South West Coast Path

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

 23. Leg 6  - SW Coastal Path 23: Carnewas Point to Porthcothan and back

10 April 2019

Just a short walk on our final morning before heading back to Cambridgeshire. We parked in the National Trust carpark at Carnewas Point and walked to Porthcothan and back. It was a beautiful, clear day which created mesmerising shades in the rocks and sea.

'This stretch of coast, with its vicious rocks and wild seas, was once particularly hazardous for ships and responsible for many wrecks before the lighthouse was built at Trevose Head.'

https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walksdb/151/

1. The route

2. View from Carnewas to Park Head

3. Carnewas

4. The Bedruthan Steps , owned by the National Trust, are pillars of rock which rise from the sands of Bedruthan Beach. This was a popular holiday location during the Victorian period. One of the stacks is named The Samaritan after the cargo ship of the same name which was wrecked here in 1846, providing the locals with barrels of food and silks.

5. The disappearing coastal path....

6. Park Head

7. Porth Mear

8. Porthcothan Bay (Nampara Bay in Poldark!)

9. View to Stepping Point

10. View to Park Head

11. View from Pendarves Point

12. Bedruthan Steps from Pendarves Point

13. Carnewas National Trust

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

 22. Leg 6  - SW Coastal Path 22: Padstow to Porthcothan

9 April 2019

We drove to Porthcothan then took the bus to Padstow so we could complete a decent stretch for our last full day on this trip.

Revisiting familiar routes from holidays with friends including a nostalgic cream tea at the Youth Hostel in Treyarnon.

1. The route

2. View back to Padstow

3. Julian getting his bearings ...

4. Harbour Cove looking out to the Doom Bar

5. Looking back up the Camel estuary from Hawker's Cove

6. Stepper Point, the Daymark (the stone tower that sits on top of the point was built as a navigation aid for sailors entering the port during daylight).

7. Stepper Point looking back up the Camel and out to sea.

8. Stepper Point quarry - don't walk this way in the dark!!

9. Gunver Head view to Trevose Head

10. We have had previous encounters with bulls so weren't relishing the idea of walking through this herd (there were more the other side) but these ones had learnt to ignore humans!

11. Rounhole Point looking back to Stepper Point

12. Trevone Bay

13. Harylyn Bay

14. The lifeboat station at Mother Ivey's Bay

15. Long Cove

16. Trevose Head

17. Gorse near Stinking Cove and the Trevose Head Lighthouse, opened in 1847

18. View across Booby's Bay and Constantine Bay

19. Booby's Bay

20. Treyarnon YHA and across Treyarnon Bay, just as it started to rain! It meant we had to dash inside for a cream tea!

21. Trethias

22. Minnows Islands

23. Porthcothan Bay (known as Nampara in Poldark!)

Monday, April 8, 2019

 21. Leg 6   - SW Coastal Path 21: Rock to Polzeath

8 April 2019


Having completed a walk from Port Quin to New Polzeath and back in the morning, we headed on to Rock to complete the stretch on the East side of the River Camel. The tide was low so we were able to walk on the sand. Another cuppa at Polzeath before heading back to Rock.

1. The route

2. View to Padstow from Rock, down the Camel estuary and a panorama from Daymer Bay.

3. Lovely banded purple and green slates at Broadagogue Cove

4. Into Polzeath looking across Hayle Bay

5. Fishing Cove Field

 20. Leg 6  - SW Coastal Path 20: Port Quin to Polzeath and back

8 April 2019 


We decided to split this headland into two shorter walks to save a long trek cross country.

The first stretch took us from Port Quin around the headland to New Polzeath where we paused for a cuppa and a pasty before heading back cross country and re-joining the path back to Port Quin.

1. The route

2. Leaving Port Quin. Port Quin: a natural harbour. This little village is also referred to as ‘the village that died’ due to the disappearance of all of the men of the village sometime in the 19th century. It is thought that they all drowned at sea whilst fishing, forcing the women to abandon their homes.

Julian was pleased to see a Drascombe in the bay!

3. Out of Port Quin towards Doyden Point. Doyden Castle is a 19th century folly built on Doyden Point, now a holiday home owned by the National Trust.

4. Looking back to Doyden

5. Trevan Point

6. Across Port Quin Bay

7. Lundy Hole - a natural arch

8. Doyden/Epphaven

9. Carnweather Point

10. The Mould/Rumps Point. Excavations have revealed that the fort at Rumps Point once had stone faced ramparts and circular houses at the headland, as well as pottery made from clay from the Lizard.

11. Towards Pentire Point

12. Pentireglaze Haven

13. Pentire Point to Padstow Bay.

'The Doom Bar: shifting sands resulted in the formation of a sand bar at the mouth of the Camel Estuary, which makes entering the port very

difficult. The Doom Bar has been responsible for hundreds of wrecks. Could it really be the result of a mermaid’s curse?'

 14. Pasty and a cuppa in New Polzeath before heading back to Port Quin

Sunday, April 7, 2019

 19. Leg 6  - SW Coastal Path 19: Port Quin to Trebarwith circular

7 April 2019 

Easter Holidays and the fifth leg of our SW Coastal Path hike.

We arrived at Port Isaac around midday to plug a gap from our last visit.

A beautiful, sunny day with a light breeze, fabulous views and an encounter with bulls!

1. The Route

2. Port Isaac

3. Port Gaverne/Delabole Point grid ref.

4. Delabole

5. Crookmoyle Rock

8. Dannonchapel

9. Jacket's Point

... statutory bridge picture!

10. Tredardock Cliff

11. Trebarwith

12. Tregardock Cliffs

13. Close encounter with bulls!

14. Main Head into Port Isaac

 15. Tresungers Point - you'll have to imagine the smell of the gorse!

 46. Leg 11  - SW Coastal Path 46: Towan Beach to Pendower Beach and back   19 April April 2024 1. The route 2. From Trewince campsite 3. To...