More from last day

Part of the estate at Prussia Cove

Another stunning view of sand and turquoise sea

Julia and Carol on an easy bit of path!

Last day photos

St Michael's Mount as we set out from Marazion en route to Praa Sands and Porthleven

Dartmoor ponies around Wheal Prosper mine near Rinsey Head - they ransacked my rucksack looking for apples!

Last day of walk

I set off with Julia on last leg of this year's walk at 9am. Jan dropped us off in Marazion before taking Kevin to Morrison's to wait for his family. Our morning's walk was not difficult but the overnight rain had cleared and left hot sun and blue skies, so it was hot and tiring. We met up with Kev, his family and Mandy and my family at Praa Sands, where we had lunch. Then Carol joined us for our last 5 strenuous miles to Porthleven. En route we passed 2 old mines with their tall chimneys clinging to the cliff edge. There were 6 Dartmoor Ponies grazing around another one (Wheal Prosper mine near Rinsey Head) and we fed them an apple. They were lovely and gentle but they tried getting my biscuits and other stuff from my rucksack, including my sun cream bottle! We downed a cool glass of Orchard cider at the Ship Inn overlooking the harbour at the end of another eventful, very enjoyable walk. The weather was the exact opposite to last year - this year we were dousing ourselves with cold water from springs/streams and taking off our boots to bathe them in the cool water in an effort to cool down; last year we could not keep anything dry in the constant downpours!

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The acorn signs were our constant companions and we were always on the lookout for them.

Very inviting on a hot day!

Kevin's sister Carol who joined us for 2 stretches of the walk.

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The capstan at Penberth used for hauling the boats up the steep slope from the cove.

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One of the cottages at Penberth Cove where the National Trust ensures that they are let to local workers.  We stopped for a cup of tea from our flasks here.

Kevin walking on water as usual!

Damp morning.

Woke this morning to a damp, grey day - our first since setting off. I will check the weather forecast soon but it is irrelevant really as we will do our 12 miles regardless! This photo was taken as we arrived at Land's End.  Yesterday, when we stopped to eat packed breakfast at Cape Cornwall, it was chilly in the breeze and Julia put on her red fleece, though she soon took it off again when we started walking and tied it over her shoulders and rucksack, which gave her rather a peculiar profile! Later I pointed out to her that it might not be a good idea to enter a field full of cattle, whigh had LONG curving horns, wearing a red flapping fleece draped over her back!

Only 3 days left.

Our walk is going just too fast. Only 3 days left. Had our first bit of rain today, just as we got to our B&B in Sennen. Tomorrow we will be setting out later than we have so far, as we do not want to miss the breakfast in this excellent B&B (Mayon Farmhouse, Sennen); when we arrived there was complimentary cream tea awaiting us, with home-made scones still warm!! As we were the only people staying that night the landlady (who had previously lived in Woodbridge where I now live)upgraded us from a family room to 2 doubles at no extra cost.  The rooms were huge and nothing had been missed, even chocolates and fresh fruit in each room!  Highly recommended. Tomorrow the plan is to walk back down the A30 for one mile to Land's End then walk 11 miles to Lamorna to meet Jan. It is supposed to be a hard section with over 900 metres of climb!

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Julia and Kevin on a granite bridge

Old ovens and engine house at Geevor Mine which is open to the public and where you can go underground and see some of the workings of the last operational tin mine in Cornwall.

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My bedroom at Mayon farmhouse - highly recommended B&B

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Yes, this is the UK in July!!!

Botallack to Lands End

Drew took us from Carbis Bay to Botallack to start our walk this morning, then he dropped our bags off at Jan's for us. We walked past lots more mine workings and shafts on our way to Cape Cornwall where we ate our breakfast. Julia decided to head-butt the heather when she tripped over her feet, but she is ok. We walked on the sands at Sennen Cove, went to the cafe for drinks and to share some chips, then we walked to Land's End, up the road to our B&B via the pub for a drink! Our B&B is fantastic. Huge rooms, thick stone farmhouse, cream tea in the conservatory and home made biscuits, fruit and chocolates in the bedrooms. Beds to die for. Perfect!

Zennor to Botallack

Got a taxi from St Ives to Zennor this morning at a cost of £20, but at least he got us there for 7:30. It was overcast and misty but not actually raining. The cloud thinned during the day but we did not actually see the sun. The terrain was quite challenging to start with - steep descents and climbs at the coves, narrow paths with lots of boulders to climb over or around but it got easier after the first 5 miles. I had trouble with my right knee and had to stop to put my neoprene support on. The flies were a nuisance in places. Again, beautiful scenery and clear sea. No seals today. We went into the tin mine (Geevor) near Pendeen for coffee and to look round the workings - fascinating. There are so many old workings and shafts in this area. On our way out of this area we came across several young seagulls - almost like a nursery! One of them had caught a vole or similar and he hurried along the path in front of us, determined not to lose his lunch! We called iin at the Queen's Arms for a drink while waiting for the but.  When it arrived it was an open-topped bus and we sat upstairs all the way to St Ives (an hour's ride) and had a great view of the countryside!  We then got the little train from St Ives to Carbis Bay and Drew again collected us from the railway station and Christina made us a lovely meal. Tomorrow is an easy day to Mayon Farmhouse at Sennen.

Hayle to Zennor

The walk to Carbis Bay was easy and we arrived by 8:30 and in time for bacon butties with Toni. On our way there we could see why the lifeguard told us we could not wade across Hayle river! Johnny told us tonight he saved a little girl from drowning there yesterday. We did the 6 miles to St Ives by 10:30 and set off for Zennor. The terrain got very strenuous with lots of fell-type boulders to negotiate. It got very hot after the cloud cleared and twice I had to stop at a stream to pour cold water over my head. We saw our first grey seals in one of the bays. Got a taxi back from Zennor to St Ives, did a bit of shopping then got the train back from St Ives to Carbis bay

Chips at Black Rock

We walked almost 3 miles along the beach in St Ives Bay. The tide was out so the sand was firm and easy to walk on buy the wind was so strong it picked up the sand and scoured our skin with it! We were glad to get off the sand at Hayle and share a bowl of chips in the pub. We then went into Hayle to look for new socks for Kev, without success, adding 2 miles to the 12 we did on the trek. Caught the bus back to Toni's - glad I brought my bus pass because it cost Julia and Kev £4 each!!

Birds

I wish I could recognise more of our native birds. I have identified sparrow hawk, kestrel, jackdaw, razorbill, fulmar, black backed gull, linnet, lark, sand piper....but have seen lots more.

He man!

Who said Kevin had no muscles? We could always top him up woth some of these.....

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Collected our pasties from the baker as he took them out of the oven at 7:15. They were still hot when we ate them at 8:15 on a bench on the cliff top.

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End of Friday's post

It was supposed to be an easy walk of 12 miles yesterday. It was 12 miles but whoever thought it was easy was daft! It was almost 800m of up and down, one cove after another. The views and scenery made iy worthwhile though. The blue sky made the sea a wonderful turquoise and because the weather has been so calm the sea was translucent and you could see the rocks below water and the lines of the lobster pots shaking down through the water. We ended the walk quite early and downed a refreshing, ice-cold pint of lime and soda while waiting for Graham to pick us up again. We also called in to Portreath bakers and placed an order for 3 pasties for this morning ay 7:15!! Took Toni and family to pub for a meal. Back home by 9 and I was asleep before 10.

Hayle beach

Set off at 6:45. Now at Hayle overlooking beach and estuary having long cold drink. Ate hot pasties for breakfast at 8:30.

Perranporth to Portreath

Graham very kindly took us to the start of our walk at 7am and by 7:30 we were on our way up the steep hill but not before Kev had munched his way through a hot sausage roll!! The sky was clear and the sun hot, the views again incredible. At St Agnes Bay we called into the cafe for our morning lattes and Kev's coffee (but he also had a sausage sandwich!). It was a lovely cool cafe and we were reluctant to leave it but we were soon on our way up yet another steep hillside. We missed one turning (the hillside was criss crossed woth paths) and we ended up sliding down on our backsides! I walked in sandals again but later wished I had worn boots. Too tired to complete this tonight so will continue in the morning....

Julia always makes her mark

Footprints in the sand

Newquay To Perranporth

We did without the full English today and set out at 7am. We called in at Tesco for a packed lunch then walked along the front in Newquay and beyond Fistral beach. As it was low tide we were able to cross the river Gannel by a "land bridge" which was a board walk normally covered at high tide. It was strange walking up the river bed with no water in it! We then went over sand dunes. Had coffee at Holywell bay (pub served us coffee, despite not being officially opened). We had lunch on the headland with beautiful views. The walking was reasonable, though very hot. We were able to walk most of Perranporth beach in the surf with our boots off - there were literally hundreds of jellyfish either stranded by the tide or in the surf. We also got a chuckle from the antics of 5 sandpiper birds running up and down the beach in the surf. Kevin claims to have seen a largish lizzard in the dunes but he was hot, tired and suffering from hay fever! On arrival at Perranporth we went to the bar on the beach for pints of cider! Toni collected us at 4.25 and, after a Lovelly shower, we tucked in to a BBQ cooked by Graham. Julia walked in sandals today but is going back to boots tomorrow for more ankle support.

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Porthcothan to Newquay

Up at 5.30 and Julia brought me tea in the dining room (where I had slept!). Had a very nice breakfast, despite proprietor bringing 2 coffees and one tea, instead of 2 teas and one coffee. ... On our way by 7:45 by which time the sun had burned off the thick mist and it was a gorgeous morning. We got to Bedruthen Steps by 8:45 where we hoped to get a coffee but the Nat Trust tea shop didn't open until 10:30 so we walked on, but not until Kevin had walked down the steep steps to the beach and back. At Mawgan Porth we had a coffee and Julia and I shared a chocolate muffin. We decided against buying pasties to carry for lunch - a decision we would regret later! At Watergate Bay there were hordes of people and nothing we wanted to eat so we carried on to Whipsiderry, just outside Newquay where we got sandwiches and ate them on the beach. We got to Newquay much earlier than anticipated so we HAD to go to the pub for a beer before going to our B&B. Our family room is quite big with a shower en-suite but it is uncomfortably hot. Kevin had A funny turn from the heat and I had to get a wet flannel to put on the back of his neck. Despite having all windows open and a fan on, Kevin says he will not be able to sleep. We have just been out for an Indian meal which was excellent! Now off to do battle with the proprietor for a larger fan.....

Porthcothan to Newquay

Padstow to Porthcothan

Kevin's modified full English turned out to be the works with 3, yes 3, pieces of fried bread! Despite eating all that he still managed to be ready to leave at 7:45am. We got just outside the town before he realised he did not have his hat and had to go back for it. The sun was up and quite warm with few clouds so he dare not do without it. We walked across part of The Doom Bar, a dangerous sand bank from which Kevin's favourite beer gets its name. The walking was much easier today, though a bit longer than yesterday should have been. Again the views were spectacular and the sea crystal clear. We had a coffee in Trevone and ate our sandwiches by the lighthouse ay Trevose Head. When we got to our B&B at Porthcothan Bay, the proprietor said she had made a mistake with my booking and had let my room to someone else! She said because I booked last year the computer forgot to carry the booking over from last year. She was very apologetic and offered me 3 options: I could sleep in the room she normally uses for breakfasts; sleep in the campervan on the drive or they would find me a B&B in a nearby town (without Julia and Kevin). I opted for the dining room!

Padstow

Tonight we had supper in Rick Stein's fish and chip shop. Very nice! Julia, having given up eating fish, had deep fried haloumi but said to was too thin and crispy.

Kittens

While in Port Isaac Julia and Kevin decided they needed some sparkling water, so they frog marched their elderly aunt half a mile uphill to the Co-op. Kevin bought himself a mars-bar ice cream and on the way out of the shop he insists he asked "do you want to see my mars" - but all Julia, myself and a little old lady behind us heard was "do you want to see my ars" (definitely no 'm'). We fell about in hysterics while the little old lady had kittens...... Today he is complaining that carrying his over-stuffed wallet in his back trouser pocket has given him a sore cheek. I lent him my savlon but said that was as far as I was willing to go!!!

Scenery

Port Isaac to Padstow

We decided to forego a full English breakfasts in order to get away early. Our B&B provided us with a continental breakfast on a tray and we were on the road by 7am. There was high cloud so it stayed reasonably cool for the hard part of the walk through Port Quin and Polzeal. Kevin finally got his pasty in Polzeal - and a very good one it was. Again the sea in the small coves was crystal clear and a beautiful turquoise colour. Still a lot of up and down but easier than yesterday, despite being 2 miles more. From Just beyond Polzeal to Rock, we walked on the damp sand. As we got into Rock at 1.30, much earlier than we thought, Kevin persuaded us to walk up to Sharp's Brewery, which he assured us was only half a mile, at most, up the road. By the time we got there it was a good 2 miles UP the hill. We sampled some Orchard cider and bought a few bottles! As a penance I made Kevin carry my 6 bottles back down the 2 miles to the ferry!! We found our B&B but they are not very accommodating. The said we could have breakfast whenever we liked but when we said 7am she said Kevin could only have a 'modified' full English as it was too early to do the full thing. Kev not amused

Port Isaac

View from our windows over harbour to Doc Martin's house.

Slow worm

We came across this beauty just outside Tintagel.

Orchard cider

Julia and Kevin just could not resist this cider, made in Rock near Padstow. They said it is now their favourite.

Sundays 14 July.

Our B&B in Tintagel was a mixed blessing! Landlady had OCD and kept shutting windows which meant we roasted all night. She filled our flasks with tea but did not put any milk in! The mist was covering Tintagel as we left and giving a spectacular view. The going was very hot in the sun but the views down to the bays with their turquoise sea was amazing. I have never seen the sea in UK that colour before. We took it slow and had lots of breaks, including several to dip our hats in streams and tip water over our heads to cool down. Called into the pub in Port Gavern to replenish our fluids - now in The Gallery B&B which is great!