Sussex Scrapbook
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Nature walks throughout the year
17th - 24th September 2005
Redruth - Porthcurno, Cornwall
50 miles
With only a couple of
weeks planning we were off to
hike part of the Cornish coast and camp along the way. We got the train all the
way to Redruth on the 17th and camped the night at Cambrose. The
following day we started off, following the fantastic South West Coastal
Path west all the way to Lands End and then all the way round to Porthcurno.
It was very strenuous walking, especially the second day between St Ives and
Zennor, but by the time we got to Lands End we were into our stride. The weather
stayed perfect for us and showed off the stunning coastal views at their very
best.
Our first morning under canvas at Cambrose.
A morning dip at Portreath beach before the start of the day's 12 mile walk to
Upton Towans.
We had perfect weather all week. Not bad for September.
An old shipwreck, proving how hazardous this coast can be.
Dawn on the next day at Upton Towans dunes
in St. Ives Bay.
A Wheatear kindly escorted us across the
dunes the next morning.
The walk to Zennor from St. Ives is really
hard. You have to climb over boulders for over 5 miles and it's a killer.
By the time we got there we were totally dead!
This is the museum in the tiny, peaceful village of Zennor.
We stayed at
Backpackers there for a day or so until we got our strength back.
Plodding on towards Bottalack we came across this Bank Vole...
... and a Great Green Bush Cricket too.
That night we stayed at the camp site at Botallack and had a well-earned feast
at the
Queen's Arms.
At Botallack we camped near to the
abandoned tin mines.
The next morning we got to Cape Cornwall.
As well as being the dividing point of the Atlantic Ocean, sending the
current either to the English Channel or the Bristol Channel,
it's also
the most westerly point in mainland Britain.
Whitesand Bay with Sennen Cove up ahead.
Lands End.
The best way to appreciate its true beauty, is to walk there.
Porthgwarra tearoom.
We had to tear ourselves away from this
beach.
Finally we arrive at Porthcurno beach with
hours to kill before getting the bus back to Redruth.
Plenty of time to cool our feet off.