Day 11: Mevagissey to Polkerris

A fantastic day's walking, around 13 miles in lovely sunshine.   Left the harbour town of Mevagissey behind at 9am after a huge English breakfast, powering me up a series of ups and downs on my way to Black Head.  Met a dog walker at Pentewan who showed me an interesting Georgian terrace of houses, tucked just off the hilly path out of Pentewan, remnants of the era when Pentewan was a major china clay port in the 1800s.

Wandered on to Black Head, lovely walking, and great views across St. Austell bay and beyond, before reaching Charlestown around lunchtime, to the sound of gunpower and a pirate-themed wedding.   Popped in for a cup of tea with the parents of some old friends, then left Charlestown for my afternoon march towards Par and then Polkerris.  It's such a small world - along the coast at Par I bumped into an old boss from my days at Mercury Communications who I hadn't seen for 17 years - who himself lives in the US albeit is retiring to live in Cornwall.  A wise man.

Met up with some old friends on arrival at Polkerris, and proceeded to eat, drink and be merry until 2am.  All in all a great day!

Day 10: Portloe to Mevagissey

Decent 12 miles of walking today and I've now traipsed over 100 miles since setting out from Land's End ... so only 270 miles or so left to Poole!

Today's walk was split elegantly in two by Dodman Point (or simply the Dodman as it's known round these parts) - a big exposed headland with a huge cross on top, bearing a plaque from 1856 dedicated to the hoped for Second Coming. Anyway, west of the Dodman I had great views down to the Lizard, but once I rounded it a whole new line of coast appeared - all the way across St. Austell Bay, past Looe to Rame Head, more or less the end of the Cornish south coast. Hopefully I will reach Rame Head on Day 14... time to up the distances a little now, with the troublesome shin seemingly ok.

Stunning coast today, lots of ups and downs this morning, but had the path to myself apart from lots of birds (especially pheasants!), cows and the odd spider attempting to barricade the route. Mevagissey is the largest town encountered since Falmouth, offers 5 good pubs all serving good food not least fresh local fish off the boats I am told. Off to find one!

Day Nine: Portscatho to Portloe

A game of two halves today! Set off from the exquisite Driftwood hotel and was soon walking in a T-shirt in beautiful sunshine, before the promised heavy rain came in later, as I went round Nare Head.

Lovely walking albeit very slippery up and down the hills after heavy rain overnight... also my muddiest day yet after going for a slide on my arse at one point. Walked past the house made (somewhat) famous about 20 years ago in 'The Camomile Lawn' at Broom Parc - these days a B&B, perched all alone high above a pretty bay.

Now blogging from the Lugger Hotel in Portloe, after feasting on warm scones with clotted cream and jam. Not sure entirely justified by today's lazy 7 miles but need to build my reserves for tomorrow's 12 miles around Dodman Point and on to Mevagissey :)

Day Eight: Falmouth to Portscatho

So today I started leg 2 of my 375 mile Land's End to Poole walk. The aim for this leg, 44 year old limbs and joints willing, is to reach the sunny 'English Riviera' town of Torquay in two weeks. Surprisingly like Monte Carlo I always thought, only the taxes are higher and the natives more distinguished. But I digress.

Set off this morning from Falmouth, rejuvenated after a week of restorative shin therapy in Barbados (definitely not Barnardo's as my iPhone would bizarrely have it). Caught the little ferry to St. Mawes - a big swell, which meant my next ferry across the Percuil river to Place wasn't running, so took road transport 8 miles round to gain my 500m across the river... And then off! Beautiful autumnal walking, past the Norman church at St. Anthony and then the lighthouse at St. Anthony Head, with great views back across to Falmouth and Pendennis castle. A gentle 7 mile opener, only encountering one other soul on the windswept coast path (I'm not the only dog-free November mad walker then?) and I eased into the beautiful Driftwood Hotel, nestled luxuriously above footprint-free Porthbean beach, in time for a cup of afternoon tea :) and a nice dinner. A good re-start!