polperro Harbour, Ruth walking the coast, South West Coast PathPolperro is a traditional, Cornish fishing village. Narrow roads. No cars allowed. My husband drops me off on one of the access roads and I walk down into the town.

The streets in Polperro are still quiet. I am here early. The tide is out and a few people are working on their boats, beached in the muddy harbour area. Continue reading →

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103 Looe to Polperro

We have trouble driving here this morning. There are ‘Road Closed’ signs in place due to terrible landslips caused by weeks of torrential rain. Despite the fact the main road is now open, we inadvertently follow the diverted route and drive into East Looe along a frighteningly narrow street – barely wide enough to take a car.

Looe harbour, Ruth walking around the coastline, UK It is high tide. Looe harbour is full of water but is strangely quiet, with few people around and little shipping activity. It may be bank holiday Easter Monday, and the sun may be shining, but there is a piercing east wind and it is very cold.

I linger in Looe taking photographs and putting off the moment when I have to face the wind on the exposed cliffs of the coastline. Continue reading →

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102. Freathy, Portwrinkle to Looe

Freathy is a strange place – a collection of huts on a slope overlooking the sea. Today the sun only shines intermittently and the wind is still cold, blowing from the east.  The horizon is hazy, but I can see all the way back to Rame Head.

01 Freathy, Ruth's coastal walk on the SW Coast Path, Cornwall
The South West Coast Path runs alongside the coast road. Ahead, to the west, the shore curves around. The nearest headland must be Looe. Beyond- is that Lizard Point in the very far distance, lost in the blue haze of the horizon? Can I really see that far? Continue reading →

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