Day 11 - Portleven to Kynance Cove - 28 Mar 18

This walk was supposed be 11.5 miles, which was a big increase from the last two days which I found hard. But due to diversions because of landslides it ended up being 14.5 miles.

We drove our car to Kynance Cove and waited for the taxi to arrive.
Eventually he turned up we got in and the taxi would not start.
The National Trust staff at the car park helped by pushing the taxi so we could jump start, it worked.
The taxi driver offered to drop us at the cliffs next to the sea or into the town centre.
I opted for the cliffs but when he dropped us off, I noticed my mistake as the actual walk should of started in the town, so when we return for the next leg we will have to start or finish where we were dropped off.

Leaving Portleven

Within what seems minutes we came across the below.

Now not really looking or reading this, we cracked on following the diversion.
There was two issues.

1. They may of set this up but they forgot to actually mark out the route, so following paths and then finding 3 routes we could take without any signage, was a nightmare, a lot of going down paths and then having to retrace our steps and trying another route. This diversion took ages and was the main culprit for our extra 3 miles.

2. The mud, we slipped and slid most of the route, I will let the video and pictures below show you.

After taking a fall on yesterdays walk I was taking it steady but even though my new boots have what appears to be great tread, I was slipping and sliding like I was on ice skates.

About at the furthest point of the diversion we met a couple who were just out walking. They were pondering their route. We advised them to avoid the route we had come from because of the mud and their lack of appropriate footwear.

They were from London but had a holiday home in the area.

So they walked with us back to the beach.

It was obvious by has accent that he was an Australian, so this gave me the opportunity to grill him on the current Cricket scandal of the Australian ball tampering. (had to be done). 

Eventually we reached the sea at Loe Bar, this was a stretch of sand that separated a stretch of water and the sea. This was hard walking but at least we were back on the Coastal path.

Loe Bar

Some of the great views of the walk below.

Another Diversion

After the last mage diversion I was tempted to risk the landslide but Linda would not allow me, so we followed the diversion, this one was a lot smaller but again the marking of the route was lacking and left to luck.

We then hit St Winwaloe Church, The church of the storms. You can see why in the pictures below. But if not, it is right on the beach just hidden from the sea by a small hill. Not sure the photos below actually do it justice.

We next came across Mullion Cove, which I recalled seeing 20 or 30 years ago.

Mullion Cove

The next section of the walk was the hardest part for Linda and I, not only were we over 10 miles in, but the constant bog that we had to wade through or find diversions to circumvent was tiring.

The stepping stones shown below was a nice relief from the mud.

Again I must state this was the worst part of the coastal path we have hit so far, not in the scenery but the lack of coastal path markers. We would be walking along open land and the path would split into 3 routes and you had no idea which way to go.

We did often go off the track and would end up climbing rock faces hoping to get back on the track.

I was a mess I was aching in places I didn't know I had and even Linda admitted it was taking it's toll on her.

Eventually we could see the car park on the hills in front, but unfortunately there was dead ground between us and the car park and knowing the coastal path that means coves where you need to climb down and then up again.

As the daylight faded we made it back.

I am writing this on the next morning, I suffered last night and still today I ache from my neck to my toes.

That was challenging.