Botallack to Sennen

Easily the coldest start to any day I have spent in Cornwall.

First a walk along the cliffs from Levant to Sennan on the North Cornish Coast - No sun but still breathtaking views.

Cornwall Again

Day 1 of my Spring 2009 Holiday and I'm back in the Lizard Peninsular for the 7th time.

As usual, I found somewhere to visit on the way. This time it was Montacute House, which is also home to a the National Portrait Gallery.

Also worth mentioning was breakfast, which was at the Little Chef in Popham.

Stein's Way

Last day and an early start 7:30, arrived at Padstow ready for some breakfast at 9:00. I really fancied a Bacon sandwich but despite the endless bakeries - the only thing on offer was Cornish Pasties. In fact the only place that was open and offering breakfast, was Rick Stein's cafe. With kippers on the menu, all thought of bacon sandwiches was gone - The kipper may look ugly, but it was mighty tasty!

As I was going....

Aghh!, St Ives! On my last list a few years ago, I really didn't think I'd come back. It unfortunately suffers from it's popularity and as a results the streets are packed with people and the roads jammed with cars - it's really not an enjoyable experience,

Shetland Ponies Ahead

Day two and the weather is very summery. Parked at Kynance and walked along the coastal path to the Lizard. Along the way met up with some wide and friendly Shetland Ponies.

Rocky Valley to Bossiney Haven

This is a route I haven taken in a while (around 35 years since I last did it). Last time I walked down the valley, it was not long after the floods and it was still looking pretty scared - now it back to it's former glory.

The Rout of Boscastle

I arrived at Boscastle on the day the flood defense scheme was officially opened - 4 years after the devastating floods. I've continued to visit the village since the flood and up to now it has still looked scared; The scaring has mostly healed and south of the lower Bridge - the location is a nice as ever. North however, I can't help thinking that Boscastle has lost something.

Stourhead Revisited

Time to go home :-(

15 days ago, on the first day of the holiday, we visited Stourhead, but only had time to tour the grounds. We decided to revisit so we could take a look around the house. The main attraction is the artwork - every room is like a art gallery.

Overground, Underground

Today the weather forecast is grim - rain all day, but I spotted a hole in the clouds above the Polperro area, so we headed there.

Sure enough, as we approached the port, the cloud thinned and by the time we reached the sea, we had bright sunshine.

Fowey

I visited Fowey for the first time today and the question I have to as is why didn't I do it before.

Compared to it's nearby neighbour, Looe, it's chalk and chesse. Where Looe was a tacky and overcrowded Fowley, is a pleasant harbour with tasteful shops and many restaurants and pubs selling local fish.

Surf's up

Took in some of the north Cornish coast today - firstly Crackington Haven. It has the hottest day so far and you couldn't stay in the sun too long.

Visitors

This evening we were visited by the farm's resident Chicken and Roster.

For my convenience

Visited Cotehele, a National Trust property near Plymouth. You have to choose a bright day as there is no lighting in the property.

Seeking Asylum

A lot of traveling yesterday so today I have kept it local with a visit to Mevagissey. I stayed here back in 2005 and this is my first visit since then. It's still as pretty and unspoiled as ever.

More Changes

With the first week over it's time to move on and say goodbye to the Lizard. Half way on the journey to the base for the second week, is the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Again, a place I have visited before but always worth a return visit and I still haven't sen it all.

Bang!

The day after Zennor and I am feeling it in my legs - an easy day was called for. Headed out to Pendennis Castle - somewhere I have visited often, but always worth it.

Since my last visit there have been a few changes. First they have introduced guided tours to parts of the military installations that were previously closed to the public. Second, they now fire one of the guns every day at noon.

How much further?

Oh boy! This was a tough one. a few years back I completed the walk between Zennor and St. Ives (and back). With the undulations of the Coastal path it was more like mountaineering than hiking. This time I look the westerly route from Zennor.

No place left to go

Nice start to the day again - visited Lizard Point, the most southerly point in England. While there spotted a Cough - the bird that appears on the Cornish coat of arms but until recently had disappeared from these shores.

Proceed Cetacean

Slightly overcast again - no sun, so no beach. Visited the Godolphin estate - a property newly acquired by the National Trust

Changes

Well the weather was never going to last. Today started off overcast but buy the end of the day the sun managed to break through allowing me so finish the day on the beach again.

In the morning I took a walk across the the cliffs at Godrevy - then finished the day on the beach at Portreath.