Day 12 - Sunday 21 May 2017
Boscastle to Port Isaac (14 miles)
Well - after an absolutely knackering day yesterday one thing we did want at The Mill House was a good nights sleep. Fat chance of that after having to try to sleep through 6 encores of "Wild Rover" before the loosely termed "folk singer" finally buggered off stage just after 0030. To be fair to the management at the pub, we were warned about live music when we checked our booking but mistakenly thought that as the pub had guests staying that they might have knocked it on the head at 2230 - never mind. Our own fault - maybe we should have stayed in Boscastle after all and paid the £175 a night????
Anyway, enough churlish moaning - we were off to Doc Martin land today - aka Port Isaac. Our taxi driver Kenny picked us up promptly to take us back to Boscastle and whilst we were in transit we passed a hotel in Tintagel where we saw a man moving a suit of armour outside - looked like he was dancing with it - maybe he was? After being dropped off in Boscastle we readied ourselves and headed off on what was another tough day to be honest - less mileage than yesterday but much up and down to be negotiated. As we neared Tintagel the path became very busy as you would expect and the scenery was again stunning, particularly on the approach to the village.
At Tintagel we stopped at the Cafe - again extremely busy but we managed to find a table and enjoy a superb Cheese Scone for lunch. Leaving the crowds we soon arrived at Trebarwith Strand where we had stayed last night - again very busy so we didn't stop. Approaching Port Isaac the terrain became a lot more undulating and we were glad to see Port Gaverne & subsequently Port Isaac. What a great days walking this was - just superb.
We were staying at The Old School Hotel which doubles as Portwen School in the Doc Martin series. Whilst a tad pricey we had a comfortable room and also had a very good evening meal in company with a large party of 16 Austrian women - Scallops, Steak & Sticky Toffee Pudding. Slept extremely well after a tough day and little sleep last night.
Anyway, enough churlish moaning - we were off to Doc Martin land today - aka Port Isaac. Our taxi driver Kenny picked us up promptly to take us back to Boscastle and whilst we were in transit we passed a hotel in Tintagel where we saw a man moving a suit of armour outside - looked like he was dancing with it - maybe he was? After being dropped off in Boscastle we readied ourselves and headed off on what was another tough day to be honest - less mileage than yesterday but much up and down to be negotiated. As we neared Tintagel the path became very busy as you would expect and the scenery was again stunning, particularly on the approach to the village.
At Tintagel we stopped at the Cafe - again extremely busy but we managed to find a table and enjoy a superb Cheese Scone for lunch. Leaving the crowds we soon arrived at Trebarwith Strand where we had stayed last night - again very busy so we didn't stop. Approaching Port Isaac the terrain became a lot more undulating and we were glad to see Port Gaverne & subsequently Port Isaac. What a great days walking this was - just superb.
We were staying at The Old School Hotel which doubles as Portwen School in the Doc Martin series. Whilst a tad pricey we had a comfortable room and also had a very good evening meal in company with a large party of 16 Austrian women - Scallops, Steak & Sticky Toffee Pudding. Slept extremely well after a tough day and little sleep last night.
The start of todays leg from Boscastle Harbour
The lower footbridge over the River Valency in Boscastle.
It was installed in December 2007 to replace the old one which was severely damaged in the floods of 2004.
It was installed in December 2007 to replace the old one which was severely damaged in the floods of 2004.
It is difficult to imagine the floods of 2004 and how they must have affected the people of this beautiful village.
The northern side of the harbour - our route into the village yesterday can be seen to the left
Meachard & Profile Rock at the entrance to Boscastle Harbour
The National Coastwatch Station on Willapark. Overlooking Boscastle Harbour, the lookout was originally built in the early 1800's as a summer house by the local landowner Thomas Rickard Avery. Later it was leased to the board of trade as a lookout to help prevent smuggling, and later used as a coastguard lookout up until the 1970's. Recently, under National Trust ownership it has been maintained as a folly, until in 2002 it was leased by the National Trust to Boscastle National Coastwatch institution.
Looking along the coast to Short Island & Grower Rock
A panorama of Willapark to Short Island
... and a lovely 3.5 miles it was too
This was another lovely stretch near Darvis's Point
Short Island & Meacher Rock
Long Island
Sea Pinks aplenty as we look along the coast towards The Sisters & Lye Rock
A steep descent & ascent in & out of Rocky Valley
Rocky Valley
Benoath Cove
Approaching "The Island" & Tintagel Head which houses the famous Castle ruins
"The Island" panoramic
After walking in solitude from Boscastle it was extremely busy as we arrived in Tintagel
Cheese Scones to die for - believe us!!
Looking north to Tintagel Head - the large building on the right is the appropriately named "Camelot Castle" Hotel
The Youth Hostel at Tintagel near Dunderhole Point
Hole Beach - the tower is inferior slate thought to be left over from quarrying
Trebarwith Strand - last nights B&B was half a mile from here
Looking to Gull Rock from Trebarwith Strand
Looking north to Glebe Cliff and Trebarwith Strand
Another steep up and down at Backways Cove - we were to encounter another 4 more of these before Port Isaac......
..... and here was another one at Jacket's Point. Fudge is wondering what all the fuss is about.
Delabole Point
Eh? What? Food? Where?
Mrs W giving it some welly on the final climb before Port Isaac
A last look long the coast to Tintagel - what a superb walking day this was
On the relatively flat stuff nearing Port Gaverne
The hamlet of Port Gaverne about half a mile from Port Isaac
At last - now where is that Doctor??
Day 12 Data
|
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Cumulative Time Total Ascent Cumulative Ascent |
14 miles
166 miles 8 hrs 10 min 81 hrs 10 min 4429 ft 41883 ft |